Louisville's St. Stephen ready to build $13 million sanctuary


By Peter Smith • psmith@courier-journal.com • October 26, 2008


St. Stephen Church, the largest African-American congregation in Kentucky, plans a new sanctuary that will be double the size of its current building in the California neighborhood.

The church will build a $13 million, 3,400-seat sanctuary west of 15th Street and north of Kentucky Street. It will sit across Kentucky from its current 1,700-seat sanctuary, said the pastor, the Rev. Kevin Cosby.

The project has long been in the planning stages, but Cosby said the church recently acquired the properties needed to go forward.

He planned to announce the project at the church's five weekend services beginning last night. He said the church is packing its 1,700-seat sanctuary for four services and its 1,200-seat satellite site in Jeffersonville, Ind., for a fifth.

"We have maxed out," he said.

He said churches that begin to get complacent in their success head into decline.

"We've always been willing to take calculated risks to advance the Kingdom of God," Cosby said, "and to be difference-makers in our community."

Gertie Owens, who leads the church board of trustees, said the new sanctuary will enable more people to worship at the same time.

"Everybody's just excited about it," she said. "Now we won't have to have as many services."

Cosby, who will be marking his 29th anniversary as pastor today, said that when he arrived, the church was "surrounded by liquor stores and nightclubs," but it has since acquired about 17 acres of contiguous property.

"God literally gave us the land of the Hittites, Canaanites, the Jebusites and the Bud Lights," Cosby said, paraphrasing a biblical passage about the Israelites who conquered the Promised Land from other tribes.

Most inner-city churches seeking to expand have to move out of the neighborhoods they originally served, he said.

Cosby said that the church would break ground in 2009 and hopes to open the new facility in 2010.



The church will hold a pledge drive in 2009, and has been approved for bank financing, he said.

The amount borrowed will depend on the amounts pledged up front, Cosby said, adding that contributions to the church have remained steady despite the economic slump.

He also projects that more people will attend the expanded church.

"This is not blind faith, it's calculated faith," he said. "We've done our homework. We realize as more people come to the church and are discipled, they will be inclined to support the church (financially)."

The new building will have large spaces to accommodate programs for singles, youth and the church choirs, while the existing sanctuary will be renovated to serve as a children's ministry area.

Cosby said the new sanctuary will be a functional brick building with few of the ornamental trappings of a church -- no steeple or stained-glass windows -- but plenty of large screens and modern sound systems.

"Every technology that the secular society uses to communicate its message must be baptized by the church," he said.

St. Stephen is one of Louisville's main examples of a megachurch, generally defined as a large, multipurpose congregation that typically conducts large, high-tech worship services while holding numerous small-group activities on its seven-day-a-week campus.

Cosby said he studied the approaches taken by numerous megachurches around the country, and in particular, drew from the work of Bob Russell, who guided Louisville's largest congregation, Southeast Christian Church, through four decades of growth.

"I've learned from him, I've sat at his feet," Cosby said.

Mayor Jerry Abramson's office applauded news of the expansion.

"Obviously this is a great church that serves a lot of people," said his spokesman Chris Poynter, "and we will work with them in every capacity to make sure their expansion is easily accommodated."

Metro Council member George Unseld, who represents the California neighborhood, agreed.

"The church is growing," he said. "It's been growing for the last 20 years."

Reporter Peter Smith can be reached at (502) 582-4469.


Welcome to My Guestbook

What do you thank about building a new worship center?


 


DEC 8

  posted by Ann  Johnson from  on December 08, 2008 1:36 PM


A Seed beginning to grow in the earth, soon becomes extra-ordinary large in growth. The Seed St. Stephens Baptist Church grows will reap out a mighty harvest. Keep growing some great seeds St Stephens


 


DEC 5

  posted by Andrew  White from  on December 05, 2008 11:46 AM


This project requires a quote for the St Stephen Missionary Baptist Church "we've come this far by Faith, leaning on the lord" Vision 2010!


 


DEC 5

  posted by Mary  Robinson from  on December 05, 2008 5:32 AM


This Project marks a new dream and beginning for the St. Stephen Baptist Church. Both Louisville and Indiana are building dreams..god bless you Rev Cosby,and your tremendous work


 


NOV 27

  posted by Ruby  Bell from United States on November 27, 2008 11:47 AM


you are the best worship center on this side of heaven. Maty GOD bless you in your sanctuary. Praises go up blessings come down.


 


NOV 21

  posted by Darlene Jones   from  on November 21, 2008 10:20 AM


God Bless and favor shine upon the wonderful vision and values of the St Stephen's Baptist Church and the Dreams you all will endure in the years to come


 


NOV 17

  posted by James   from  on November 17, 2008 11:19 AM


The Bible Declares, "Where there is no Vision the people parish" and i believe the Rev. Kevin Cosby and St Stephen Baptist Church are doing great works for the people of God, and for this community. God Bless You Rev. Cosby and the leadership you are doing for this city at St. Stephen


 


NOV 15

  posted by Angela  Lee Price from United States on November 15, 2008 2:33 PM


We bless God for all that He is doing through our pastor, our membership, and our community.


 


NOV 3

  posted by Paris Lee Smith, Sr. Family   from United States on November 03, 2008 7:10 PM


"We are so excited about what God has spoken to our Pastor as it pertains to the new worship facility. It is a great time in the history of the church to be a intricate part of building a legacy to the glory of Almighty God. Dr. Cosby's leadership is without a doubt unique and extraordinary! He has the ability to for see the possible in impossible situations! Our prayer is that God would enlarge our territory for God's glory. We as a family are onboard!"


 



1 - 8 of 8

DECEMBER 2008  NOVEMBER 2008  

admin*



SSCLIVE Church History Pastors Page State of the Church Building 4 Generations B4G Ad

 

Worship Services

Sunday

8am  9:40am 11:30am

 

Saturday  6pm

 

Bible Study

Wednesday @ 7pm

 

1018 South 15th St.

Louisville, KY. 40210

502.583.6798

 

 

Sunday 10:45am

 

Bible Study

Wednesday @ 6pm

 

2701 Veterans Pkwy

Jeff., IND 47130

502.583.6798

 

Building4Generations

Our New Worship Ctr.


Business Directory

 

Tithe.Offerings.

Donations

 

SSCWebsite Disclaimer