Providing new hope: Community church with humble start nearing completion

QUEENSBURY -- A church that began in a dentists office is about to move into a new, larger building.

New Hope Community Church has grown from a Bible study group that had its first meetings in a dentists waiting room to a congregation with four worship services for attendees.

The church is finishing construction of a building at 454 Corinth Road, between West Mountain and Exit 18, which has a large open sanctuary and foyer, several rooms for a childrens ministry and a youth room for those from grades 7 to 12.

The sanctuary connects to a kitchen, and can also be used as a banquet hall.

The church sits on 11 acres, some of which will be used for its existing summer soccer clinic.

New Hope currently rents a one-story office building on Bay Road across from the Queensbury town offices, and has services overflowing with attendees.

The new building more than doubles the churchs space from 6,000 square feet to 15,000 square feet. The sanctuary, which will seat about 400 people, also opens upward with a 28-foot high ceiling inside.

The people are the church. This building is just wood, said Don Hughes, a planning team member for the church, standing Thursday inside the hollow structure.

Church leaders said the congregation relied on God, connected with the community in various outreaches and given newcomers a comfortable environment. First-timers can choose to later receive a gift from the church delivered to their home, which includes a DVD about the church, an information packet and a loaf of bread.

In 2009, the congregation held an outdoor service on the new land for a dedication ceremony.

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Providing new hope: Community church with humble start nearing completion