Flat Creek – About two years ago, the Tribune covered the groundbreaking ceremony of a new Student Center at Brookstone Church. The event was held under a rainy sky, with about 100 people. As umbrellas helped shield many of the attendees from the cold rain to attend the event for a new building at Brookstone Church on Sunday evening January 9th, 2022. The new building was to house the church’s youth ministry for grades 6 through 12 and staff.
Now, just about 24 months later to the day, the first service was held in the facility this past Sunday (January 7th). Unlike two years ago, when it was a cold, rainy day and attendees stood out in the elements, this time it didn’t matter because the inside of the facility was warm and inviting.
The dedication service started Sunday evening at 6 pm and according to Brookstone Youth Pastor Sullivan Brady, “We are so excited to dedicate the new Brookstone Church Student Center and get this new chapter of Student Ministry kicked off! This new space is a nearly 10,000 square foot space designed specifically to engage the Youth Culture of our community not just during one service a week, but in various ways throughout the week! This is a place that students can stop by after school to play pick-up basketball or 4 square, stop by on their way to school for an early morning Bible Study, sign up for a pottery workshop, learn how to create digital content, shoot and edit pictures and videos, study for tests with tutors, work on homework together, develop their skills as musicians and of course worship the Lord and hear the gospel of Jesus Christ preached from God’s Word every week.”
Brady went on to say, “The Brookstone Youth Culture Staff will work in the office spaces and counsel students and families in the new counseling spaces. In the eight and a half years that I have been able to serve on staff at Brookstone Church, this is the most excited I’ve been about what is to come for the Youth Culture of Western North Carolina. This is a brand new tool in the toolbelt of God’s people to continue in the same mission we have always had, to introduce students to Jesus Christ, to teach them the Truth about God, and encourage them in their faith.”
“Students are looking for the place they will belong, and wondering who it is that loves them, this Student Center is where they can find a place to belong and discover the ultimate Love of God . God has provided for this project in full, as the 2 million dollar Student Center facility and furnishings are completely paid for,” said Brady. “Praise the Lord! Come and see what the Lord is doing among a culture of youth going after the Kingdom of Heaven right here in Weaverville!”
When the Tribune interviewed Brady two years ago, he said, “This is going to be a building specifically for the students to come and have a place of belonging, to be ministered to. Because we have a service every single week and last semester, our average attendance was 145 students, and our current space for students is overcapacity… So we have a need for a larger capacity area, and that’s what this building is.” According to Brady, the building is large enough to house 499 students during services. The original estimate of construction time was about 10 to 12 months, and it took nearly double the time, but now this center is ready for use and Pastor Brady and staff plans to do just that.