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 UPDATE ON THE PRINCETON PROJECT (see details of the project below).
- Click here for photos of the project from the start to finish. (This is a .pdf PowerPoint presentation.
- Click here for photos of the first service in the new church.
DETAILS OF THE PROJECT:
ON THE MOVE . . . 
What happens when a church feels ready to make a move - a move toward evangelism, a move to help their community, and a move into more suitable church quarters?
 Just ask Jack Blume and the rest of the Princeton, IL congregation. They have been meeting in the same church for over 90 years. This building, the sanctuary of which measures 22 X 30 feet, and seats at most 48 people, is not even remotely handicap accessible, with steep steps into the building, and two small restrooms in the basement.
 This created a problem for the older members of the church, many of whom were no longer able to negotiate the steps into the building, or down to the restrooms, and so, hesitated to attend church at all. Facilities for the children of the church are also in the basement, and are all in the same large room, which is also used as the fellowship area. A tiny kitchen nestles next to the furnace in the only space available for it. Blume states “Our church is old, small and rather uninviting. It’s no wonder it is hard for us to attract new members. One of the last things I want to do before my days come to an end is to help our congregation in a campaign to replace our nearly 100 year old church building.”
In 2000 a building fund was established, and by Christmas of 2004, they had raised $63,000. At that time they kicked off a fund raising campaign, and contacted family and friends around the country, and by October 2005 had raised over $100,000. An anonymous donor purchased a 5.5 acre lot north of town, and donated it to the church as their new building site, and they have prepared the land, putting in a crushed rock driveway, parking lot, and a well.
 In March of 2005, member Jack Blume contacted the Adventist-laymen’s Services and Industries (ASI) organization, requesting help from Viorel Catarama, who is the current president of the Lake Union chapter of ASI. Elder Kenneth Denslow, Illinois Conference President met with Catarama and ASI member Chuck Randall and visited the Princeton church, and were shown around by Jack Blume. Catarama said “There is a feeling in that church that they are ready to do something and are anxious to work for God. They want a new church, not just to house themselves, but to serve their community.”
Because of that visit, the Lake Union Chapter of ASI chose to spend May 1-21, 2006 building the new worship facility for the Princeton, IL church. At the Spring Fellowship meetings in April of 2005, the Chapter raised $25,000 to be used as necessary for the project.
Students from Hinsdale and Broadview Academies, as well as other schools around the Union held an evangelistic series in Princeton at the same time, with ASI members and church groups from around the conference participating. They met in the Bureau County Metro Center in Princeton. In preparation for these meetings, a trainer from ASI’s Youth for Jesus group met with the students to train them in door-to-door ministry, in giving Bible studies and in how to connect with people. Amazing Facts sent two Bible workers to the area for four months prior, to help prepare.
This little church is well on its way to paying for the new worship facility. They had the materials onsite, the foundation completed, and the septic system in before the ASI group arrived. Volunteers helped in all areas of construction.
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