West Orlando Baptist Church plans 32,000-square-foot expansion

OCOEE — West Orlando Baptist Church has run out of space for its Sunday school offerings, and Pastor Kenric Barnett is relying on an upcoming expansion project to give the church the much-needed space for additional classrooms. The church is on East Crown Point Road halfway between Fullers Cross Road and Plant Street, in Ocoee; the expansion is in Winter Garden.

Barnett said the city of Winter Garden has approved preliminary plans for a new 750-seat sanctuary and more Sunday school space and offices, all of which total about 32,000 square feet.

“We’re lacking in the Sunday school classes right now, and it’s hurting our growth because they’re all full,” Barnett said.

The addition of eight rooms will be dedicated to adult classes.

The existing education building will be strictly a children’s facility with more security, including check-in and checkout points, he said. The church includes a preschool program for infants through grade K-4.

Barnett said he is hoping to break ground on the project in late summer or early fall; work is expected to take about 12 months. The $5 million project is being paid for through a church bond program.

The church was started in Pine Hills in 1971 and moved to the Ocoee location in 2001. Barnett began serving as the church’s youth pastor in 1998 and became senior pastor in 2007. West Orlando Baptist has a membership of nearly 700 and provides programs to the community such as AWANA and an archery ministry for children, Vacation Bible School and other camps, a Bright Lights discipleship group for girls and activities for teens and senior citizens.

The church offers Sunday school at 10 a.m., two morning worship services at 8:30 and 11 and an evening service at 6. Wednesday worship begins at 7 p.m.

Contact Amy Quesinberry Rhode at [email protected].