Greenisland Baptist Church is an evangelical congregation meeting seven miles from Belfast along the north shore of Belfast Lough, with its building about to undergo demolition and rebuilding.
It was founded in 1996 after seven local people started to meet to pray for the community. The church had a number of temporary venues until 2000 when it purchased and renovated the old health centre at the heart of the village. Within a short space of time the Lord blessed the congregation, which grew fourfold. For the past ten years, a capacity of 200 for Sunday services has been severely strained. In 2006 the possibility of meeting in a replacement building at the current location, or elsewhere in the village, was explored.
So, last Autumn, the congregation moved out and handed over the premises to a construction firm to demolish and build a new resource that will enhance the mission to the local community. The building will be three storeys high with space for a crèche, coffee counter, Sunday club, Bible studies and offices for the Christians Against Poverty centre manager as well as the church pastor and associate pastor.
