Church opens new home

"This is what church is all about, it is a home."

Pastor Eddie Tupai, president of the North New Zealand Conference of the Seventh Day Adventist Church, cut the ribbon and formally opened "Our Place" on Sunday.

The new building on Page Street is home to the Stratford Seventh Day Adventist Church, and includes a drop-in centre, auditorium, church offices, a kitchen and more.

Stratford Pastor Bruce Mason says the church paid the deposit on the premises "a year and a day ago" and the final building "is far more than I had ever imagined it could be".

As well as being host to church services held on the Seventh Day Adventist Sabbath day of Saturday, the building will also play an important part in the Stratford community as a whole says Bruce. "Our drop-in centre provides people with a place to come to, people to talk to and we will be offering a range of services through it, addressing family violence and addiction issues within our community." Perhaps, he adds, "this community will become a better place because of this place".

Eddie says the opening of the new building is testament to the hard work, commitment and vision of church members.

This didn't happen overnight, it took time, money and a lot of hard work.

Pastor Eddie Tupai

Bruce says the finished building is perfect for their needs, and has words of praise for all involved in the project.

"The Taranaki Electricity Trust generously gave us funding in recognition of all the good work we do in the community which made a huge difference. Then all the people involved in the design and build, Greg Jeffares, Brian Sullivan, On the Go Services, Value Timber Supplies, JB Plumbing, Phil Boyes Electrical, The Carpet Mill, they were all great to deal with. A special mention also should go to John Richmond at Stratford District Council who was on hand, offering us advice and guidance when we needed it."

Bruce says he encourages people to come in and visit them and have a look around the new building. "It really is our place, open to everyone and we look forward to showing people around."