New things are happening at Unity Full Gospel Fellowship Church in New Boston. A ground breaking was held Thursday on the lot for a new facility. Richard Stiles, pastor of UFGFC, said they will call it Unity Fellowship Center.

“We are breaking ground for a new facility. We’re going to call it Unity Fellowship Center,” Stiles said. “We’re going to have a full court basketball court and a platform, or stage for concerts. It will be fully accessible for handicapped people.”

Their first priority for the new building is to compel people to faith in Jesus Christ.

“Our main objective is to win souls, people in the community, or whoever will come around,” he said. “Hopefully we will help the community and enhance the looks of it. We are trying to help the community, trying to build confidence in the community. These houses that were torn down were in pretty bad shape, and I think that since we have been here we’ve tried to enhance the beauty of the street and community.”

Mike Payton, councilman for the Village of New Boston, said they are both thrilled and proud to have UFGFC, and welcomes them to the community.

“On behalf of the Village, we are just thrilled to have all of these people here,” Payton said. “They took down some houses that needed to go, and they did it with all of their own money, they’re not using any tax money or anything, and they have come a long way. We are very proud to have them here in the church community of New Boston, and we are especially proud of the young people.”

UFGFC began eight years ago with Jack Howard who served as pastor of the church until June 1, 2014. The congregation materialized when a few people met on a Wednesday night Bible Study Oct. 5, 2005. By Oct. 23, 2005, the group rented a church in West Portsmouth, and had 38 people in attendance.

As the gathering continued to grow, a much larger space was needed to accommodate their growing church. Fall of 2006, the church had set goals to acquire funding needed to relocate. By June of 2007, UFGFC moved to their present location of 4221 Pine Street in New Boston.

In April of 2014, UFGFC purchased five parcels, consisting of four houses and one vacant lot, which is the future home of the Unity Fellowship Center. The construction of the new center is scheduled to begin in 30 days. The project is expected to reach completion some time in the fall according to Stiles.

Services for UFGFC are Sunday at 10 a.m, and 7 p.m., and Wednesday at 7 p.m.

Stiles said getting to this point with the project is a great feeling.

“It makes you feel good about yourself that people put their time and effort, and money into this,” he said. “When we get it done it’s going to be paid for. It’s just a great feeling to know that you don’t have to put a burden on your congregation.”

Article by Portia Williams 5/15/15 in the Portsmouth Daily Times
Reach Portia Williams at 740-353-3101, ext. 1929, or on Twitter @PortiaWillPDT.

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