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Date: 3/22/2023
AGAWAM — Bethany Assembly of God is starting renovations on its sanctuary and primary meeting space, which is the largest room in the facility at 580 Main St., as well as the surrounding lobby area.
Lead Pastor Stephen Thee said, “It’s about a 16,000-square foot-project. While we have tried to keep the facility in good repair and have done some minor upgrades on various places since 1984, we’ve never really completely renovated the space since that time.”
He went on to say, “There are a number of things that have become noticeably worn or broken that needed to be fixed, so we decided to undertake doing that all at once. We also wanted to update the technology and the look of the space, so that’s part of the project.”
In the lobby, the church is trying to create a space that invites people to gather and meet before and after worship services, and feels more welcoming and accessible. The current lobby space is very limited, Thee said.
Bethany Assembly of God was founded 119 years ago in Springfield, and has been in Agawam since building its large worship center — a landmark along Route 57 — in 1984.
Thee told Reminder Publishing these renovations will also help with the sound system of the church. It will improve access from stage to backstage for the worship team, choir and major productions. The renovations will also upgrade the lighting and replace broken items, like some pews.
In addition, the church plans to add a small cafe space, though initially it will be open for a limited schedule, primarily at times when people are meeting before and after worship services on Sundays, and perhaps on Wednesdays prior to service.
“The goal for the church in terms of our mission is to help people understand the good work of God. That is the ultimate goal,” Thee said. “It is the reason we are renovating our building, because we want a space where we can continue teaching and preaching about Jesus as effectively as possible. We just want to make our space as effective for those purposes as we can.”
The church has already gotten designs from an architect. The congregation has approved the project and now is working with a construction manager. This winter, the church has been fine-tuning plans with its structural engineers and starting some selective demolition. The construction project is expected to start in May. Thee said the church is not 100 percent sure when it will be completed, but the current estimate is to finish sometime between the end of 2023 and prior to Easter 2024.
Bethany Assembly of God’s office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Services are Sundays, 9 a.m. and 11 a.m., and Wednesdays at 7 p.m.
For a worship service livestream or more information on the church, visit www.bethany-ag.org.