Church building for the future

Church in the Gardens debuts new preschool, education center.

PALM BEACH GARDENS — A Palm Beach Gardens church with a long history had its future in mind when it proceeded with plans for a new, $3.3 million preschool and education center.

Church in the Gardens Senior Pastor Mark Miller said when he began leading the church seven and a half years ago, he realized the congregation of about 300 active members needed updated facilities in order to better serve young adults and couples with children. Those new facilities debuted Aug. 14.

Miller said he wanted Church in the Gardens to be “a vibrant, growing church that’s impacting our community and the world for Christ.”

The church at 3937 Holly Drive formerly known as First Church of God had a highly regarded preschool program, but the previous education center was overcrowded and outdated, he said. The center was built for $34,000 in 1968, and the preschool moved in 1974.

The new, two-story, 16,000square-foot school and youth building is the first of two phases o f wo r k . T h e s e c o n d p h a s e includes building a new fellowship hall and tearing down three houses the church owns to make more room for parking. There’s no timetable for that work, Miller said.

The church already has a youth group that meets during the week, but it plans to add a children’s group and a small group for students on Wednesday nights, Miller said.

It recently hired an associate pastor for family ministries and