THE NEW MINISTRY CENTRE (NMC) STORY

Why have we built a new Sanctuary and other facilities?  From the late 90's, the Church had grown tremendously.  Each Sunday the crowds at Nairobi Baptist Church kept spilling over, not only filling the stadium at the back of the old sanctuary but sitting on benches in the sun and rain.  The Youth also were outgrowing their 200 pax tent which had been pitched on the Sunday School playground.  Sunday School classes were taking place in all the rooms available the Church premises as well as the adjacent Daystar University Campus.  Everyone was crying out for more space!!

In the 1980s it was felt that, instead of constructing a ‘mega’ building, we should plant churches in various parts of the city, to enable people to worship near where they live.  We did that, but it didn’t solve the problem at NBC. 

By the 1990s, we were convinced we needed to accommodate those who were coming to the Church, and those who may not be coming because they wouldn’t get a seat.  We realised that, because the old Sanctuary could not accommodate properly those who wanted to attend the Church, we were hindering ministry.

The Sanctuary and Balcony seat almost 3,200 people.  There are offices for the Church staff, space for Sunday school, counselling, prayer, committee meetings, a library and smaller halls for groups such as the Youth and Children.  The old annex buildings which were still under the New Ministry Centre when it was being built were rehabilitated so that they blend in with the rest of the site.  These rehabilitated buildings served well for the new Sunday School Classes.

Funding:  The main method of raising funds was through donations made through pledges paid monthly or quarterly, and during the monthly Gift Sunday.  In addition, various groups in the Church organised fundraising activities, for example dinners, walks, sales.  We are grateful to all those of you who have been able to support the project faithfully.

For those of us who had the privilege of being closely involved in this huge task for the Lord, we were continually amazed and humbled at what God was doing in our midst.  When construction began in late September 2001, based on the cash flow estimates the contractors gave us, we would have run out of money by December 2001, just three months later.  But that didn’t happen because the contractors had been over-optimistic with the schedule they had planned.  This helped us, however, because we needed more time to raise the funds.  The situation remained the same until late 2003, i.e. there was always enough money for about three or four months, never more.  We now realise that, if we had had funds for, say, the next six months or more, we would have thought this was our building and we were doing it in our strength and we would stop depending on the Lord.  Praise Him that He has not allowed us to do that!

OPENING DAY - 21st AUGUST 2005

The Opening Day Service was a wonderful praise celebration.  It began with the congregation marching and singing across the bridge from the old Sanctuary, led by the combined choirs (senior, youth, children and the musical ensemble).  We sang many praise songs, we prayed, we dedicated the building and the ministries to the Lord, we read the Bible and we heard the Word. 

The office staff were very happy to be able to move to the new building on 16th June. 

Phase 2 of the project will probably include adequate parking space and provision for the aged and physically handicapped, which might require the installation of a lift in the new building.

Lynette Walters, Chairperson of the NMC Coordinating Committee