Outlook: Greater Antioch's new church rising in Pascagoula

PASCAGOULA, Mississippi -- According to building permits that have been issued from January 2011 through this month from the Jackson County Planning Department, as well as from planners from the surrounding municipalities, there are few church constructions under way.

The newest church building going up in the county is The Greater Antioch Missionary Baptist Church in Pascagoula.

Antioch's sanctuary burned to the ground on Aug. 26, 2010. The smoke could be seen for miles around. The fire apparently started in a storage area on the north end of the building.

In November 2011, a groundbreaking for a new sanctuary was held at 1028 Denny Ave., the original site of the church.

Architect Dennis Cowart of Ocean Springs, who designed the new metal building, said the two-story sanctuary will feature stadium seating and be wired for up-to-date technology.

The new construction will include 10 Sunday school classrooms, two fellowship halls, meeting rooms, a board room and a choir rehearsal room.

The new building will cost about $3 million and is being constructed by TCM Construction of Long Beach.

In the city of Ocean Springs, aside from small additions to a few churches, there are no new churches being built.

In the city of Moss Point, a building permit was issued in September 2011 for the construction of Greater First Baptist Church on 6313 Plymouth St.

In the city of Gautier, "there are no churches under construction at this time," said Babs Logan, a planning technician with the city.

Excerpt from:
Outlook: Greater Antioch's new church rising in Pascagoula