Church pleased with new start in Albion
Photos by Tom Rivers: Mike Outten, pastor of North Point Chapel, preaches his sermon this morning at the church, which celebrated its official launch in the former Albion United Methodist Church building.
ALBION – Mike Outten and the congregation at North Point Chapel were open to taking on the vacant historic church building in Albion’s Courthouse Square.
But Outten said the church wouldn’t be able to do it on their own. They would need God’s intervention.
North Point on October had no money in its bank account. Yet it had an opportunity to acquire the former United Methodist church building and a next-door parsonage for only $38,000.
Outten said the church was able to raise the funds by January’s closing. The sale still needs a final OK from the Attorney General’s Office.
“In October we said yes to purchasing this building,” Outten told the North Point congregation today, which met for the first time in the former United Methodist building. “Isn’t God awesome?”
In addition to the sale price, North Point is assuming the monthly cost of having wooden beams support the roof in the sanctuary. North Point also agreed to the $22,000 cost to have the company the put up the wooden support system remove the beams when a repair to the sanctuary roof is complete.
A projector displayed worship songs this morning at North Point, including the lyrics to “Man of Sorrows.”
For now, North Point is meeting in a double classroom as part of an addition to the church in 1959. The original church building dates to at least 1860.
Outten noted a historical marker by the church, which said it was formed from circuit riders who spread the Gospel message in the 1800s.
North Point will have an evangelical mission, striving to bring the Gospel message to Albion and Orleans County, while working on the church building and doing good work in the community, Outten said.
But the church has a higher mission, of helping people be drawn to Jesus, and experience the transforming power of God.
Rich Levandowski and Sarah Alexander are part of the worship team that led in singing “Man of Sorrows,” “Nothing but the Blood,” “Amazing Grace,” and “All I have is Christ.”
North Point had been meeting at the Arnold Gregory Office Building, the former Albion hospital. There were about 20 people attending the church, but that number doubled this morning with the launch service on Platt Street.
“We’re encouraged to see people come together to worship and to see new beginnings,” said Al Alexander, an elder in the church who lives in Barker.
Outten will have office hours in the church from Tuesdays through Fridays. On Thursday evenings Outten leads a Bible study at Tim Hortons.
The church will welcome two missions teams to Albion this summer. A group from Mississippi will lead a Vacation Bible School and street ministry from June 24-30. Another group from Georgia will help with evangelism, VBS and a basketball camp from July 24-29.
Samantha Flaherty holds her baby, Brantley, during this morning’s service, which started at 10:30.
