Life Church, which is currently holding services in the Hartselle Fine Arts Center, is renovating the old Western Auto building downtown for their permanent church home. They are expected to be in the building in the next few weeks, according to campus pastor Jason Kennedy.| Andrea Williamson

Andrea Williamson

Hartselle Enquirer

One local church will be establishing a permanent home when their new building is completed next month.

The Hartselle campus of Life Church will be moving into the renovated Western Auto building on the corner of Main and Corsbie streets. The church previously met at the Hartselle Fine Arts Center, but they are looking forward to having a building to call their own. According to Life Church Minister Brad Sheats, the 90-minute weekly setup and clean up time in the rental building was not practical.

“We couldn’t stay portable,” Sheats said. “It was killing our people setting up and tearing down our church each week.”

The new building, though, does not just provide a permanent meeting place. For the Life Church staff, the building is also a way to further the church’s mission.

“I want our church to have a high level of influence in the community on every level,” Sheats said. “I want to be a resource to families from every socioeconomic class that helps them to become everything that God has called them to become.”

Hartselle Campus Minister Jason Kennedy said that the new building will be a tool for them to further reach into the community.

“The location is important,” Kennedy said. “Most Hartselle residents pass here at least once per week, especially people headed to the high school. All of Hartselle’s parades and festivals occur on Main Street, also.”

While the church is looking forward to its new building, the renovations have presented challenges.

“The challenge has been working with a building from 1967,” Sheats said. “We are working to bring it up to code without cutting any corners.”

The building, which began virtually as one large room, has been converted into a 250-seat sanctuary and separate foyer area. The back of the building has been made into a childrens’ wing with nurseries for babies, toddlers and preschoolers. A larger room at the back of the building, which was formerly used as a garage, has been made into a room for school-aged children with stadium seating. Other renovations have included installing new plumbing, painting and taking out the tiles in the ceiling. While crews are still working, Kennedy is confident that they will finish on time.

“We have a lot of work over the next few weeks,” Kennedy said. “I am confident we can beat it, though.”

For their grand opening week, the church is planning a community prayer luncheon, a combined communion service for both of their church campuses and a grand opening service Sun., Aug. 16.

Life Church began in Cullman in 2011. The church initially met in Sheats’ home, and then moved to a hotel and later a permanent building. Kennedy, who has served in ministry for 21 years and had previously worked with Sheats, came to Life Church in 2012 to help plant the Hartselle congregation. According to Sheats, the two worship services at 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. typically last one hour and 15 minutes. He said the services follow a modern style. They also have a 6:30 p.m. service for youth on Wednesday evenings.

Life Church is completely renovating the old Western Auto building to make a permanent home in downtown Hartselle. | Andrea Williamson

Part of Life Church’s renovation of the old Western Auto building includes stadium-style bleachers.| Andrea Williamson