Pastor Johnny McKinney, left, and music director Rev. Tim Hall stand at the pulpit in the new sanctuary at Boulevard Baptist Church.

It has been 37 years since Boulevard Baptist Church dedicated a new sanctuary, but on Sunday, the newly renovated structure will be rededicated in a special service at 10:30 a.m. The church is located at 700 Boulevard in Anderson.

The public is invited to attend the worship service led by Pastor Johnny McKinney. Church members will provide lunch following the service.

Charter members of the congregation and former pastors will be recognized at the service. The Rev. Elwood Orr, who became pastor in 1970, presided at the sanctuary’s first dedication. He is a member of the church and will participate in the rededication service. The late Rev. Thomas Brown was the church’s first full-time pastor. Before McKinney came, Lee Prince and Bobby Morrow were pastors.

“This sanctuary holds a unique place in our hearts as a symbol of God’s presence during key parts of our faith journey,” McKinney said. “Memories have been made here and faith has been formed. What is best symbolized in the building is our relationship with God and with one another.”

Since April, the congregation has been meeting in the church’s Christian Activities Center.

Church members on the Building Renovation Committee helped plan and supervise the project, including Dr. John Walker, chair of the renovation committee; Dr. Sid Hays, Jason Collins, Billie Aman, Jean Hodgens, Gordon Hammond, Sandy McKinney, Becky Stoddard, Mary Beth Hillhouse, and David Thompson.

Ron Belton of Church Interiors in High Point, N.C., has been coordinator of the renovation project. Costs for the project are around $600,000, McKinney said.

Staff members involved in the day-to-day renovation process include McKinney; the Rev. Marcy Mynatt, minister of education; the Rev. Ellen Sechrest, minister to youth and children; and the Rev. Tim Hill, minister of music.

Included in the renovations was updating the organ by the Reuters Organ Company, Lawrence, Kan. New solid state circuitry was added to the original instrument, now valued at more than $1 million. Chad Martin is church organist.

For more information, call the church office at (864) 225-8693.

Source: Brena Walker, Boulevard Baptist Church