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Life center covers all the bases
By JEAN JOHNSON BROOKSVILLE -- When talking about the new Sarah Alice Bronson Family Life Center at Faith Presbyterian Church, the Rev. Ronald DiNunzio talks about "offering the Lord the absolute best we can offer to him." The multifunction complex certainly does that. It houses a gymnasium where the community can play basketball and volleyball and hold rallies. The women's and men's locker rooms have showers and trainer tables. Offices and classrooms, a restaurant-size kitchen with pantry and a food preparation area complete the center. Faith Presbyterian began its master building plan in 1989 and completed the original sanctuary in June 1991. A new sanctuary was built six years ago. "It's changed over the years," DiNunzio said. "It's bigger than originally planned, but our needs have grown also. The plan we have built right now is not just to meet our current needs but to meet our future needs and the needs of those who come after us." Immediately after completing the new sanctuary, said Bob Pacitti, the building chairman, "we began working on the 19,000-square-foot life center, which took only 10 months to build." The 74-year-old Miami transplant said a committee worked with the contractor who built the sanctuary. After looking at numerous buildings elsewhere, they and an architect put together a plan. "We wanted to accommodate sports programs for the community and in-house facilities for social occasions . . . and have classrooms for Sunday school education. We wanted to incorporate it all," Pacitti said. He said the life center met everyone's requirements. "It's much more attractive than we pictured, and not only nice looking but functional." The center's director, Eddie Looper, had been a member of the church for about five years, was active as a deacon and had worked with various committees and boards. A Brooksville native, Looper knew his way around town, although he went to school at the University of Alabama and had been with the St. Louis Cardinals from 1986 to 1992. "Brooksville is where my family is, and it'll always be home for me," he said. His familiarity with the community and the church made Looper the perfect person for the newly created full-time director's position. The married father of a 9-month-old son has been instrumental in building up youth and other programs at the Bronson center. He already has plans for a wedding reception, a Boy Scout breakfast and fundraising banquets. The original sanctuary seated about 250 worshipers and accommodated about 120 as a fellowship hall. The new sanctuary seats 850, and the fellowship hall seats close to 600. The church has about 375 members, with an average weekend attendance of 450. Although the congregation has many snowbirds, DiNunzio said there are fewer than there used to be because many former part-timers are now full-timers. Between 85 and 95 young people show up at the center on Thursday nights. "The increase has come from the programs offered," said the 57-year-old pastor. "About half of the group comes from unchurched parents. The difference is we try to establish relationships. "It's interesting that the youth who come on Thursday most often are invited by members of the youth group because they're excited about what's going on. I think kids want to know the truth ... and even at this early age they see the world doesn't have a lot to offer them." DiNunzio said he's excited about today's youth because "this young group of teens is going to bring the new revival to America. It's the old song: 'Is that all there is?' They understand without Christ it's all meaningless." There is one more phase in the church's master building plan: a Christian education wing with 10 to 12 classrooms. Although the Bronson family devised a challenge fund offer that supported the new life center, the decision to name the center after Sarah Alice Bronson was made before the family's generosity. Mrs. Bronson, who died in December 2000 after a long battle with cancer, "was very dedicated to strengthening the youth in the ways of the Lord," said DiNunzio, "and her life reflected what she believed. She had been with the church for a long time, was a charter member of the First Presbyterian Church, and when they split she moved over here. "She loved the church and the youth and was an incredible lady, a very special person to the church and community." It was in 1987 that a majority of members of First Presbyterian Church, founded more than 100 years ago, decided that their parent church was too liberal. In 1991, 206 members dedicated a new building with the Rev. DiNunzio. Fast-forward to 2003. "We're fortunate to have a facility like this and will do what we can to get more people involved in the church," the pastor said. "Obviously, our goal is to reach out to the community and bring them in and help teach them the word of God and help change their lives and teach them that God can make a difference in their lives. We will do everything we can, whether through basketball, volleyball, the church or Bible study classes."
 © 2006 • All Rights Reserved • St. Petersburg Times
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