Looking Back
LookingTwenty-five years ago, Dunedin City Baptist, at that time called Hanover Street Baptist, made a unanimous decision to leave the Hanover Street site and establish ourselves in new premises. But what a long and difficult journey lay ahead! After initial setbacks we sold the Hanover Street buildings in 1996, hoping to quickly purchase new premises. However, after many failed attempts, we put aside the idea of owning a church building.
A decade later it became clear that God was calling us to pursue this again; in 2006 we purchased 7.4 hectares of land at Lookout Point. Since then we have had a growing sense of expectation as obstacles have been removed and we have started to build.
We have faced many challenges on this journey of faith. We trust that God will provide what we cannot. Yet in many wonderful ways the Lord has assured us that he is going before us. God is providing beyond our wildest expectations.
On Sunday, 13th December 2015, we finally moved in as a congregation and celebrated our first service in the new building. The building was officially opened on Sunday 21st February 2016.
A decade later it became clear that God was calling us to pursue this again; in 2006 we purchased 7.4 hectares of land at Lookout Point. Since then we have had a growing sense of expectation as obstacles have been removed and we have started to build.
We have faced many challenges on this journey of faith. We trust that God will provide what we cannot. Yet in many wonderful ways the Lord has assured us that he is going before us. God is providing beyond our wildest expectations.
On Sunday, 13th December 2015, we finally moved in as a congregation and celebrated our first service in the new building. The building was officially opened on Sunday 21st February 2016.
Why Build?
God has given our church this vision.
"Enlarge the site of your tent, and let the curtains of your habitations be stretched out; do not hold back; lengthen your cords and strengthen your stakes. For you will spread out to the right and to the left, and your descendants will possess the nations and will settle the desolate towns." Isaiah 54:2-3
A visible, well set-up operational base is an important part of answering this call of God. We trust that it will be instrumental both in drawing people in and building his community.
We are establishing this base for both the present and future generations. Those who have gone before us offered their time, abilities, money and passion to build church buildings on the Hanover Street site. Hanover Street sheltered the church through 152 years of our history, thriving in good times, enduring through tough times, before emerging once again to grow the Kingdom of God. We want to honour that tradition and be as faithful to the next generations as those who have preceded us.
"Enlarge the site of your tent, and let the curtains of your habitations be stretched out; do not hold back; lengthen your cords and strengthen your stakes. For you will spread out to the right and to the left, and your descendants will possess the nations and will settle the desolate towns." Isaiah 54:2-3
A visible, well set-up operational base is an important part of answering this call of God. We trust that it will be instrumental both in drawing people in and building his community.
We are establishing this base for both the present and future generations. Those who have gone before us offered their time, abilities, money and passion to build church buildings on the Hanover Street site. Hanover Street sheltered the church through 152 years of our history, thriving in good times, enduring through tough times, before emerging once again to grow the Kingdom of God. We want to honour that tradition and be as faithful to the next generations as those who have preceded us.
Looking Forward
The building we are in now is part of a larger overall staged plan. This first stage contains a 450 seat auditorium, four large classrooms for youth, a seminar room, administration space, a kitchen and café for general use. Overall this covers a floor area of more than 1300 square meters (equivalent to about 10 houses).