Movement's community mindset

A former downtown hardware store has become the new home to Movement Church. The first in-person celebration was held Jan. 23, and the Rev. Eric Ferguson said the congregation is starting to settle in to the new space at 200 S. Main St. The 7,500-square-foot building includes a large, open sanctuary that can seat up to 200 people. There are spacious rooms for youngsters and a gathering space in the lobby with a coffee bar. Predominant colors are white, black and gray. "Honestly, from the very beginning when my wife and I started Movement, we said we wanted to be the heart of the city because we want to be here for the city," said Ferguson. Sunday services are held at 9 and 10:45 a.m., and online. The building has been a long time coming, said Ferguson, although it's never been a priority for church members. "We always say, 'Movement has never been about a building.' But, we just felt like over the last two or three years, that for us to take the next step in serving the community, we needed a place where we could connect with people," he said. After looking at several properties, they decided to purchase the former Ace Hardware store. Originally from Findlay, Ferguson and his wife, Kate, had moved to help start a church in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. They moved back to town in 2013 to start Movement. "We felt like God was calling us to start something here that connected maybe with people that wouldn't normally connect in a church. And really our desire was to start a church that was very much empowering people to live out God's mission in their lives," he explained. The church officially launched in October 2014. Services were held at Glenwood Middle School and drew up to 200 people. Ferguson said the name of the church is as important as its mission. "That's the name, Movement. So it's like, 'Hey, Movement is not about a person, it's about people. It's active.' And so all of that was important as we started this journey," he said. Even though they met at Glenwood, members have also had a presence downtown, said Ferguson. Early on, the church hosted lunches at the corner of East Sandusky and South Main streets, with donations going to different organizations like Children's Mentoring Connection and Habitat for Humanity. Members have also been involved in the annual Christmas carol sing at Dorney Plaza. "We've always said we want to be in the heart of the community," he said. Ferguson said the day Movement celebrated its fifth anniversary in 2019 was the day the announcement was made that they were going to start looking for a permanent location. "We also actually started an initiative called Made for More, and it was just this idea that God had more for us. So it wasn't just the building. It was, he wants us to do more in the community and even this building," he said. "As we talked about pursuing a permanent facility, it was about serving the community." The name "Movement" can be seen in bold white letters above the main entrance. Ferguson said church leadership debated whether to add the word "church," but decided against it. "Our big mindset was, we wanted it to be a community-use facility that Movement Church also meets in on the weekends," he said. They purchased the building a year ago, but hadn't planned to start remodeling until April. "And then COVID happened. We weren't sure what the right step was. We were trying to figure out our financial viability, all of that. On top of that, contractors weren't working," he said. Work started in September under the direction of Garlock Brothers Construction. A large stage area fronts the sanctuary. Ferguson sees this as an area that can also be used for other events. Everything is meant to be multipurpose use, he noted: Chairs can be removed from the sanctuary; tables can be placed in the lobby, where there is also a speaker system and television screens. Signs that hang like banners by the nursery, preschool and elementary rooms can also be taken down. "We wanted people to feel like it was home for them. We didn't want people to feel like they would have to retrofit into someone else's space, but rather it's for them," Ferguson said. A large, multi-paneled glass garage door can be shut between the sanctuary and the lobby. Ferguson said he's already talked with someone about hosting an after-school program at Movement. Another organization may hold parenting classes there. And although there are only 12 designated parking spaces, there are over 250 spots available within a block of the church. While he's glad to see the building finally coming together, Ferguson said the facility gives them a place to store equipment, and encourage and prepare churchgoers. "Every time we gather on a Sunday, the last thing we say is 'Go and be the church.' It is something that's in our DNA. And so honestly, we feel like we've remained strong as a community through COVID because we've always been about sending people out," he said. "The whole idea is so we can go and serve people."