The new Family Life Center at Liberty Baptist Church has progressed from a slab with the first steel beams being erected February 17th to a structure with brick trim and interior rooms being spotted in this week.

The facility is to be the center piece of expansion plans at the church, according to some of the deacons.

Deacon Larry Huckaby said the church felt they needed to expand to meet the needs of the community.

He said that the basketball court in the new building could double as a sanctuary if the church needs it, but the plan is to add a new sanctuary on the south after the new building is finished.

Completion of that family center is expected by mid June this year.

Huckaby said that in the new building they have 15 classrooms under construction, in addition to the gym and nursery space.

He and Deacon Ivan Bennette said the youth services programs at the church are one of the big pushes with the new center, and when they continue the expansion with a new sanctuary they are working on big plans for the '40s era church building.

"A food pantry, possibly a free medical clinic, Bennette said the church has yet to get to the point of firming up their intentions for their present church, since that is where services are still held.