44 | COMMUNITY Onekawa Bible Church T T Russell Fredric New base for Onekawa Bible Church The church secured the three-acre site after considering alternatives, including an existing warehouse. A church building project taking shape on Napier’s city boundary funded through residential development will provide Onekawa Bible Church with a permanent base. The approximately 1200 square metre facility is being built on a three-acre former orchard site. It includes a 350-seat auditorium, ministry rooms, offices, prayer rooms, library, foyer and commercial-grade kitchen, with about 100 car parks. The financial strategy began with the church’s former property. After demolishing the old building, the land was subdivided and six houses were developed and sold during 2022 and 2023 to generate funds for the facility. An interest-free loan from a church member provided the initial capital, supplemented by borrowing through Christian Savings. The loans were repaid as the houses were sold, with local businesses involved. Pastor Phil Henderson says good stewardship and considered financial decisions are important for churches and individuals. “We want to be faithful with what the Lord gives us and if we use it wisely and make good decisions around investments and that kind of thing, then I think those are helpful and good things for Christians as individuals to do and also for churches as well.” The church secured the three-acre site after considering alternatives, including an existing warehouse. It obtained resource consent in 2019, but held off construction while developing the residential property and raising funds. In the meantime it has been meeting in local schools which has required an early morning set up for Sunday services. The total project, including the land, is estimated at about $5 million, with the building accounting for about $4 million. Draft plans were prepared about six years ago, with construction progressing after 18 months of preparation. The building has been designed by Auckland-based BSM Architects to accommodate Sunday services and weekly activities. Ministry rooms will support children’s programmes, while the auditorium and related facilities will provide space for weddings, funerals, conferences and other events. A large foyer is designed as a gathering area incorporating a café, while the commercial-grade kitchen will support events. A potential second stage would add a two-level sports and activity area. Local contractors involved in the project include JKL Roofing and two church members who respectively own Barley Electrical and electrical/automation business LAE, “who have both been super helpful and generous in this project,” Phil says. The church is aiming for a substantially watertight building by the end of this year, followed by internal fit-out, with the goal of moving in next year. “We’re all looking forward to getting into our own building because, as you can imagine, on a Sunday morning we have a set-up crew who are setting things up at seven o’clock in the morning. The church is really excited about the fact that it’s happening.” Three full-time pastoral staff support ministries covering children, youth, young adults, men, women, young parents and home groups. A community pastor works with primary and intermediate schools on after-school and holiday programmes. A July school-holiday programme attracted about 130 children, from community families. The church has grown from about 30 predominantly retired members 15 years ago to around 300 adults and children, with around 100 children under 15 attending on Sundays. “I’m thankful that our trustees were happy to go down the pathway we did. In hindsight, looking back, it was a real blessing and it’s been a financial blessing for us as well.”
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