The Bloomington-Normal Apostolic Christian Church located on the northwest corner of Towanda Barnes Road and Raab Road is adding a Fellowship Hall to its campus. The current property contains the main church building and parking lot. The Fellowship Hall will not be attached to the existing church building but will instead be built north and west of the building on the west side of the parking lot.
Andy Kaufmann, one of the church ministers, said the choice to build a second building was intentional.
“We actually talked about that,” said Kaufmann. “We actually felt that having it not attached would help families probably feel more welcome to use it for family reunions or gatherings like that, that they might find a little uncomfortable doing in the church. They would use this facility in that way.”
Kauffman said he church is “blessed with a congregation that cares about each other and wants to be together” and this facility will support that. It will host various activities during the week.
Blake Knapp, the architect for the building, said, “We tried to design a space that was flexible that would accommodate their varying sizes of activities, number of people, then also the different uses that it will have.” Knapp said they also tried to create a low maintenance space as well as a durable space since it will be used by youth. The space also includes an outdoor patio with features including a playground and barbeque pit.
The Normal Planning and Zoning Commission approved the project.
History of Bloomington Normal Apostolic Christian Church
Edited from the Bloomington-Normal Apostolic Christian Church Website
On Feb. 10, 1969, official sanction was given to begin a new Apostolic Christian Church in Bloomington-Normal. Arrangements were made to rent the facilities of the First Mennonite Church at 918 South University St. in Normal on Sunday afternoons. First worship services were held April 13, 1969.
In 1970, the church purchased a five-acre tract of land at the northwestern corner of East Oakland and Towanda-Barnes Road.
On Sunday, April 15, 1973, ground-breaking ceremonies were held at the church plot for a new house of worship. First services were held on Feb. 17, 1974.
In Nov., 1992, construction began on a new addition to the original church which provided much-needed space for the growing Sunday school. At the same time, the main entrance, baby room, and ladies’ restroom were expanded.
Although the new Sunday school addition was intended to be the first phase of a three-phase expansion program, the congregation voted to sell the original facility and build a new church on a larger tract of land. The church building was sold to Resurrection Lutheran Church.
The church subsequently purchased 20 acres at 4408 E. Raab Rd. Normal at the corner of Towanda-Barnes Rd. and Raab Rd. to build a new church. A ground-breaking ceremony was held on Sunday, Oct. 24, 1999.
The first worship service in the current church building was held on Nov. 1, 2000.
