A building in Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania which used to be a former car dealership, has a new lease on life.
It’s recently been converted into a place of worship for two local churches.
Songs were sung and prayers were held in what used to be the former Gibbons Ford dealership on Main Street in Dickson City Sunday morning.
It’s now called the Cornerstone Alliance Church.
“Even in polling, when we got this building polling the people in our church half of the people in our community people had already been in one time or other buying a car,” said Reverend Nestor Soto.
It was the church’s second in-person service inside the new space this weekend.
There’s a combination of members from the Peckville Alliance Church in Blakely and the County Alliance Church in Clarks Summit at the new location.
Reverend Nestor Soto says the project, which merged the two congregations had a few setbacks, COVID-19 restrictions delaying up to a full year of preparation.
“To put in a lift would have costed more than the building itself was worth it. We were approached with the possibility of merging the two congregations, selling the three new buildings that both churches owned, and using the money to buy a new building that was modern, accessible, and at a high profile location,” said Soto.
Members say they are thankful for the newly accessible space.
“The handicapped could get in very easily. They don’t have the steps impeding them like we had at our previous church,” said David Longacre of Scott Township.
Reverend Soto says the new space can sit up to 177 people for its services.
“We were able to set up this sanctuary in such a way that people are socially distanced we’re masked and we’re able to gather together in a way to still enables us to be safe,” said Soto.
Church leaders say they will continue to host virtual services for their members who still might not feel comfortable attending in person just yet.
The pastor of Cornerstone Alliance says he has plans to eventually host an inaugural service sometime during the spring once most COVID-19 restrictions in Pennsylvania are lifted.
Source: Former car dealership turns into place of worship in Lackawanna County