MOVE TO NEW SANCTUARY NEARS

Twelve countries will be represented in New Life Christian Church's new sanctuary in the former Hoyts Cinema in Stateway Plaza when it opens in a month or two.

Through the chair dedication program, other countries, residents and businesses can be represented or memorialized for a fee of $60 to cover the cost of the chair and engraving. The church also is asking pastors from around the country to join the program.

So far, 103 chairs have been donated, but New Life's visitation pastor, the Rev. Thomas J. Allen, said the church needs about 500.

The church's congregation will pray for the people and groups to whom the chairs are dedicated during every service at the new location off Arsenal Street. At first, there will be one service at 10 a.m. Sundays, but the pastors hope to have two soon, as they do at their location in Depauville.

"I'm sure that God will probably quickly move us into two," the Rev. Mr. Allen said.

New Life has partnered with a Hispanic church, Iglesia Compasion de Cristo, that will host Spanish-language services at 1 p.m. Sundays.

More than a year ago, 98 percent of the Depauville church's congregation voted in favor of the move to Watertown. The Rev. Mr. Allen said the city is a more central location, making it easier for church members from Fort Drum, Carthage and Lowville to attend services.

"They come to hear the word from all over," he said. "Most of them will be going with us" to Watertown.

The first phase of renovations is almost complete. The sanctuary is carpeted, the foyer's waterfall is taking shape and new marble tile covers the bathroom walls. The second phase will begin after the church opens and will include building a recording studio and kitchen.

Construction crews have to fix clogged drains and a leaky roof before the building is opened.

But the move is not just about the renovated, larger building. It's about being in the heart of Jefferson County, where the church plans to "serve the city of Watertown, its schools, its government and the county," the Rev. Mr. Allen said.

"A church to us is not just being in our four walls but going outside those four walls and teaching what Jesus taught," he said. "It's not about a building. If it's about a building, we don't even want it."

New Life's Depauville location was sold recently to the Rev. Kirk S. Gilchrist, the church's senior pastor.

"It just allowed us to have money to do what we needed to do," he said, referring to New Life.

The original building will remain open as an international training center for youth and has become headquarters for a Buffalo-based ministry.

The Rev. Mr. Allen said the move will have a positive effect on the church's youth ministries.

"We expect it to grow rapidly when we move into Watertown," he said.