BROOKINGS – This year, in conjunction with GracePoint Wesleyan Church’s Trunk or Treat, a special celebration event will commemorate the completion of GracePoint’s Phase II building addition in 2018, revealing new resources available to the community. 

Featuring a Chamber ceremony and fellowship meal, the celebration event will take place from 4:30-5:30 p.m. Wednesday. Then at 6 p.m., doors will open to the public for children’s activities during Trunk or Treat.

GracePoint’s new building addition consists of a 20,000-square-foot multi-use community space including a large banquet room, children’s area, classrooms, chapel, and industrial kitchen. 

To begin the celebration event, a free meal of brats and burgers will be served in the great room, an all-new gathering place for community groups and organizations to host nonprofit events, fundraisers, socials, receptions, ceremonies and more. Guests will then have the opportunity to tour the new facility, including the dedicated children’s areas on the second floor of the building addition.

This is where GracePoint Preschool now conducts classes throughout the week, and where hundreds of kids from the Brookings area – and beyond – join in Sunday morning worship and Wednesday evening activities. The children’s area was designed by Worlds of WOW to create a themed environment and indoor playground, which includes a climbing wall and brilliant colors to engage young minds.

“With GracePoint’s focus on enriching family development and community connections, we’re excited to throw open the doors and invite Brookings in to explore this kids’ area and introduce new resources built specifically for that purpose,” said Dave Hopewell, pastor of Community Life ministries. “Holding this celebration event in conjunction with Trunk or Treat is a great opportunity for our friends and neighbors all over town to see a real demonstration of ways the new space is already being used to bring people together, cultivate positive experiences, and encourage growth for kids, families, and the community as a whole.”

The Chamber event will feature remarks from local dignitaries, culminating in a formal ribbon cutting ceremony. The building addition is intended to serve as a catalyst for additional growth in Brookings, offering long-term benefits to the missions of local organizations. 

The new space is already providing opportunities for GracePoint community partners – including Brookings County Youth Mentoring Program, Option 1 Women’s Health Center, Brookings Backpack Project, Brookings Empowerment Project, and others – to get creative about their initiatives for the 2018-19 year.

“We’re excited about how we can better serve our community in years ahead, and we hope you’ll be a part of this celebration moment as we look forward to continuing in God’s vision for GracePoint,” said Aaron Cloud, pastor of Ministry Development.

For more information, contact the GracePoint Wesleyan Church office at 692-6671, or visit www.gracepointwesleyan.org.