The First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs plans to rebuild, nearly five months after a gunman killed 26 worshippers inside the church.
It's a multi-million dollar construction project that will include a worship center with a memorial tower. Pastor Frank Pomeroy says the worship site will be more than just beautiful buildings.
"This is going to be a gathering place...[for] the broken and those who are healing," Pomeroy said.
The first phase of the construction will include a new worship center, an educational building and a new parking lot.
The North American Mission Board (NAMB) is leading the construction and guaranteeing the funding through offering dollars and private donations. The organization is affiliated with the Southern Baptist convention.
The buildings will be located along Highway 87, on a new lot purchased next to the original First Baptist Church. The new church will seat up to 250 worshippers and will house a memorial tower to commemorate the 26 victims of the mass shooting.
The bell from First Baptist Church will hang in the memorial tower.
“The children, a lot of which we do not have with us anymore, our daughter included…their favorite thing on Sunday morning after Sunday school would be to rush to the bell to see who could get there first and ring it, to signify it’s time for church,” Sherri Pomeroy said.
A commons hall will connect the worship center and the educational building, which will house twelve rooms.
It's a $3 million project with security at the forefront. Myrick Gurosky + Associates (MG+A), an Alabama company, is providing all of the development, designs and construction oversights.
They could not release all of the security measures that would be put in place, but confirmed that the space will be well lit and the buildings will be equipped with a security system.
NAMB is seeking donations for the multi-million-dollar project. The announcement comes months after the Beldon Roofing Company, a San Antonio company, raised $1,165,620 to build a new church. We reached out to Bradford Beldon, who said MG+A was taking over the project, posting a similar response on the GoFundMe page. Yet, when we questioned MG+A about the fund, they said they did not have access to the money donated.
NAMB confirmed that the money raised from GoFundMe accounts was not being spent on the construction of the first phase.
It’s unclear how the money Beldon raised will be used or who has control of the account. In a text message, Beldon wrote that he is no longer involved in the construction of the church or have knowledge of the plans.
The GoFundMe was deactivated Tuesday night.
Pomeroy hopes the new church will bring peace and more unity to the already tight knit community.
“This is the week that’s leading up to Easter and what better way to celebrate the resurrection of the Lord than the resurrection of a new church," Pomeroy said.
The groundbreaking for the new buildings is set for May 5, 2018 and the first phase is expected to be done by spring of 2019.
If you would like to donate to the construction of the church and check out the plans visit Restore Sutherland Springs online.
The memorial at the church that honors the victims will stay in place.