Church Expands Downtown Ministry

New Fellowship Missionary Baptist to launch $1.5M building downtown
The Macon Telegraph
March 30, 2007
At a time when some churches have left downtown Macon, New Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church isn't budging.
The church, an east Macon fixture for almost 30 years, will build a $1.5 million worship center and administration building on its campus near the Macon Coliseum.
'Everybody doesn't need to run off to the suburbs,' said the Rev. Ronald Terry, the church's pastor since its founding in 1978. 'Somebody needs to stay downtown.'
The church will break ground on the project at a ceremony Sunday at 3 p.m. on its property at 475 Church St. The featured speaker will be U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss.
The 19,000-square-foot construction will connect to the existing church building, which Terry said will house other ministries.
'This will give us room to increase what our young people do. We can expand our tutorial program, our dance ministry, and eventually we can get into arts ministry ... piano and voice,' said Terry, who is also an accomplished musician.
The existing sanctuary has been on the property since the early 1940s. Construction on the new building is expected to be finished in about a year. Terry said the site work and new worship center will help improve the sightline in east Macon.
'With a large cross extending toward the sky, it will add some new beauty,' he said.
New Fellowship's location puts it in position to serve downtown while benefitting from its proximity to destinations such as the Coliseum, the Coliseum Medical Centers and the nearby Georgia Sports and Music Halls of Fame.
If city officials have their way, there could also be a new hotel built in the area. Terry said he is a supporter of the hotel project.
'Hopefully, when people come to our city,' he said, 'this (church) will be one of the points of interest they will want to see.'
IF YOU GO
What: Groundbreaking at New Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church. U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss will speak.
Where: 475 Church St.
When: Ceremony at 3 p.m. Reception at 4 p.m.
Call: 473-8806
To contact Rodney Manley, call 744-4623




Church Expands Downtown
4/3/2007
Editor: Lindsay Crump

In the past few years many churches moved away from downtown Macon and headed to the suburbs, but one church is expanding its downtown ministry.Members of the New Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church broke ground on their new building on Church Street Sunday afternoon.Rev. Ronald Terry, the pastor, says the church started in east Macon nearly 30 years ago, and they plan to add a $1.5 million extension to their existing building.U.S. Senator Saxby Chambliss was the speaker at Sunday's groundbreaking ceremony.Reverend Terry says the new building will fill 19,000 square feet. He says the new building will also allow them to expand their youth ministry.