Excitement was in the air as more than 200 members of the Las Vegas Paradise church gathered on Sept. 9 to celebrate a milestone in the church’s history. After 10 years since the completion of Phase 1, the long-awaited Phase 2 of the church building project was kicked off with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Construction of the church sanctuary can finally begin.

The project includes a 500-seat sanctuary, additional rooms, a baptistry and built-in room for expansion. With attendance averaging close to 400 each Sabbath, it will also provide relief from having to support two services every Sabbath.

“The reality is, Phase 2 of our building project could have been completed many years ago, but our church members stepped out in faith,” explained Pastor George McLain. The original blueprints for Phase 2 included a sanctuary that only held 325 people. After much prayer and fasting, the members felt that they should hold construction and go back to the drawing boards.

“All along the members have had their faith reconfirmed,” stated McLain, “since the redrawing of the building plans attendance each Sabbath has exceeded the original sanctuary size.”

To further confirm their faith, the church is going into Phase 2 with all debts for Phase 1 completely paid. Completion of Phase 2 is projected for February, and an evangelistic series is planned in celebration. “If needed after the evangelistic series, we’ll continue with two Sabbath services,” explained McLain.

The ground-breaking event began with a service in which the history of the church, organized in 1986, was presented by local church elder Ron Mackey, who was one of the original members. McLain spoke about the responsibility that comes with the enlarged facility and the vision of having to return to two services as the church continues its steady growth.

Members then gathered outside for the ribbon-cutting ceremony. To represent the work of the entire body in reaching this turning point, McLain was joined in the ribbon-cutting by Larry Pedrodalasol, head elder, and Candace Mendenhall, representing the youth and the future of the church. The members then joined hands in a large circle to ask God’s blessing on the new sanctuary.

After the ribbon cutting ceremony, members adjourned to the fellowship hall for a celebratory feast followed by a program put on by the social committee.