Church makes building a priority
By Claire Compton
After 26 years in Reston, the Martin Luther King Jr. Christian Church is beginning a fund-raising effort that would give the congregation a much bigger and sturdier building.
The church's current structure has been “like a dual trailer,” said the Rev. Jean Robinson-Casey, but the physical building hasn't been a priority in the past.
“They've been so involved in the outreach that they put the building on the back burner,” she said.
The congregation commissioned architectural plans several years ago but recently decided to begin fund-raising in earnest for the much larger building that will sit in the front of the current lot off North Shore Drive near the Lake Anne Village Center. The goal is to provide a sanctuary for a congregation that has grown steadily in its 26 years and to house expanded social programs.
The church's coffers have long been dedicated to intangibles, such as 13 annual $1,000 scholarships for students going to college, Robinson-Casey said. With a “couple hundred thousand” in the bank, the church has a solid start to raising the building cost, which she said will be “in excess of a couple million.”
The inaugural effort will be a dinner on March 29 that will feature author Randall Robertson as a speaker. The cost per person is $150.
Robinson-Casey is optimistic about a timeline for the building, saying she hopes “we can raise a good portion within a year's time.”
Building the structure will be a part of the larger calling Robinson-Casey said she feels, which is to build the community.
Part of the church's goal from its inception was to create a diverse congregation that reflected the community, a vision that is in keeping with its namesake's beliefs.
“You have to look at our name, Martin Luther King Jr. Christian Church. Dr. King emphasized all races, creeds and colors being together and worshiping together,” said Willie Brown, a member of the church for nearly 23 years. “Part of our mission is to make our congregation reflect the diversity that is in Reston.”
The church's community outreach has included its annual celebration of King's birthday at the Reston Community Center, which awards individuals and groups in the community for their contributions and encouragement of diversity.
Black History Month also means the church will be holding a few events throughout February. The next one will be a book signing by Jesse J. Holland, author of “Black Men Built the Capitol.” The church's youth group will host this event on Feb. 23 at 5:30 p.m. at the church.
The church will celebrate its 26th anniversary the following day on Feb. 24.
Brown said the community is up to the challenge of building the new structure, given its history.
“We realize it is a hill to climb. It is by faith that we are what we are now, and it is by faith that we will build our new church.”