Change was the subject of Youth Pastor Earl Henning’s first Sunday sermon in Cypress Point Community Church (CPCC)’s new youth center.
“We have changed buildings, stages, microphones and there’s an element of uncertainty,” Henning told the young congregation. As the church’s youth ministry gets used to its new home, known as “The Dwelling Place,” he reminded the Sunday service gathering at the center of what remains constant: “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today, and forever.”
Cypress Point’s lead Pastor Dean Reule says that the 10,000-sq.-ft Dwelling Place cost $1 million to build and sits beside the church’s main building, which can be accessed from Morris Bridge Rd., just north of Cross Creek Blvd.
There’s plenty at the youth center to interest young people in grades 7 to 12, such as room for basketball and volleyball, free-standing video games, snack bar, pool table, lounge area with cell phone-charging stations, rooms to meet in and special activities.
Reule notes that the new facility is the largest youth center in New Tampa, Wesley Chapel or Zephyrhills. He says the goal of The Dwelling Place is to provide a resource for young people.
“Many teens in the area are looking for something to do,” Reule says. “This generation has more discretionary time than any other generation and we want to stand in the gap and share our message with the teens of today and future generations.”
The nondenominational center will mainly be open for scheduled church activities at first, but there are plans to expand operating hours and community access in the next few months, possibly adding after-school hours a couple of days a week.
“We’re hoping we can open it up after school as a safe place to play basketball or do homework,” Henning says.
According to Reule, the new facility opens up new possibilities to serve the interests of its youngest members and neighbors.
“It’s a little bit of a blank canvas now,“ he says. “There are lots of ways for the church to engage the youth and be a positive impact on lives.”
The Dwelling Place is part of the student ministry at CPCC, which offers a variety of ongoing activities, such as movie nights, retreats, missions in the local community and beyond, as well as Sunday services promoted as, “Worth waking up for!”
One teenage church member who wakes up for Sunday services is Riley Denham, who anticipates good times in The Dwelling Place.
“It’s a fun place,” he says. “It has basketball and video games before services, and there’s a hang-out space where you can meet your friends.”
Riley’s father, Justin Denham, finds the facility uplifting.
“It’s a fun, friendly place where you can play some games and learn about Christ,” Justin says.
The new building is a visible indication of how much CPCC has grown since it consisted of a few families meeting in homes and rented spaces.
The center is the second phase of a three-part plan Reule and the church put together about five years ago.
The first phase successfully retired a $1 million debt on the main building. The third phase of the church’s plan is to remodel the main building to accommodate a counseling center.
The Dwelling Place of Cypress Point Community Church is located at 15820 Morris Bridge Rd. Learn more about it via social media at “The Dwelling Place at Cypress Point” on Facebook and on Twitter @dpnation1. The Dwelling Place website is DwellingPlaceYouth.com. Wednesday night services are held at 7 p.m. and Sunday services are at 9:30 a.m. & 11 a.m.
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