St. Paul Lutheran Church Getting 25-Year Face Lift

The pile of rubble that occupied the grounds of Monday was not caused by an act of god -- not exactly.

Demolition of the original church building is part of a plan to rejuvenate old buildings in an effort to cater to a younger congregation, according to senior pastor John Bush.

Bush said he employed a "task force" to inspect the church's buildings for strengths and weaknesses and help bring the facilities into the 21st century.

New features will include a fellowship center -- with seating for more than 400 people -- classrooms, a new nursery and new bathrooms.

The total remodel, which includes most of the church campus, is expected to take up to 25 years at a cost of about $10 million, according to Bush. Though the building interiors will change drastically, the exteriors will likely be similar to, if not the same as, the way they looked before demolition.

There are a number of phases slated for the church and workers recently initiated phase one, which will likely be completed before May 2013.

The St. Paul preschool building will not be changed and is not part of the rejuvenation Bush said.

The original church building was built in 1948 and has not been used as a worship center since the late 1960s.

"The new building will be a great addition for our younger families," Bush said.