First Christian Church plans new building

First Christian Church has signed a contract for construction of a new church building on a 10.8-acre site on Mallard Lane on the east edge of Anna.

The design-build contract was inked with Holmes Architecture of Marion, said Don Rush, chairman of the church’s board of elders.

Groundbreaking for the building is expected in March, according to Jerry Smith, leader of the church’s building team. Completion is anticipated by the end of 2012.

Signing of the design-build contract follows completion of a capital stewardship campaign in which about $700,000 was pledged to be donated over three years. The capital campaign was led by Jerry and Donna Smith and Tim and Kendra Denny. A substantial part of the $700,000 pledged has already been donated.

Funds also will be realized from sale of existing properties.

Anna State Bank has provided a loan commitment for financing of any additional funds needed to complete the project.

The new facility will replace the church’s existing structure at 204 N. Main St. in Anna. The church has been located in its existing building for 104 years.

The church has three ministers led by Dee Armes, senior minister. Others are Gene Crosser, youth minister, and Jason Southward, music and evangelism minister.

Although it is located in Anna, the Bible-based nondenominational church has a regional congregation. Members live in Jackson, Johnson and Pulaski counties and Cape County, Missouri, as well as throughout Union County, according to senior minister Armes.

“The new building will be only a tool to help us carry out the Lord’s ministries,” Rush said.

First Christian Church was started in 1891 by William Rhodes, an Anna hardware merchant and Christian Church evangelist, in a second floor loft on West Vienna Street. It occupied two other buildings before moving to its current location in 1907.

Much of the current building was destroyed by fire in 1941, but was rebuilt and reoccupied later that year. The north two-thirds of the building was added on in the 1960s. Some current members attended the church when the fire occurred and later helped build the 1960s addition.

Historically the church has been family-oriented and mission-oriented. At least two families have been members for five generations. About one-third of the church’s income is spent on 39 missions worldwide, according to Rush.

The church has strong youth programs, led by youth minister Crosser, that reach beyond its membership. Most prominent among the youth programs is AWANA, a Biblical literacy outreach which fills the church on Wednesday evenings.

The church started eight years ago and continues today an after-school tutoring program led by Dr. Susan Spellman, a retired university professor. It has provided one-on-one tutoring to as many as 17 Anna-Jonesboro youths weekly.

The tutoring has been so successful that tutors also now come from other churches. The program meets in First Christian Church and Jonesboro Baptist Church.

The Mallard Lane land is extensive enough to accommodate both adult and youth outdoor activities. Pastor Armes said the church is looking forward to having Christian-oriented youth sports leagues on the site.

A picnic shelter has been erected on the property and has already been used for devotional and music events.

The building project is being managed by the church’s trustees. Trustees are Melissa Moore, Randy Schaefer and Stuart James.

The church has three pianists-organists: Sue Spellman, Evelyn Vicenzi and Mike Gambrill.