Sunset Canyon Baptist readies to open new facility
CHURCH CORNER
If you’ve ever lived through a remodeling project of any size or if you’ve ever built a house, you know it’s not always an easy task. There’s always something – like plumbing problems, cost overruns, electrical issues, material delays, unlikely surprises and frustrations… period.
But at Sunset Canyon Baptist Church, the eightyear-long planning and building process for the new 20,000-square foot family life center has provided Pastor Lonnie Poe and his congregation with opportunities to work harder, solve problems and truly get to know – and accept – diversity and adversity together.
Poe, 53, who came with wife Deanne to Dripping Springs in 2003, said the project has allowed everyone involved to stretch spiritually to envision a place, not only for congregational activities but also a place for the community to gather and to work together.
“The building will house classrooms, a gym, multimedia room, a huge foyer, two baths and showers,” Dr. Poe explained. “It now will allow us to do what we always done in better ways, but it also opens doors to other activities.”
The Sunset Canyon congregation also will continue host meetings of community groups, town hall meetings and gatherings, such as Pound House Meetings– and the facilities also will used as a tool for ministry.
“We broke ground in August 2017,” the pastor continued, “but the vision began taking shape eight years. As we planned, we elected to wait out economic changes before moving ahead with intentional steps.”
The new Family Life Center is expected to be ready for occupancy by the end of May, in time for Sunset Canyon’s Vacation Bible School, planned June 25-28 from 8:30 a.m. until Noon.
“I think building can be a stressful experience – for anyone, but we’ve found, within this process, new gifts in some of our family members, and seeing them step up has been powerful.”
Poe, who grew up in Los Alamos, New Mexico, where his dad worked at the National Lab and his mother, a secretary there, gave his life to Christ at age 15 and pursued his ministry at Wayland Baptist College in Plainview (the closest Baptist university to New Mexico). With geography on his side, Poe met his wife Deanne at Wayland while both pursued their undergraduate degrees.
Earning his doctorate of ministry at Brite Divinity School, Texas Christian University, Poe’s path has continued to shape him in pastorates of all sizes.
“When people come to Sunset Canyon, they will find a diversity of families and individuals with different goals, views of the world, politics and their faith,” he said. “But our collective vision is one of pursuing life change through Christ with the support of this family of faith. Change is all around us – our school system, economy, everywhere you look on every horizon. God is in the business of life change – this is our heart…and our relationship with God, likewise, is a process of continual change and transformation.”
Then he added: “God is relentless in trying to see who we are –and we undergo an ongoing transformation until we meet Him, face to face.
“His church is always making a difference and facilitating this transformation – and in this process, we believe every individual has sphere of influence. Everyone is a minister, unique ministry, which we help launch with the church serving as an equipping center, a place of preparation for God’s people.”
Sunset Canyon Baptist Church (www.sunsetcanyonbaptistchurch.org) is ilocated at 4000 US Hwy 290. For more information,, email [email protected] call 512-894-0480.