Each weekend I write an article specifically for the congregation of First Baptist Church. It’s my way of trying to keep the congregation well-informed.

Today is the day for the tour of the new Worship Center, Connection Center, and the related areas. Next weekend we will hold our worship services in the new building (6:00 PM Saturday and 9:30 and 11:00 Sunday).

There are two things you need to know.

First, everything is different from what we have come to know and love.

While the room itself is not as much different than you would expect, the seating is twice the size of the current worship center. That, of course, gives a completely different feel to the room. The rows of the room are curved and the seating is theater style with four different colors of seats in random placement.

At the same time, the building is a highly relational building, where people can see one another and experience a time of community and fellowship. The building is much like the building on Jefferson Street in downtown Covington. That building also had seats where you could see other worshipers. Like the baptistery in that building, our new baptistery will be up close for viewing.

At this point, we still have different areas to complete. The choir risers and organ are borrowed. Our risers and organ will be in later in the spring. Also, some of the seating (in the back of the room) is not yet completed. We are waiting on additional seats.

One of the most striking parts of the room is that with our two worship services we will have extra seats. We are accustomed to filling the room and at times to overflow. Even with Easter and Christmas Eve, we should have plenty of seats for you to invite your friends.

Second, everything is the same. Our worship will be directed toward God. We will sing praises with correct theology and preach God’s Word. We will emphasize repentance and faith and faithfully proclaim the priority of Christ over all. “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation; because by Him everything was created, in heaven and on earth, the visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities–all things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and by Him all things hold together” (Colossians 1:15-17).

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