Church in China Demolished
Chinese officials have demolished a church in Wenzhou, raising suspicions in the Christian community that the act was a statement against the practice of the religion. Chinese officials have...
By: GeoBeats News
Church in China Demolished
Chinese officials have demolished a church in Wenzhou, raising suspicions in the Christian community that the act was a statement against the practice of the religion. Chinese officials have...
By: GeoBeats News
The new Next Generation Building and surrounding courtyard for Grandview Church in Dunnellon.
DUNNELLON Would you believe a church that has performed two miracles?
After building and paying off its church building in record time last year, Grand View Church in Dunnellon essentially has done it again.
Pastors James and Debbie Watts held a ribbon cutting on April 26 for their new youth facility, called the Next Generation Building.
Construction started in January and, by the week of April 14, the church had raised enough cash through offerings that it was able to receive a certificate of occupancy and were within two weeks of opening their doors to the congregations youth.
Members of the church, 12401 SW County Road 484, paid for everything outright. The building cost $245,000. The entire project including courtyard, site work, engineering, permitting, and so on cost more than $300,000.
The church has no mortgage and held no formal fundraisers. It did it all by passing the collection plate.
This was reminiscent of Grand Views announcement in February 2013, when it spent only 14 months paying off the $490,000 mortgage on the main building.
As with the youth building, that fund success was accomplished without any special drive.
Our previous youth area was about the size of a kitchen in our main building. Its amazing to have a place like this for our kids, said Len Campbell, church media director. Well do praise worship, teaching, play time and game activities. This is a very big change. Were looking forward to seeing how our young people respond to our new building.
Portland, ORE (PRWEB) May 05, 2014
The Oregon Supreme Court recently decided two major construction defect cases involving Ball Janik LLPs clients. Phillip Joseph and James Prichard, co-chairs of Ball Janik LLPs construction litigation practice, state that the opinions in these two cases (PIH Beaverton, LLC v. Super One, Inc., Or. No. SC S061488 April 24, 2014 and Sunset Presbyterian Church v. Brockamp & Jaeger, Inc., Or. No. SC S061171 April 24, 2014) resolve open questions regarding the timeliness of construction defect claims. Attorney Dan Goldstein from Ball Janik LLP argued both cases before the Oregon Supreme Court.
According to court documents, in PIH Beaverton, LLC v. Super One, Inc., the Oregon Supreme Court clarified the definition of substantial completion under Oregons statute of ultimate repose. The statute defines substantial completion as either the date when the owner confirms in writing the building is usable or, alternatively, when the owner accepts final completion by other means.
In PIH Beaverton, Ball Janik LLP represented a hotel owner with construction defects. The owner had posted a lien protective document entitled notice of completion, and the contractor argued that notice was sufficient written acceptance of usability to start the statutes of limitation and ultimate repose. Before the Oregon Supreme Court, Ball Janik LLP argued that the notice of completion is only for lien purposes, and contains no acceptance of usability. The Court agreed, and, according to court documents, went on to hold that without evidence of acceptance in writing, the statutes of limitation and ultimate repose do not begin to run until full completion of the project: the date on which the construction was fully complete, not the date on which it was sufficiently complete for its intended use or occupancy, ___OR___, No. SC S061171 slip op. at 17 (April 24, 2014).
In Sunset Presbyterian Church v. Brockamp & Jaeger, Inc., Ball Janik LLP represented a church with construction defects. In Sunset, the contractor asked the Oregon Supreme Court to dismiss the case based upon a time limit within the contract. Ball Janik LLP argued that the contractually-shortened limitation period was not effective because the contractor had not obtained an architects certification required by the contract. According to court documents, the Court agreed that the contractor could not rely on the contract clause without the architects certificate, and therefore refused to enforce the contractually-shortened statute of ultimate repose.
About Ball Janik LLP Ball Janik LLP has a national reputation in resolving construction claims for building owners, including construction claims pertaining to building envelope, structural, design, geotechnical, building product, mechanical, plumbing, and collapse.
Ball Janik LLP is a law firm headquartered in Portland, Oregon. For over thirty years, Ball Janik LLP has been offering outstanding legal services in the areas of bankruptcy and creditor rights, commercial litigation, construction, construction defect, employment, government affairs, government contracts, real estate and land use, and securities litigation.
The firm represents large and small businesses; state, municipal and local governments; associations and coalitions; schools and universities; and individuals. With more than 50 attorneys and government affairs specialists, Ball Janik LLP provides clients an aggressive, skilled, team approach to solve problems and achieve results. Ball Janik LLPs success has made it one of Portlands Most Admired Professional Firms, according to the Portland Business Journals 2013 survey questionnaire mailed to 3,200 CEOs in Oregon.
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Oregon Supreme Court Decisions Clarify Timing for Bringing Claims in Construction Cases
Liberty Church Pastors Bob and Frieda White are preparing to celebrate 30 years in the church that they founded on Mothers Day of 1984. Now, in what Frieda says can only be something that God could control, the church will open the doors of their new facility, located at 200 FM 2025, on Mothers Day of 2014.
The church began as Liberty Christian Fellowship on Houston St. in Cleveland and hosted a congregation of 36 people. Since then, the fellowship has amassed approximately 350-400 members.
We had no idea when we opened for the first time that we would ever be a church of this magnitude, said Bob, who felt called back to Cleveland after pastoring churches in El Dorado, Ark., and then traveling for four years with Frieda by his side.
In April 1986, the congregation moved to another Cleveland location on Washington Ave., where they grew steadily to over 300 members. That location, which was a lumber supply building before being converted to Liberty Christian Fellowship, was where they have held services for year while waiting for the move to a new location.
After plowing through some red tape to get the new facility approved for construction, church leaders and members celebrated the new location with a groundbreaking ceremony that took place on Dec. 9 of last year.
The $2.5 million project is a long way from the modest location that the church began praising within and has plenty of room for future membership growth and even overflow, if necessary, for occasions like the churchs annual Easter and Christmas programs.
We always have two productions each year and everyone in the community is invited not just members, said Frieda. We are hoping that with the new facility, we will be able to host four productions instead of two.
The new facility also includes a retention pond, expanded classrooms and a gymnasium, as well as a sanctuary, all included within its 20,000 feet. The sanctuary has four screens, including one massive visual wall for use during services. There is also a cafe with available wi-fi and a bookstore.
The money to fund the new facility was raised by church members over the course of nearly 10 years.
Its really remarkable how people have given to us, said Frieda.
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Liberty Church opening new facility on congregations 30-year anniversary
TWIN FALLS The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints completed construction of a meetinghouse that will service nearly 1,200 Twin Falls members.
A tour will be from 2-7 p.m. May
16-17 at 1134 North College Road in Twin Falls. The tour is open to the public and people of all faiths are welcome.
Local Christian churches are participating at the open house by featuring artwork in a display titled, Garden of the Lord.
In a gesture of Christian fellowship we have invited area ministries to come together to share their testimonies of the Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ through art. This unique combined effort will feature images from the birth, life, ministry, death and resurrection of the Savior, said Shellien Gilliland, director of public affairs for the stake, in a press release. We extend a welcome to Christians throughout the valley to come and witness the power of this exhibit.
The 19,402 square-foot meetinghouse is constructed of variegated brick and lancet arches. It consists of a chapel that seats approximately 300 people, a cultural hall for sports and cultural arts activities, 17 classrooms and three offices. The interior features, unique to this Heritage design, include an elevator to access the stage in the cultural hall, handicap ramp to the pulpit and a mothers room complete with audio feed from the chapel, sink and rocking chairs.
The three congregations that will be having their services in the new building include North Point Ward, Eighteenth Ward and Twelfth Ward, which were holding services in the North Caswell Road location. This additional building in the Twin Falls West Stake will also allow for less crowded conditions in the building on Harrison Road near Harrison Elementary since additional adjustments to meeting times and locations will be made.
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Construction Completed on LDS Church Meetinghouse
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By Zoe Li, CNN
updated 12:01 AM EDT, Fri May 2, 2014
The Sanjiang Church in Wenzhou had been demolished by April 28.
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
(CNN) -- A massive church was razed to the ground this week in Wenzhou, a coastal Chinese city nicknamed the "Jerusalem of the East" for its large Christian population.
Local officials responsible for the demolition say the church was an illegal structure that was four times the permitted structure size. But Christian groups are concerned that the demolition signals an official campaign against religious organizations.
The Sanjiang Church took 12 years and 30 million yuan ($4.7 million) to build, reports Chinese media. Its soaring spires were a symbol of worship in a city that is fifteen percent Christian.
The church's demolition on Monday was preceded by a month-long standoff between supporters of the church and local authorities, with supporters occupying the church to protest its destruction.
The church was originally a government-approved project under the official "Three-Self Patriotic Movement," a state-sanctioned Protestant church. Last September it was lauded by the local government as a model engineering project.
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China demolishes $4.7 million church
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Every corner of All Saints Anglican Church leaves Father Doug McGlynn in awe.
"I knew it would be gorgeous, and it is even more than I had thought," said McGlynn.
Setting foot inside the recently completed church transports you to 15th century England-- the church was designed to model a church of that time period.
"This is a church which attempts to capture the best of a period in Christian history, without losing all the advantages that modern technology can give us for communicating and reaching people and touching the world," said McGlynn.
Among the church's features are stained glass windows, ceilings with wooden beams, an English Baptismal font, and a chapel. Around 20 artifacts from Anglican cathedrals spanning all over the world will eventually live in the church.
The property also will include an education and office wing, as well as a garden.
Building Committee Chair John Simmons said finding the workmanship suited for this unique project was a top priority.
"We were told when we began this church that craftsmanship just didn't exist to do what we've done here, but we found that if you look, you can find people who can do a beautiful job," said Simmons. "The craftsman were available right here in this community."
McGlynn said the church should be able to serve the religious needs of at least 200 people, but believes there's higher potential.
"In our tradition, it's not unusual to have two or three services on a Sunday," he said. "We could get to the point where we had 600 or 700 members and still meet all their needs."
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A New Church in Springfield
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Every corner of All Saints Anglican Church leaves Father Doug McGlynn in awe.
"I knew it would be gorgeous, and it is even more than I had thought," said McGlynn.
Setting foot inside the recently completed church transports you to 15th century England-- the church was designed to model a church of that time period.
"This is a church which attempts to capture the best of a period in Christian history, without losing all the advantages that modern technology can give us for communicating and reaching people and touching the world," said McGlynn.
Among the church's features are stained glass windows, ceilings with wooden beams, an English Baptismal font, and a chapel. Around 20 artifacts from Anglican cathedrals spanning all over the world will eventually live in the church.
The property also will include an education and office wing, as well as a garden.
Building Committee Chair John Simmons said finding the workmanship suited for this unique project was a top priority.
"We were told when we began this church that craftsmanship just didn't exist to do what we've done here, but we found that if you look, you can find people who can do a beautiful job," said Simmons. "The craftsman were available right here in this community."
McGlynn said the church should be able to serve the religious needs of at least 200 people, but believes there's higher potential.
"In our tradition, it's not unusual to have two or three services on a Sunday," he said. "We could get to the point where we had 600 or 700 members and still meet all their needs."
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A New Church Opens in Springfield on Saturday
Posted: Friday, May 2, 2014 12:48 pm | Updated: 12:53 pm, Fri May 2, 2014.
STANDISH - For two decades, the town of Standish has sought to fix the five-way intersection, prone to congestion, where Oak Hill Road merges with Route 25 and intersects Route 35.
Now, following a failed 2013 bond issue meant to pay for the project, the town has finally commenced construction on a new cross-connector road designed to alleviate the traffic problems.
In early April, Gorham-based Shaw Brothers Construction began building the new road, which connects Oak Hill Road and Route 25 just west of the current intersection. The easternmost stretch of Oak Hill Road, a few hundred yards in length, will become Oak Hill Ext., a one-way street accessible only to westbound vehicles. The new cross-connector road, which runs past Standish House of Pizza, will become part of Oak Hill Road.
According to Town Manager Gordon Billington, the town has long sought to fix the intersection.
The project has been identified for a great many years by the town of Standish as a much-needed improvement, Billington said. Youll see it in earlier comprehensive plans dating back at least 20 years.
Momentum for the intersection improvements began to build after Gray-based Gorrill-Palmer Engineering identified the project in a Route 25 study with the towns Roadway Planning Committee in the mid-2000s, Billington said.
In 2013, town voters rejected a $500,000 bond that would have funded the improvements. Following the defeat, the town successfully applied for $500,000 in state-administered Municipal Partnership Initiative funds to complete the project. The town, using funds from a previous bond issue, has spent about $477,000 purchasing, demolishing and relocating two nearby structures in order to build the cross-connector road, according to Billington.
We were going to pay 100 percent out of taxpayer funding, so I think this is much better, certainly, having the state pay for the intersection improvements, he said. It is a failed intersection, so thats high on DOTs priority to address that.
The town has also acquired construction easements from abutters Paul Thompson and the Standish House of Pizza.
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Construction begins on Oak Hill Road connector
The City of Atlanta has made an offer to buy the Morris Brown campus, Invest Atlanta officials confirmed Thursday.
The $12.6 million offer, made in conjunction with Friendship Baptist Church, reportedly proposes giving part of the 37-acre property to the church and allows financially strapped Morris Brown to retain its historic buildings. The college has filed for bankruptcy.
If the offer is accepted, Atlanta would take control of such amenities as the colleges stadium, officials said.
Invest Atlanta Managing Director Eloisa Klementich said under the proposal, Atlanta will spend $9 million. Friendship Baptist, one of two churches that sold its property to make way for the new Atlanta Falcons stadium, will contribute $3.6 million. Invest Atlanta is the citys economic development agency.
Klementich said the city has many reasons for pursuing the property, including helping to redevelop the nearby communities and the Martin Luther King Jr. Drive corridor. The deal would also allow Morris Brown to continue offering educational programs.
Its an opportunity to make sure theres a comprehensive and cohesive strategy around whats happening in this very important part of town, making sure were supporting jobs and economic development as much as we can, she said. Thats the vision for us at this point.
Mayor Kasim Reed said in a statement Thursday that partnering with Friendship allows both parties a critical stake in the revitalization of the area.
If we succeed in this bid, it will bring much-needed stability and cohesiveness to these communities as we embark on a determined effort to spur job creation, civic engagement and business investment to the historic neighborhoods of Vine City and English Avenue, Reeds statement read.
Morris Brown president Stanley Pritchett could not be reached for comment Thursday.
Atlanta officials are playing a role in the $1.3 billion Atlanta Falcons stadium, including issuing $200 million in bonds backed by hotel-motel taxes for its construction. The stadium is within walking distance of the Morris Brown campus.
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Atlanta, church offer to buy Morris Brown land