Livonia church prepping for new worship space

It's been a busy past few months for the staff and members at Livonia's Bell Creek Church.

The parish began in 2003 and has done Sunday morning worship services out of Franklin High School. But starting in March, the non-denominational, evangelical church will host its first worship service at a new building, the former Faith Lutheran Church at 30000 Five Mile in Livonia.

"We didn't want to move anywhere else," said Joel Lindman, the church's senior pastor. "Now, we want it to be a hub for families."

The church moved into the former Lutheran facility, which held its final worship service Jan. 4 after voting to close and sell the building. Remaining parishioners have moved their worship to Holy Cross Lutheran, 30650 Six Mile.

Since then, Bell Creek parishioners and staff members have worked almost every day to prep the building for the congregation's arrival. That includes remodeling classrooms for children's ministries and constructing a new stage at the front of the sanctuary. The church's offices have since moved to the building from the former McKinley Elementary School near Franklin High School, and the plan is to begin offering services in the new building this Sunday, March 1.

Janet Branham, ministry coordinator for the church, said while she has not been at the site every weekend, she knows there's been a flurry of activity from volunteers since January working to get the building ready for worship.

"Pretty much every Saturday since the beginning of January, we've had volunteers here working at least until noon," the Allen Park resident said. "It's amazing."

Fred Wright, the church's pastor of prayer and discipleship, said it's clear to him there is still a need for a place of worship for many people, and he hopes Bell Creek Church is a place people can feel comfortable coming to.

"A lot of people in this area have given up on church and haven't gone to church in a long time," said Wright, a Livonia resident. "But we still do a lot of outreach, because we find there is still a hunger for God, for spiritual things."

While some people who pop in have a background in either a Catholic or Protestant church upbringing, Lindman said Bell Creek Church has seen many attendees come without an affiliation.

"You see the secular culture in Europe, and it's transported now, we're becoming more secular," he said. "Now, we're seeing people with no church background."

Activity all week

The church began after Lindman, a Farmington Hills resident, helped start Oak Pointe Church in Novi with others from Highland Park Baptist Church in Southfield. He and others saw a need for a similar church in the southeast corner of Livonia, and launched. Today, the church has more than 400 parishioners.

Lindman said the facility will have activity most days of the week. He said the addition of the gym at the new building will allow for the creation of possible indoor floor hockey and basketball leagues aimed at families.

"We're going to be somewhat creative on Saturdays," he said. "These will be very affordable. It's not going to be this never-ending season, either."

More information on the church can be found on the church's website at bellcreek.org.

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