Suffolk News-Herald

St. Paul RZUA conducted a groundbreaking for a new sanctuary that will be designed to hold up to 350 people. The new structure is scheduled to be built by the early part of 2004.

Marcus T. Fenner is the chairman of the Department of Public Relations and has served as administrative assistant to Dr. Edward P. Foreman, pastor for the last three years. He said that the church of 200 membership’s desire is to build a better community and a church that ministers to the need of the community.

&uot;Jesus administers to the mind, body and soul which the total man today translates into education economically and spiritually. We have a desire to reach out to the people who do not attend church on a regular basis and community in the same way.

&uot;We also have an outreach ministry at West Haven Group Home in Portsmouth. In order to include this institution in our celebration and groundbreaking we donated an anniversary cake to them,&uot; said Fenner.

The anniversary cake displayed a Bible on the left and praying hands on the right and a

gigantic church in between. A Bible verse taken from Gebrews 3:4 was inscribed at the very top of the cake.

Foreman said that he and members have been trying to get a permit for the last three years to build the sanctuary. &uot;Many laws have changed and time prior to this one didn’t require so much red tape but now we are very glad that we can go on with our project,&uot; said Foreman.

St. Paul is located at 619 Spruce St.