Mars Alliance Church is located in Mars, Pa. not far from Exit 3 off the Pa. Turnpike. On May 17, 2003 Pastor Paul Cope provided a tour of their church complex. The focus of the tour was the recent addition that included a multi-purpose room, adjacent locker and shower areas, a large kitchen, classrooms, offices, a music room, a teen canteen, a Janitor's room, and many storage rooms. The addition has two floors with the multi-purpose room on the top floor.
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The tour started in the multi-purpose room. This room is used for basketball and other sports. It also seats about 500 for dinners. Large funeral dinners are also held in this room. There are events here nearly every day. The community is encouraged to use the facility. Locals are allowed to simply walk in and use it. It is rented out for a fee of $200 if the group is affiliated with a church member. Church members use it at no cost. Alcohol and dancing are prohibited at all times. Notice the large arches near the playing area. The basketball hoops are portable and can be stored away. |
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The multi-purpose room floor is made from a material called Lonecort. It cost about $20,000 for the complete floor. A hardwood floor would have cost about $80,000. It is one quarter inch thick vinyl with rubber underneath. It is easy to maintain. Once a year the wax is stripped and two new coats are applied. Otherwise it is buffed periodically. There are no seams to hold debris. The floor did not seem like it would lead to falls. Decals and other markings can be easily applied. |
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The multi-purpose room includes acoustic tiles on the ceiling and walls. Also, near the floor there is carpeting on the walls. The initial construction relied on the carpeting for good acoustics. This didn't work. The tiles were added at a cost of about $12,000. Acoustics in this room are now very good. It is important that acoustics be considered early in the design process. |
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The multi-purpose room includes a large stage on one side. The stage is used to seat spectators during athletic events. Also, the stage is used for plays and concerts. The stage floor is carpeted. There is a large screen near the front of the stage for films. A sound room exists just off the stage. |
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The kitchen is large and fully equipped. It is right next to the multi-purpose room. It includes a large stove, convection ovens, much storage area, a commercial freezer and refrigerator, large dishwasher, and a work area. It is equipped to handle dinners of about 500 people. The estimated cost of the kitchen is about $65,000. An expert should be hired to design the kitchen. |
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A spacious, nicely furnished narthex is located outside the multi-purpose room. This narthex separates the older portion of the church from the new addition. |
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A large classroom called the Sonshine Room is located just off the narthex. This classroom is used for adult Sunday School and for Bible studies. |
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Both men's and women's locker rooms are found next to the multipurpose room. Each has showers and bathroom facilities. |
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An Assistant Pastor's office is located next to the multi-purpose room. At Mars the Pastor's offices are not centrally located. The are spread all around the church. The telephone system and computer network allows easy communication between the pastors. |
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There is a roomy janitor's closet near the multi-purpose room. |
This completed the tour of the top floor of the new addition. The bottom floor can be gotten to by an elevator or various stairs. When basketball is being played in the multi-purpose room the sound is not a problem in the rooms downstairs. There is soundproofing between the floors that suppresses the noise.
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The downstairs area starts with a small, nicely decorated entrance room. |
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Most of the downstairs area consists of a long hallway with rooms on either side. The hallway floor is carpeted and the ceiling in the hall and all rooms is suspended. All downstairs rooms have cement block walls without drywall. |
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The downstairs includes a large storage room. |
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The Minister of Music has his office downstairs near the Music Room. |
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The Music Room is used for choir practice and small music recitals. It is also used for Bible Studies and other meetings. The room contains a piano. |
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The Music Room contains numerous sound deadening panels to help with acoustics. It also contains ample closet space. |
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The Cafe Impacte belongs to the teens. It is colorfully decorated. The teens can decorate this large room anyway they want. The room contains tables, chairs, and sofas. |
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Cafe Impacte has a kitchen and a sound system. |
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Downstairs there is another large room for pre-teens. This room is also colorfully decorated. It contains a seating area and game tables. |
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Two more downstairs rooms are a utility room with a washer and dryer and a workshop. The workshop is used by a group that meets weekly to do odd jobs around the church and study the Bible together. The group consists of about 30 people. |
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The final downstairs room is the Senior High classroom. Bible Studies and Sunday School are held here. Also, the room is used for various meetings. |
Other things learned during the visit to Mars Alliance Church include:
All rooms in the addition are air conditioned.
The addition cost about $1.3 million including the architect's fee. Their was no special campaign to raise money for the addition. When the work started on the addition the church was debt free and had enough money on hand for a downpayment of about $400,000.
Before the new addition was built average Sunday morning attendance was about 300. Three years after the addition was built average Sunday morning attendance is about 500.
The multi-purpose room is often used for basketball. A special program is run by the church called Upward Basketball for those in Grades 1 to 6.
The addition led to a very vibrant Awana group. This is a Bible study for youth aged 4 to sixth grade.
The original church building contained a room with a fireplace. The fireplace is seldom used and is not considered to be worth the expense or upkeep.
Final note: The group from Norwin thanked Pastor Cope for taking the time to provide an outstanding tour. Also, lunch was provided to the group by the Fellowship Committee at Mars. This was much appreciated also.