FAIRHOPE, Ala. — A dream over a decade in the making is closer than ever to reality as Fairhope United Methodist Church prepares to unveil their new recreation center.

Located behind the main church building on Section Street and Morphy Avenue, the grand opening is set for this Sunday.

The new building, officially named the Christian Life Center, has already received a nickname, “The Rock.” It is the second of a four-part building series that has been in the plans for 15 years, according to Senior Minister Joseph (Joe) Bullington. The first project to be completed was a nursery and children’s wing in 2002. A new sanctuary and an administrative wing are still in the planning stage. Bullington hopes the church can use the new recreation center to reach out to the community.

“Fairhope and Baldwin County are growing, and God’s sending these people our way,” he said. “We are wanting to position ourselves to meet the challenges and to minister to people as they arrive and to draw them into our fellowship and into a relationship with God.”

According to Bullington, Pitman-Brown Construction Co. served as contractor for the $7.3 million project. The 37,990-square-foot building has an occupant load of 2,562 people.

The recreation center will soon be home to a number of programs aimed to reach the community. According to Musial Pearson, director of church recreational ministries, organized sports offered will include “Upward” basketball and cheerleading, through “Upward Unlimited,” co-ed volleyball, adult basketball and senior volleyball. Other activities under consideration include a Friday and Saturday night variety hour, Tai Chi and Yoga and organized strength exercises for seniors.

Deanna Cook, Pearson’s administrative assistant, plans to implement a program called “Shape,” which will be open to children ages 12 and up and will include a short time of Bible study and some physical activity.

“We want to teach them the basics of life and how God wants us to treat our bodies, and to teach them to do that during their most formative years,” Cook said.

The recreation center will be open to the public seven days a week, and in addition to these programs, the building has much to offer. An exercise room with elliptical machines, treadmills and stationary bikes will be available and locker rooms, a walking track, Ping-Pong and pool tables, a state-of-the-art kitchen, video games and a gymnasium for basketball or volleyball. A computer station will be set up to help students with homework assignments and offer computer education classes for adults. Also, two coffee bars will be open on Sunday mornings and for special events.

A large fellowship hall with a small stage will be available for events such as potlucks or wedding receptions, and the gym, also equipped with a larger stage, will be used to house bigger events. According to Pearson, use of the facility is free.

“The Christian Life Center will be open to everyone,” he said. “Anyone who wants to come and participate may do so at no charge. Groups of people who want to come and use the facilities for various reasons may do so as well.”

Pearson also outlined a policy called “Safe Sanctuary” that the church plans on putting into practice. This ensures that no child will ever be left alone in the building with only one adult. There will always be two adults present in the building to make certain parents feel secure bringing their children to the center.

Cook and Pearson, along with other volunteers from the church, will staff the building. The hours of operation will be Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., Wednesday and Friday from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Sunday from 2 to 5 p.m.

The upper level of the two-story building will be almost entirely devoted to the youth. Youth worship services will be located in the youth room, or “The Attic,” and “The Loft” will house the computer area, the second coffee bar and the video game area complete with Wii and Playstation. The lower level will house the gym, fellowship hall and exercise room. The gym will also be the location of a weekly contemporary worship service at 10:30 a.m.

The church plans to host an ongoing event in the Christian Life Center called the “Discovery Series,” beginning on Aug. 17 and continuing through February of 2009. The August event, a concert with Steve Fee, will take place at 6:30 p.m. Rob Haynes, associate pastor, says the series will feature a wide variety of performers and speakers in hopes of drawing diverse audiences.

“The building itself is for many different generations and many different people groups, he said. “The Discovery Series, also, covers a large spectrum in hopes of touching all areas of the church and the community.”

Haynes also has hopes for what will be accomplished through the recreation center.

“My heart’s desire for that building is that it becomes a way (for the community) to see that Christ is a relationship more than just one hour on Sunday mornings,” he said. “This is a way that we can come together and share life.”

GRAND OPENING SCHEDULE

The grand opening of the Christian Life Center will begin this Sunday with a building tour at 9 a.m., followed at 10 by a worship service. At 4 p.m. games and fellowship for all ages will be available in the gym. The public is invited.

For more information about the Christian Life Center, contact Fairhope United Methodist Church at 928-1148, or visit their Web site at FairhopeUMC.org.