“She said, ‘No, he doesn’t,’ ” recalls Paul McCart, pastor of Parkside Covenant Church. Jarose told him the story after he later approached her about donating the land to his congregation.
She told him yes. “She wanted to make sure a church was built on the property,” McCart says. So the 11-year-old congregation recently broke ground for its first building with Jarose attending the ceremony.
Jarose donated nearly six acres to the church, and sold another 13 to a developer who is a Christian. He paid for all the legal and property improvement so new housing and the church could be constructed.
Members of the congregation first met in a YMCA for several years and then moved to meeting in a local community building, McCart says. The new land is less than a mile off a highway, and on a road where housing continues to develop.
Due to growth of construction in the area, McCart knew land would be difficult to come by, so he obtained copy of property tax records to see what property might be available. He prayed over the possibilities and decided to approach Jarose.
McCart says construction is scheduled to be completed by spring in time for Easter services. The East Coast Conference will hold its annual meeting in the new building, “so it has to be built by May,” he adds, laughing.
The 9,500-square-foot building will include offices, classroom space and a sanctuary that will seat 285 people. Moveable classroom walls will enable the expansion of seating in the sanctuary, if it is needed. A coffee shop and bookstore also will be part of the building.
The congregation, which averages a Sunday attendance of 100, hopes the building will further its ability to work with community organizations in reaching out to people in the area. For example, Parkside would like to work with community groups to provide a Thanksgiving meal at the church for families.
Cost for construction will approach $1.5 million. McCart says he also is thankful for the assistance provided by the conference and National Covenant Properties, which provided a loan and offered guidance. “We couldn’t have done it without them.”
McCart also knows the building might not be possible if it were not for the generosity of a woman he had never met, but who wanted a church built. The congregation always will be reminded of Jarose’s gift. McCart wanted the street named after her, so the church will be located at 14 Jarose Place.
To watch a news clip of the groundbreaking, visit the Capital News.
