Visions

In the 1920s when Trinity was planned and built, the church leaders had a vision that it would be an integral part of the community. For that reason, they built a large community hall and also included a swimming pool and a gymnasium, both of which were unheard of in a church in those days. The pool served the church and the community well for over 70 years. One doesn't have to search long to find someone who says they learned to swim in the Trinity pool.

Approximately eight years ago maintaining this ancient pool became an impossible financial task. At that time church leaders reluctantly decided to close the pool. It has been an unused space since that time.

Current church leaders also have a vision. Their vision is to build a handicapped accessible community room with adjoining accessible restrooms in the space where the pool used to be. The plans for this room are a part of the current Capital Campaign. It is estimated that the total cost for this room will be approximately $400,000. To date, we have raised about $100,000 and are in the process of applying for grants to complete the project. We are seeking funding through Valley Gives 2013 to expedite this process and help make this vision a reality sooner rather than later.

A part of this vision is that future generations will say they attended an after school program, or learned English as a Second Language, or sang in the Children's Chorus of Springfield, or participated in citizenship classes at Trinity. All of these programs are currently happening at Trinity, but the new community room will expand the possibilities for these programs and will enable the creation of new opportunities as a part of Trinity's on-going urban ministry. Our neighborhood is undergoing change and in order to be a viable part of ministering to the the needs of the community, Trinity needs to grow and change. The addition of this handicapped accessible community room and the creation of new programs are two ways we are attempting to meet the needs of our neighbors.

Details of our current outreach programs, the impact they are having, and our visions for them in the future will be the subject of future postings over the next couple weeks.

To contribute to this campaign, click HERE.