A POWERFUL cash injection has helped boost the Inspiration Church?s projected multi-purpose facility in Okehampton.
At a recent special offering, Inspiration, a church and registered charity, received £2,659.
Inspiration?s senior minister Mike Davies said the money would go towards converting premises in Northfield Road into a drop-in centre, training centre and offices.
In December 2001 the church bought two houses for £88,000 with the intention of converting them into one.
?It is by no means a small vision we have laid before us,? said Mr Davies.
?It takes time to raise £150,000. However, we are confident that finance will continue to flow in to enable us to finish the building project. Then we will be able to open a new facility in the town which will be to the benefit of us all.?
He said there were five stages required to bring the building into the 21st century with each costing in the region of £30,000.
Structural work was the first stage ? knocking the walls down and plastering ? which it is hoped will be completed within four months.
?Downstairs will be a cafe, crèche, and multi-functional facilities to cater for mothers and toddlers and youths. Upstairs will be a training centre and offices,? said Mr Davies.
The aim is to provide internet access and facilities that will be in keeping with modern requirements and so play a useful role in the community.
Organisations will be able to hold meetings there which will bring money in as well as providing doorstep facilities for the Inspiration Church activities.
?We have a meeting of 40 people and often find we cannot find a venue because the venues are already in use.
?We are paying a lot of money to rent accommodation and if we can use our own building we can put that money into our own project,? said Mr Davies.
He said they would like to attract the youth of the community to make use of the proposed facilities.
Mr Davies said the church had received support for the project not just from the people within Okehampton but also throughout the South West.