The Hanging Rock Apostolic Church of God believes in growing together as a family of believers. Now, it’s time for them to grow in property as well.

The church broke ground Sunday for the construction of a new fellowship hall. Pastor Glenn Jenkins, 56, said the fellowship hall will be used for church functions and dinners, as well as wedding and baby showers and other ministries of the church.

“We have been in preparation for this for about four years,” Jenkins said.

Jenkins said the church has been at its present location since 1993 and has been using the previous church building for any activities.

Due to some maintenance issues, the members of the church decided a new facility was needed. They sold the old church and purchased property from the Hamilton Township trustees.

Jenkins doesn’t have a guess on how long it will take to build the fellowship hall.

“We’re going to build as we go,” he said. “We’re not going to go into debt. It’s been a thing of faith since we started. The Lord’s worked it out for us.”

Jenkins said some of the members will be helping in the construction of the building, just as they did in the construction of the sanctuary.

“This is my foundation,” Jenkins said of the church. “I have been with the church ever since I’ve been a child. I’ve been through three pastors before I took over the pastorship. My heart’s here and I want to see something for my children and grandchildren, and everybody else’s too. I believe the church is a stable environment and the community needs something that’s not changing all the time.”