'Impact Center' breaks ground

LIMA - Members of the Cornerstone Harvest Church and the Lima community gathered at noon today for the groundbreaking ceremony of the church's latest facility, "The Impact Center."

Eight individuals, all active in the development of The Impact Center, stood with shovel in hand: including Senior Pastor David Roberts, Sister Sherri Roberts, Administrative Pastor Herb Ford, Parish Relations Pastor Darwin Lofton, Vice President of Tuttle Construction, Inc. Paul Crow, Allen County Chamber of Commerce Director Jed Metzger, Councilman Tommy Pitts and Union Bank Company's John Miller.

Friends and family of the church were also invited to bring their own shovels and take an active role in the ceremony.

"We hope this is a resource for the entire community, not just the church," Roberts said. "Our goal is that parents all over our city will take advantage of this facility."

The 32,000 square-foot Impact Center will include a full-court gym, equipped for volleyball and with four additional basketball rims. The center will also house a 1,600 square-foot teen lounge, a 2,000 square-foot fun zone for smaller children, as well as a performance center, numerous classrooms and a workout facility.

Planning for The Impact Center has been in the works for the past three to five years, Ford said.

Construction is expected to be complete by summer 2009.