The Santa Clarita church recently opened the Christian LIFE Center, an 8,000-square foot facility used for health and evangelism, small-group Bible studies, women's ministry and community support projects, including Al Anon meetings. Members celebrated its opening at a special service April 10.

"The Christian Life Center is a place where Christian living is modeled, taught, experienced; where the family comes together for Christian growth," said Larry L. Caviness, SCC president. "The church has built a building, not just for ourselves, but it is a place for the community, where we can help people grow in learning to deal with their daily lives."

Referring to King Solomon’s dedication of the temple in 2 Chronicles 6, he affirmed that the building is a place “not only of prayers but of ministry. God has enabled the church to build the center—may we use it to the glory of God, to the service of His children.”

Throughout the celebration, the church recognized and thanked leaders and members who had taken on major responsibilities in the building campaign and construction. The major building project, which had been completed in eight months, drew the church family together in a three-year comprehensive effort. One spokesperson said, “Initially, Richard Guy spent his Christmas vacation from his work as a professor in UCLA’s Computer Sciences Department constructing a model of the proposed building.”

Members expressed appreciaton to current board chair Milton Hinkle; former chair Peter Thornburgh; facilities chair Dean Morford; gift campaign chair Richard Guy; and decorator Eloise Murdock. The church also recognized the work of architect Ralph Arnold; general contractors Guerth and Associates; former West Region director Dan Savino; and Caviness. Attendees also thanked Morford for his prayerful leadership nearly every week in the three years of planning for the building.

Santa Clarita Mayor Bob Kellar congratulated the congregation for the completion of the new building. “I know that the Christian Life Center is going to do a lot of great things in this community,” he said.

The Santa Clarita Christian LIFE Center project was approved in 1999 and completed at a cost of approximately $840,000—$530,000 of which was raised through the members’ gift campaign.