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"It's extraordinarily exciting, rewarding and very humbling," were the words used by Pastor John Basheiri, as he talked about the opening of the his new church, the new Life Assembly of God. Doors swang open this past Sunday at the church's new home at 5146 Leonard Blvd. South, and crowds were expected to be at least 2,000 in number when you include membership and guests who attended services in a much larger sanctuary than the one the church occupied on the corner of Sunshine and Lee Blvd.

The new church is located on 42 acres and there's a beautiful lake in front of the very large building.

For the past couple of weeks, volunteer members of the church have been packing up everything at the old church and bringing it to the new church which is now the fourth largest building complex in Lehigh after Walmart, the new rebuilt Lehigh Elementary School and Lehigh Regional Medical Center.

"We have built for the future. Our old sanctuary was built to seat only 600 worshipers and we have 1,100 people each usually for both morning services," Basheiri said. "Our new sanctuary will seat 1,200 and in addition, there are three giant sized large flatscreen TVs mounted so anyone in the sanctuary can see Basheiri up close and any scripture or other printed materials he wants to be seen by such a massive congregation.

There are also large 52-inch flat screen TVs mounted in other areas of the building so if you're not in the sanctuary, you can still see and hear the sermon.

Late last week, while visiting the new church, Basheiri was asked if everything was going to be finished for this past Sunday's services and tours of the new church complex.

"We'll be ready to go, thanks to our volunteers," he smiled.

Workers were still on hand along with volunteers, making sure every little thing was finished, from polishing the floors to making sure the sound systems and video equipment worked.

"It'll all come together by Sunday," said Basheiri, a friendly man who has been the church's minister for over three decades, back to when he preached to a small congregation of 25 worshipers in the Masonic Lodge building on Ashlar Ave.

Construction on the new church started in April of last year. Members of the church and its building committee had been planning the project for three years. Land had been purchased several years ago, before the housing boom hit Lehigh three or four years ago. Members wanted a church that could be built in such a way that it could expand and Basheiri said it has a 30-year build-on plan if and when needed.

The cost of the new church is $8.3 million and Basheiri said those who built the earth sand-colored church were from Lehigh.

"We chose firms right here in Lehigh for the construction of our church. It kept a lot of people working while others in the community were losing their jobs when the construction business for new homes came to a halt," Basheiri said.

"I really want to praise all the local firms and all the volunteers here who helped make this possible. It's not me that did it. It is all the people who spent time here working to build this new church. It's all a credit to them and a church to glorify Jesus Christ," he said.

When the land was chosen, Basheiri said there were no homes in the area. It was all open land, just ripe for the soon-to-be development of mainly duplex homes.

"The closest people near our site was at Westminster Golf Club," he said. That gated community is a half mile from the new church.

"We chose this spot because it is a little closer to Fort Myers and we knew there were developments being planned and we wanted to be accessible to them.

Since the church has opened, the area has mushroomed with duplex homes in its neighborhood and the area is on the edges of an area that has been targeted for a Weed & Seed grant. The Lee County Sheriff's Office has tabbed that area and several additional neighborhoods toward the core of Lehigh as a high crime spot.

Now Basheiri wonders if it wasn't God's decision for us to buy this location.

"We are here for everyone who wants to find a home church. And we're definitely interested in having our neighbors, the people who live in this area, to come and worship with us and if they like what they see and hear, join our church," Basheiri said.

The church is a long structure, making it difficult to photograph, but the main entrance facing the lake is the main entrance into the building. There are many other ways to enter the building.

"When you enter this main area, you come into a very large tiled area with high ceilings. It is the church's main reception area. We will have tables and chairs in here and people can sit and have coffee, talk to one another and our youth can use it. It's very large and we wanted it to be that way so a lot of people would feel comfortable in it," Basheiri said.

In addition to a very large sanctuary, there are classrooms throughout the building for children and adults. There is also an area for the Pre-k school that the church runs. It has its own entrance and operates from Monday to Friday.

Bachieri said there are nearly 50 cams throughout the large complex for security.

"Our children in the Pre-K day school are very secure in the way we built our complex.

"We really got a good deal on the security system we use throughout the building. I was able to purchase a $35,000 system for much, much less because the store was going out of business," he said.

The church prides itself with youth programs and there are areas for kids to gather in the afternoons to do their homework and on Wednesday nights when there are services, to come and use the Internet for their homework.

Youngsters are a big part of this still growing church. On a typical Wednesday night, Bachieri said 75 to 100 teenagers will be in the building. There are some 225 kids between Kindergarten and 6th grade.

Bachieri said there are around 20 Assemblies of God spread throughout Southwest Florida and he is the overseer or presbyter of those churches. He is available if there are any problems or issues at any of the Assemblies.

New Life Assembly of God has been known for years for the work it does in the community. For as long as most people can remember, at the end of each summer, they supply backpacks for Lehigh Community Services to hand out with school supplies to needy families. They have an area in the complex in which they hand out food to those who have lost their jobs or can't afford to provide food for their families.

The men of the church help widowed women and single women take care of their cars with frequent oil changes and other things.

They fulfill their missions locally and overseas, thanks to the giving by church members.

Bachieri is 57, and his wife, Diane, are at the church almost every day of the week.

Anyone who has ever gone to the church will tell you it's like one big family and Bachieri is proud of that fact.

"Our people care for one another. They work together and that is how we are able to operate a large church like this," he said. "It takes good people and we have them here and we have them attending our services. I love Lehigh and the people here," he said.

As you enter the large main entrance, a Christian bookstore is located to the right. Store Manager Pam Adams says they offer all types of Christian books and literature, DVDs, CDs, clothing and a host of gifts.

"And we're planning to be open to the public in a few weeks," she said. It's just not for our members."

The new sanctuary has room for the 100-member choir of the church and at the back of the sanctuary, there is equipment for sound and video. Each sermon is taped and the church may soon make them available on DVDs.

There are two services on Sunday morning, from 10 to 11 a.m. and from 11 a.m. to noon.

It's Bachieri's belief that through the "wonderful people" of Lehigh and God that the new "New Life Assembly of God" has opened.

An invitation is always open to those in the community looking for a church home, Bachieri said.

"We want everyone to come and glorify God and his blessings. We want those who need spiritual help to visit us and we want those who feel God is leading them to a church like ours to attend our services and get to know us," he said.

It takes more than one minister to oversee a church as large as New Life. In addition to Bachieri, who preaches all the sermons, are Tim Bias, the head of music ministries, Nick Jones, head of student ministries, Rob Prieto, head of children's ministries and John Klunder, chairman of education.

When you enter the main entrance, you will likely first see Regina Barnett, the full-time receptionist. She has worshiped at the church for 20 years and has been receptionist there for 15 years.

Bachieri says each week an invitation to come forward to the altar is given and it is not uncommon for 50 or more people to come forward each Sunday to receive Christ as their savior.

"They leave with a life changing experience with Jesus Christ in their hearts," he said.

"That's what we are all about," he said.

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Member Comments

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1yrLARes
10-21-09 8:36 AM »Report Comment Abuse	There is some bad information in this story. First of all, Sunday services are at 8:30 and 11:00 a.m., not 10-11 and 11-12, with adult education classes going from 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. Also, Pastor John's last name has been misspelled throughout this article. It's a wonderful place to experience the presence of God, and I encourage those who do not have a church home to come attend.

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