The main auditorium features video projectors, cushioned seats that depart from old-fashioned church pews and a drummer's set, piano and choir seating on stage.

Upstairs, adult members of the congregation and teens can meet in several fellowship rooms. The ground level, which includes the children's auditorium for first- through sixth-graders, also has several nurseries with telephones and security cameras.

Thompson and other pastors said they want parents to know their children will be in safe hands.

"I love it," said Bible Center parishioner Fred Williams. "You feel like you're home, you know? It's exciting."

The building's design employs stone, glass and wood to give it a distinct feel, Pastor Lee Walker said. "The whole building is 'West Virginia outdoors,'" he said.

Thompson believes the environment helps to "capture all that beauty that God has created."

The expansive new sanctuary, estimated to cost $10.8 million, is just the first phase in church leaders' plans. A new school, daycare facility and an auditorium that seats more than 2,000 are other future goals.

"Who knows what the Lord will enable us to do," Jones said.

To contact staff writer Davin White, use e-mail or call 348-1254.  

"Church will never be the same," said Pastor Richard Thompson.

On Sunday, Thompson and his fellow pastors at Bible Center Church welcomed awestruck parishioners and community members to an open house at their new three-story facility near the Southridge Centre shopping plaza.

Thompson, the children's minister, handed out lollipops in the children's auditorium. The room is set up for puppet shows, dramas, skits and videos. Veggie Tales played on a couple of screens Sunday.

Four model trees envelope the audience's seats and give off a kind of outdoor feel. An old cabin and another faux tree on stage - complete with a raccoon, eagle and other puppets - are ready to go for the next show. Paul Roberts resets the colored lighting to evoke a sunrise, moonlight, sunset, daytime and "scary red" scenes.

Thompson described the room as Nickelodeon and Vacation Bible School rolled into one.

In adjacent rooms, children can play air hockey and battle it out on foosball tables. Nintendo Wii, GameCube, Playstation 2 and Xbox video games will keep kids like Drew Sockman, 12, busy before and after church services.

A youngster recently told Thompson, "Pastor Thompson, you said it was cool, but you didn't say it was awesome!"

"We're stepping away from tradition somewhat with this facility here," said Pastor Dave Jones, who oversees the church's care ministries.

Jones said leaders aimed for a comfortable environment that welcomes churchgoers. It replaces most of the purposes served by the 30-year-old Oakhurst Drive church, which will still house office space. Teens also will use the old auditorium and gym for their Wednesday night activities. The new facility will become the main location for all Sunday worship services, weekday Bible studies and activities, and Wednesday night ministries for children and adults.

The main auditorium seats about 1,100, Roberts said. Jones expects to scale down the number of Sunday morning services from three to two.

The church has an average congregation of about 1,700, Jones said. Of late, pastors have welcomed more than 2,000 some days, he said.

"As people began to know Christ as their savior our numbers began to grow," he said.

The main auditorium features video projectors, cushioned seats that depart from old-fashioned church pews and a drummer's set, piano and choir seating on stage.

Upstairs, adult members of the congregation and teens can meet in several fellowship rooms. The ground level, which includes the children's auditorium for first- through sixth-graders, also has several nurseries with telephones and security cameras.

Thompson and other pastors said they want parents to know their children will be in safe hands.

"I love it," said Bible Center parishioner Fred Williams. "You feel like you're home, you know? It's exciting."

The building's design employs stone, glass and wood to give it a distinct feel, Pastor Lee Walker said. "The whole building is 'West Virginia outdoors,'" he said.

Thompson believes the environment helps to "capture all that beauty that God has created."

The expansive new sanctuary, estimated to cost $10.8 million, is just the first phase in church leaders' plans. A new school, daycare facility and an auditorium that seats more than 2,000 are other future goals.

"Who knows what the Lord will enable us to do," Jones said.

To contact staff writer Davin White, use e-mail or call 348-1254.