Rome Has Seven Hills; This Church Has Seven Domes

c. 2007 Religion News Service BIRMINGHAM, Ala. _ People driving by Faith Chapel Christian Center might get the feeling they’re passing a futuristic alien colony now that the church has built its seventh dome, giving the 137-acre campus an otherworldly appearance. Faith Chapel started with a $15 million, 3,000-seat sanctuary under a dome in 2000. […]

c. 2007 Religion News Service

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. _ People driving by Faith Chapel Christian Center might get the feeling they’re passing a futuristic alien colony now that the church has built its seventh dome, giving the 137-acre campus an otherworldly appearance.

Faith Chapel started with a $15 million, 3,000-seat sanctuary under a dome in 2000. The 6,000-member church recently inflated the roof on the last of six smaller domes built during a $20 million second phase of construction.


The smaller domes form a connecting complex of activity buildings that will soon house a bowling alley, skating rink, basketball court, banquet hall, fitness center, playground, teen disco and a smoke-free, alcohol-free adult nightclub.

“It’s an entertainment alternative for the whole family,” said the Rev. Debra Blaylock, the church’s assistant pastor. “There’s nothing like it anywhere in the city. We couldn’t find anywhere a church had all that in one place.”

The domes are inflated with air blown by fans. The last one went up Tuesday (May 15). “It took all of 15 minutes to do,” said William Robertson, director of capital improvements for Faith Chapel.

Since then, workers have been spraying a concrete coating inside to harden the roof.

The lobby dome will feature a climbing tower, 70 to 80 feet tall, with a sphere that will serve as a lookout platform at the top of the roof.

“It’s going to be spectacular,” Blaylock said. When it’s completed, people will be able to climb stairs inside the dome, then look out from atop the roof. That dome will serve as a massive lobby to the entertainment complex. It will be the entrance to all the other domes.

The dome project has been driven by the vision of church pastor Michael Moore that the congregation should cater to all of its members’ needs.

“It’s not like adults have a lot of choices in terms of Christian things to do,” Blaylock said.


“If you go to a bowling alley, there’s smoking,” she said. “We’re trying to get away from that. No smoking, no drinking, no cussing _ a Christian environment. It will be enforced.”

Social options especially are lacking in the area, she said.

“It’s going to revolutionize that side of town and present a great opportunity to minister to their social needs and get our teens off the streets,” Blaylock said.

The church has been paying cash as it goes on the project, funded entirely by donations from members. The interior work on the domes is scheduled to be finished by late 2008, Blaylock said.

(Greg Garrison writes for the Birmingham News in Birmingham, Ala.)

KRE/PH END GARRISON

Photos of Faith Chapel Christian Center available via https://religionnews.com.

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