Mar 29, 2006 6:44 pm US/Central
Plano Mega-Church Announces Expansion Plans
by Deborah Takahara
PLANO (CBS 11 News) ―
-
-
Prestonwood Baptist Church
CBS 11 News
A local mega-church has mega-plans for the future.
"We're to take the message to the neighborhoods," said Pastor Jack Graham in one of his sermons. "And if the people in these neighborhoods can't come to us, guess what, we're going to come to them."
Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano wants to add a second campus, and they're eyeing 120 acres of property 30 miles north of their current location, in the town of Prosper.
Church leaders are looking to serve a growing area, since 2000 of their 26,000 members already live north of Frisco.
Graham explained, "This is not a satellite church where you have the mothership and smaller versions. This will be literally one church at multiple locations."
The church has been thinking about this expansion for a couple years now.
"We want to make sure that our motive is always the right motive," said Graham. "Our purpose is never to build 'Prestonwood's Kingdom.' That means nothing to me. That means nothing to the members of this church."
Plans call for the two churches to be linked by technology. Pastor Graham envisions his messages being delivered by satellite. This idea doesn't seem to bother church members.
"In my opinion, anytime you get to hear the Word of God, whether it's on television or in person, you're going to be blessed," said church member Melissa Thompson.
Church leaders admit that opening a second location is going to be challenging.
Graham said, "This is something we've never done, so just with staff, requiring land, when you develop facilities, how is it financed. There are challenges. We don't think the challenges are too big for God."
The first challenge begins in the fall, when the church starts raising the $50-$60 million required for these expansion plans.
Nothing at the Plano campus will be changing.
(CBS 11 News)
Click to enlarge
Stumble It!
