New life springs from the ashes
Flames brought sorrow and then healing. Now there is excitement.
A new beginning is taking shape for a Levin church congregation, as plans get under way to build a new hall upon the ashes of the old one.
Levin Life Church’s children’s hall on Bledisloe St was gutted by fire on December 29 last year in a suspected arson. What was left standing had to be demolished.
Pastor Paul White said the hall had been the heart of the church, and five decades ofmemories and resources were destroyed in the fire.
After a nearly a year of planning, the church has hired a Palmerston North architectural firmto design a bigger and better hall to serve the congregation for decades to come.
The old hall, built in the 1960s, hosted church events, youth gatherings, a children’sministry and a variety of play groups and community organisations.
White said part of the insurance payout, and most of the church’s annual fundraising drive, went towards replacing the toys and equipment lost in the fire so children would miss out on as little as possible.
There was some money left over for a new hall.
The church considered buying an existing building and moving it to the site, but decided instead to take the time to fund amore ambitious replacement, White said.
He would not comment on the cost of the project, but said the fundraising target had yet to be set.
They met with Bruce Barry Architects to go over the first draft of the plans on Thursday and hoped to break ground within a year.
The new hall will be linked to the main church, and feature a commercialgrade kitchen and outdoor playground.
‘‘It was important to us that the new hall wasn’t just a church facility, but a community facility.
‘‘[For example] There’s a need in our community for cooking lessons, especially for young families, on how to pick and prepare healthy meals on a tight budget. A commercial scale kitchen would let us do that.’’
White said he has applied for funding with a few trusts, and the church was also organising a Givealittle page.
Church youth group organiser Hope Graham said it had been a difficult year, with the group sharing cramped quarters with the church’s op-shop. Many children haven’t visited for a long time because there wasn’t much there for them at the moment.
‘‘We’ve struggled ... but we’re willing to hold on for that little bit longer if it’ll be even better than it was before.’’
The kids were particularly excited about the playground.
Police remain eager to talk to anyone who might have information about the fire. Phone 105, or anonymously on 0800 555 111, and quote file number 18.
‘‘It was important to us that the new hall wasn’t just a church facility, but a community facility.’’
Paster Paul White