Congregation looks to its future as it breaks ground

Members of the First Baptist Church of Batavia will travel a few miles west Sunday to envision their future, and everyone is invited to come along.

The church will pitch a tent at its 8-acre new construction site at the northeast corner of south Mill Creek Drive and Main Street in Blackberry Township, west of Batavia. There will be a worship service at 11:15 a.m. which will lead into a groundbreaking ceremony at noon.

The congregation hopes to attract new members when it becomes Faith Baptist Church of Mill Creek. A lack of hospitality will not be a problem.

The church has invited the community, as well as elected officials such as Kane County Chairman Karen McConnaughay and Batavia Mayor Jeff Schielke, and other mayors and police and fire officials from surrounding communities.

And church officials have already reached out to staff at the nearby Marklund campus in Mill Creek, which provides residential and educational services to adults with developmental disabilities. It is hoped that staff and residents alike will attend services when construction of the new church is complete.

According to the congregation's moderator, Gordon Butler, who is in charge of business meetings, a 9,000-square-foot building will be constructed at a cost of $1.6 million. The church has conducted capital fund drives and has raised about two-thirds of the needed funds. The land was donated by Kent Shodeen of Shodeen Construction during negotiations spearheaded by the church.

The Rev. Ronald Miles, the church's interim pastor, expects the building to be ready for worship by April or May.

After over 170 years in downtown Batavia, the church is leaving its current building at 15 N. Washington St., which includes a maze of stairways, no elevator and no air-conditioning.

"The old building has simply outlasted its usefulness," Miles said.

The new, one-story structure will feature a large, multipurpose room which will initially serve as the sanctuary. A sanctuary and offices will be added later.

"Re-doing the old building would cost about as much as new construction," Miles said. "The new building signals a new beginning and new opportunities for people to come and worship and get a new start."

Miles credits former longtime pastor Richard Watts for providing leadership in laying the groundwork for the groundbreaking.

"This is the culmination of many of his efforts," Miles said.

Watts has become the chaplain for Delnor-Community Hospital.

For information, call the church at (630) 879-1467.

Celebrating 86 years: Another longtime Batavia church, Logan Street Baptist at 908 N. River St., celebrated 86 years last Sunday with a special service which honored member Coralie Boyd, 98. The church's fellowship hall was re-named for her.

Boyd studied music at Fisk University and at Northwestern University where she earned a master's degree. She served Logan Street and other churches as a pianist, vocalist and choir director. Boyd is the great-niece of Booker T. Washington.

The church was founded in 1921 when black families in Batavia sought a place in which to worship.

The Rev. S. Todd Yeary, who became senior pastor in 2001, recently left to take a pastoral position in Baltimore. The Rev. Larry Spires is interim pastor.

Call (630) 879-7190.

If you go:

What: Batavia Baptist Church worship service and groundbreaking ceremony

When: 11:15 a.m. Sunday

Where: West Main Street and Mill Creek Drive in Blackberry Township, west of Batavia

Call: (630) 879-1467