After several months of being a portable church, Home Church in Sparta has found a long term facility in the old Train Depot building.
Pastor Chris Howard said the church has spent the last the last year and a half without a full time building. Howard said it feels great to get the facility, and he is excited about new opportunities to serve people during the week.
“God’s calling on our lives is also for the other 167 hours a week, not just the one hour a week that we’re together,” Howard said. “And so, we want to go be the church no matter where we are, no matter what our job is. We want to be what God called us to be no matter where that is.”
Howard said the months without a building showed him the resiliency of the congregants. Howard said he is excited to have a space where the church can apply what they’ve learned over that time.
Howard said the train depot has historically been a welcome symbol for the City of Sparta. Howard said the congregants of his church come from all kinds of backgrounds, and he thinks the depot building also symbolizes unity and hope.
“No matter what your background is or your relationship with Jesus has been, or the lack thereof, you have a seat at the table,” Howard said. “And you’re welcome home to call Home Church your home. And to find family and find meaningful connections.”
Howard said renovations at the depot started before Home Church bought it. He said the building is essentially a shell, and the church will have to build out to create spaces like the auditorium and children’s area.
“We will preserve as much of the history and the aesthetic of the old building, while also just making it functional,” Howard said. “Not just for church, but for other nonprofits in our community to be able to use that space for things they’re called to do.”
Howard said his hope is the building becomes a place people can meet, be it for the church or other organizations. He said the building will be modernized in function, but not so much in appearance. Howard said some changes will be made to ensure the building is up to code, and carpets will be installed in kids areas.
Howard said the building was purchased in March, and he is waiting on a building permit to do the renovations. He said it should take about five months of work to open the church after the permit comes in.
Howard said Home Church spent time at both White County High School and the YMCA before settling on the depot.
The Sparta Train Depot was built in 1970.
