Wesleyan growing again

Steel girders frame the southeast corner of the Brookings Wesleyan Church, which is undergoing a 5,500-square foot expansion. Photo by Jill Fier/Register

• Brookings church adds new foyer area, community coffee shop

One of Brookings’ largest churches is growing again.

Less than a decade after its last major building project, Brookings Wesleyan Church is adding a new foyer area and a community coffee shop to the southeast side of its building.

Mills Construction started work on the addition in early May, and construction should wrap up in mid-December to early January.

Executive Pastor Kent White says the $1.2 million project will add 5,500 square feet to the church, which constructed new worship center space and classrooms in 2003.

The new coffee shop will be open during the week for anyone in the community to use, and a manager is already on board.

White said the church’s current foyer is inadequate, and Brookings Wesleyan wants to create a larger, more inviting space where members can enjoy fellowship before and after services. He said the coffee shop will also be a warm and inviting space, and visitors can come there to relax and connect with one another, enjoying good company and good coffee.

Because the latest Brookings Wesleyan addition is taking away some parking spaces and church membership continues to expand, officials also decided to finish the southeast corner of its parking lot.

White says the current work is Phase 1 of a two-part plan.

When finances allow for more work a couple of years down the road, the church plans to build on to the west side of the current addition. That will add another 18,000 square feet on two floors, making room for a large fellowship gathering/meeting area for church events and a new children’s ministry space, into which the Orchard Drive Preschool will likely move.

White says the church has an average weekend attendance of about 1,000 people.





Contact Jill Fier at jfier@brookingsregister.com.