Is this Real Life, Breaking Ground?
Photo illustration Real Life Ministries was scheduled to hold a special groundbreaking ceremony this afternoon at the future site of their new facility in Pinehurst. Pictured (from left) holding shovels are church elders Brad Kitchen, John Cook, Larry Curry, Pastor Gene Jacobs, Don Ferguson, John Wohlman and Richard Jansen.
PINEHURST — Earlier today a special groundbreaking ceremony was scheduled to take place by Real Life Ministries to signify the beginning of construction on their new facility.
Earlier this year it was announced that the 350-member church had purchased the 9-acre property between the Brewed Awakening coffee stand and the Goose ‘n the Tree restaurant with the intentions of building a new church campus facility that included an outdoor amphitheater, indoor playground and coffee shop.
They weren’t able to break ground as soon as they had hoped, but Pastor Gene Jacobs and his group of elders remained patient, believing that everything that needed to happen, would happen when the time was right.
“It’s exciting. It’s actually happening,” Jacobs said following the groundbreaking. “We had hoped to get to work during the warmer time of the year, but that didn’t work out.”
More than anything Jacobs is excited to be serving the Silver Valley community.
“We have a cool chance to serve the community here in a big way,” Jacobs said. “We know Jesus put us here for a purpose and we get to walk in that purpose for a bit right now.”
Real Life Pinehurst has been occupying a space at 10 S. Division St., for the last 12 years, but even in their early stages, Jacobs knew it wouldn’t be enough space for how they envisioned serving the community and had actually been eyeing their new property for some time.
“We knew this wouldn’t be our ultimate home,” Jacobs said in a previous interview. “We weren’t sure if we were going to be an official church, or how we were going to serve the community. We put in the cafe and thrift store just as a way to serve the Valley.”
Jacobs is very thankful for the support from the city of Pinehurst, including mayor Bob Jutila, the City Council and the Pinehurst Water Board.
Winter construction projects can be unpredictable in nature, but they are hoping to be in the new facility as soon as humanly possible.
“We’ll be out there with shovels helping them move snow if it will help them make progress faster,” said Real Life Elder Brad Kitchen.