New Fellowship Church worship center will offer more of everything

DALLAS — Fellowship Church on Hildebrandt Road will soon have room for more — more people, more ministries and more fellowship.

The church, with roots in the Back Mountain dating back to 1981, held a groundbreaking ceremony following its Sunday service, looking forward to the opening of a new worship center on its property that will double the church’s capacity, bringing available seats to 600.

Dwight Hodne, a founding member of the church, said the construction is consistent with the church’s continuing commitment to providing room for others.

In the early days, Hodne said, that wasn’t always easy as the church moved from place to place every Sunday.

He drew laughter from the crowd when he recounted one Sunday when the congregation had planned to meet at College Misericordia (now Misericordia University), but when they got there, the auditorium they had planned to use was already in use.

Undeterred, the group moved to a science lab.

“There were many jokes that morning about ‘dissecting the Word,’” he said.

Lee Piatt told the crowd he had joined the church after it was established, finding a warm welcoming place for his young family.

“We found there was room for us here,” he said.

Piatt said many who had joined the church after its founding were newly married couples and those with young children. Many of those children have grown up and are now raising their own children in the church.

Pastor Marc Ramirez looked back on the project’s beginnings when, in early 2017, members and leadership committed to fundraising for the project which makes the church increasingly available to those in the Back Mountain and across the Wyoming Valley.

Ramirez said the project was entitled “A Legacy of Worship,” to reflect that it will benefit both current and future generations.

He said it was especially significant that the $3 million project’s first million dollars came in just before June 2, which was Youth Sunday.

Ramirez said it was fitting that a project based on families and young people would garner its financial footing on that day, reminding members of the long-term benefits of the project to the next generation.

The project, he said, would include an 8,000 square foot worship center, renovated restrooms and a relocated septic system.

It will also provide improved access to the church for those with disabilities.

“Today, we will put shovels in the ground to begin the construction of a worship center, based on our commitment of ‘room for more,’” he told nearly 400 people as they gathered for the groundbreaking.

The projected completion date for the construction of the church addition is 2020.

An architect’s rendering of what the new worship center will look like.

https://www.mydallaspost.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/web1_Phase-Approach-VE-1024×576.jpgAn architect’s rendering of what the new worship center will look like. Bill Tarutis | For Dallas Post

Founding Pastor Dwight Hodne, left, leads the groundbreaking of a new worship center with charter members of Fellowship Church in Dallas Sunday. Bill Tarutis | For Dallas Po

https://www.mydallaspost.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/web1_TDP061619FellowshipChurch_1.jpgFounding Pastor Dwight Hodne, left, leads the groundbreaking of a new worship center with charter members of Fellowship Church in Dallas Sunday. Bill Tarutis | For Dallas Po Bill Tarutis | For Dallas Post

Fellowship Church Lead Pastor Marc Ramirez, left, accepts an engraved shovel from Horst Construction president & CEO Harry Scheid during the groundbreaking of a new worship center.

https://www.mydallaspost.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/web1_TDP061619FellowshipChurch_2.jpgFellowship Church Lead Pastor Marc Ramirez, left, accepts an engraved shovel from Horst Construction president & CEO Harry Scheid during the groundbreaking of a new worship center. Bill Tarutis | For Dallas Post

A ceremonial engraved shovel and hard hats wait to be used for the groundbreaking of a new worship center at Fellowship Evangelical Free Church in Dallas.

https://www.mydallaspost.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/web1_TDP061619FellowshipChurch_3.jpgA ceremonial engraved shovel and hard hats wait to be used for the groundbreaking of a new worship center at Fellowship Evangelical Free Church in Dallas. Bill Tarutis | For Dallas Post

Fellowship Church Worship Pastor Karl Dyrli, left, and parishoner Sarah Griffiths sing a hymn as the congregation gathers outside for the groundbreaking ceremony.

https://www.mydallaspost.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/web1_TDP061619FellowshipChurch_4.jpgFellowship Church Worship Pastor Karl Dyrli, left, and parishoner Sarah Griffiths sing a hymn as the congregation gathers outside for the groundbreaking ceremony. Bill Tarutis | For Dallas Post

The Fellowship Church congregation sings a hymn as they gather for the groundbreaking ceremony.

https://www.mydallaspost.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/web1_TDP061619FellowshipChurch_5.jpgThe Fellowship Church congregation sings a hymn as they gather for the groundbreaking ceremony. Bill Tarutis | For Dallas Post

Fellowship Church founding Pastor Dwight Hodne gives an overview of church history during the groundbreaking ceremony.

https://www.mydallaspost.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/web1_TDP061619FellowshipChurch_6.jpgFellowship Church founding Pastor Dwight Hodne gives an overview of church history during the groundbreaking ceremony. Bill Tarutis | For Dallas Post