One of the largest churches in the Tri-Cities is about to get even bigger.
Bethel Church in Richland is opening another campus in Pasco next month to serve the west end of the city.
"Bethel just desires to be part of the community in west Pasco. We've looked at the tremendous growth over there and have a desire to meet the needs of young families," said Tim Phillips, director of Bethel West Pasco.
The first service will be 9 a.m. Sept. 7. The church is leasing space at Fairchild Cinemas.
The Pasco campus will have its own worship band and children's ministry. The sermon will be delivered via DVD by Bethel Pastor Dave Bechtel. People will watch it on the theater's movie screen, and it may eventually be simulcast from the Richland campus.
Bethel will remain one church with a single purpose and common leadership, Phillips said.
Reaching out to as many people as possible always has been part of the church's vision, he said.
"Bethel puts (an) emphasis on service. We don't want to be a church that just meets the needs of the people (who attend services). We're a part of the community," Phillips said.
West Pasco has seen dramatic growth over the last several years. Since 2000, city officials have issued permits for about 6,000 new homes, said Dave McDonald, city planner. A majority of those homes have been west of Road 36 and the airport.
Four new apartment complexes, with 1,100 units, also have been built in West Pasco since 2003, McDonald said.
"As the population grows, there needs to be facilities to serve those residents," he said. "(People) have to buy groceries. Restaurants, theaters and churches are a part of that."
Church leaders have discussed expanding to Pasco for about two years.
Bethel members already have done prayer walks in their new neighborhood and are spreading the word in the community about the new campus, Phillips said.
A series of run-throughs of Sunday services are planned this month to prepare for the September launch.
The church plans to open an office in Pasco, likely in mid-fall.
More and more churches across the country are beginning to meet at multiple sites to touch more people with their message, Phillips said.
"We can just effectively reach people without having to reproduce a whole new church," he said.
On the Net: Launch blog, www.bethellaunchpad.org; www.bethel-church.org
* Sara Schilling: 582-1402; sschilling@tricityherald.com
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