OLDS — Home Church Olds/Mountain View held the grand opening of its new location during a service on Nov. 1.
The church is now located in the northeast corner of the Mountain View Plaza.
Before that, the church rented the TransCanada Theatre. And before that, it was located in a building by the UFA Farm Store.
“We celebrate today. But we don’t celebrate alone,” pastor Ed Furst told the congregation.
“And we don’t just celebrate here, but all of our church families in Alberta and all around the world are celebrating with us, and they bring us greetings today.”
With that, messages of congratulations were beamed on a big screen from Home churches around the world, including Sundre, Turkey, India and Rwanda.
Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills MLA Nathan Cooper addressed the congregation via the big screen because at the time, he was self-isolating, awaiting results of a test for COVID19:
“Home Church does such an amazing job of building community, not just in Olds, but right across Mountain View County and truly through Central Alberta," Cooper said.
“I really hope that your new space and building is going to allow you to do that even more at a time when churches are so crucial to connecting people and building into the lives of others.”
He pointed out that long ago, churches, rather than governments, looked after health care and education.
"I just encourage you so very much to continue that good work, to continue the work of the church of building into the lives of others and making the lives of our community much richer,” Cooper said.
“Keep up the incredible work that you are all responsible for and may God continue to bless you.
“But more importantly than that, may God bless others through you and may God bless Alberta,” he added.
Mayor Michael Muzychka took to the stage to add his congratulations on behalf of the Town of Olds.
“Everybody has a spot, whether it’s a house or a condo or an apartment or a ranch, a farm or an acreage,” he said.
“We all bring our stuff and we put our stuff in our spot, but it’s not ‘till the family and friends show up with their hearts that it becomes a home.
“You guys here took a little different approach.
“You built the hearts and the families and brought them all together. You didn’t really have a spot at the time, but you grew and you grew and you did such incredible work in the community and we thank you for that.
“Today we're here to celebrate your spot. You finally have it," he added, sparking cheers and applause.
Home Church lead pastors Jachin and Rebecca Mullen also came up on the stage to cut the ribbon and declare the church officially open in its new home.
They also gave a gift, a framed copy of Psalm 27 from the Bible.
“One thing that I ask of the Lord, this one thing that I seek; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.”
The congregation applauded as the ribbon was cut and the facility was declared to be officially open.
