An East Side church is planning a $3 million expansion, saying new space will help the congregation deal with social problems in the neighborhood. First Calvary Missionary Baptist will build a new church and transform the current church into space for vital community programs.
"It's going to cost a lot of manpower, a lot of sweat equity," said Pastor Jason Drayton.
"We're looking to roughly 8-10 months of construction and if God blesses us, we're looking to break ground this spring."
The project first needs a special use permit from City Hall. Drayton believes his church needs to be a major force in its William-Jefferson neighborhood.
"The church is growing but not just a place to go once a week. We realize that when it comes to a church it cannot be an entity to itself. It has to serve the community," Drayton said.
The issues are many. Housing. Health services. Food.
"Just yesterday, I had a 15-year-old and a 13-year-old who just had a baby together in talking to me," Drayton recounted.
"So, the need for parental training is definitely there because they have Mom and maybe a Dad somewhere else but they're a child themselves."
