A two-year renovation project designed to enhance aesthetics and expand services currently is underway at a thriving gospel-centered non-denominational parish.

The Ascent Church, 1750 Deer Creek Road in Monument, is building a new atrium and 750-seat worship center. The expansion will create more space and increase worship services capacity, enhance the aesthetic and spiritual atmosphere, and create a comfortable and welcoming environment.

“The front hallway on the front of the church is no longer there, and a beautiful atrium replacing the hallway extending 30 feet into the existing parking lot is in the works, hopefully to be completed by January,” Lead Pastor Brian Petak said. “A 750-seat worship center will break ground in January.”

The hope is that the worship center will be completed by December 2026. To date, $5.7 million has been raised for the $8-10 million project.

“It’s not a small thing for a congregation of 500-600 people,” Petak said. “But because we quickly raised $5.7 million in the spring, it’s clear the congregation is communicating that it is time for change.”

According to Petak, church interior renovation has been ongoing for years to update parts of the church that had fallen into disrepair. Congregants have long known the church lacked relational gathering space outside of the current worship center and sought to change that.

“A few years ago, we began making plans to expand the current lobby to include a more spacious atrium on the front of the church,” Petak said. “Not only to increase the useable square footage for gathering together, but also to create a more modern and welcoming entrance space where people can meet, enjoy a cup of coffee and have meaningful conversations.”

The atrium project began in August with the removal of hallways and exterior walls in order to make room for the new atrium that will now extend 30 feet into the existing parking lot and add almost 2,000 square feet to the facility.

According to Petak, the footers have been poured and the foundation will soon be arriving. Framing and walls will go up in the next few weeks.

“We recently gave the exterior of our church a fresh coat of paint after 32 years, so it has already looked like a different facility even before the expansion projects began,” Petak said.

“The worship center project is in its very early stages and we’re still out for bids. The worship center will add about 20,000 square feet and will double our worship service capacity. But we won’t break ground on that until the atrium is completed.”

Petak said the church hopes to finish the Phase One atrium project and take full occupancy by the end of January and move into Phase Two construction sometime next spring or summer.

“Right now, we are in phase one of our Make Room expansion project, which will include a new atrium gathering space along with a covered portico for families to drop people off at the new covered entrance before parking their car,” he said. “This requires some expansion of our parking lot, along with a retaining wall, to provide enough room for the new traffic pattern.”

Phase one will cost about $1.5 million to complete the new atrium and related project.

“While we are still gathering data and bids for the phase two new worship center construction, we know it is likely to cost over $5 million,” Petak said.

Church members and attenders are paying for all Make Room project phases. Also, they have assisted with interior renovations, expanded or re-purposed rooms and other projects to maximize the usefulness of spaces.

“We have a number of members who do contract work, so even some of our Make Room expansion projects include Ascent members contributing to the effort,” Petak said. “So many who call The Ascent Church home have contributed so generously to the cost of the projects. We could not move forward without the generosity of this committed church family.”

The Ascent Church has responded to the church’s Make Room initiative by committing $5.7 million over the next two years.

“Once all phases are completed, we will enjoy a new atrium for more relational gathering space,” Petak said. “The current worship center, originally built as a multi-purpose gymnasium, will be remodeled into more expanded atrium and gathering space, which will then transition into the new worship center.”

Community impact

Petak said renovations have positively impacted the community. Eight years ago, the church recognized that El Paso County had one of the highest youth suicide rates in the nation and sought to provide hope to local school students.

The church began holding annual Run4Hope 5K for Schools to benefit youth mental health and suicide prevention programming in local schools. To date, the church has raised more than $220,000 for programs to help more than 15 schools in D38 and D20 combat hopelessness leading students to take their own life.

“We hold an annual Monument Block Party each fall in our parking lot where we roast a pig, have live entertainment and games for kids. We feed over 500 people a great BBQ meal,” Petak said. “We also hold an annual Fall Festival at the end of October where our church facility becomes a safe, fun place for families with kids to enjoy a meal, play fun games and have a great time.”

The next festival is 6-8 p.m. on Oct. 29.

Petak also described the importance of the adult Base Camps.

“These are groups of typically 10-16 adults (with their kids) that meet weekly or semi-monthly for relationship, Bible discussion and prayer,” he said. “More than half of those who attend The Ascent Church are in these Base Camps.”

The church wants to make room for the growing community so more people can experience the hope, healing and freedom that Jesus offers everyone, Petak said.

“We want our church facility to reflect the aesthetic standards of the neighborhood and surrounding community, but know that buildings and facilities are only means to an end,” he said. “Our primary goal is to create a welcoming space where people of all ages, ethnicities and backgrounds can experience and respond to God.”

To learn more call 719-481-3600, email info@theascentchurch.com or visit www. theascentchurch.com.