From paper warehouse to a community hub

Living Word Church transforms warehouse into home for diverse businesses and organizations aimed at families

By TESHA M. CHRISTENSEN

An old paper warehouse in the heart of the Midway is being transformed into a hub of community-oriented businesses.

The vision of Living Word Church and World Outreach Ministries is in the beginning stages, but church members, community residents, and business owners are excited by what’s happening at the old Banta Corp. building at 655 Fairview Ave. N.

The 329,000-square-foot facility currently houses the 400-member church (with its door off N. Prior Ave.) in 50,000 square feet, with plenty of room left over for community-oriented organizations. The six organizations currently housed there in 60,000 square feet include Network for the Development of Children of African Descent (see page 10), Spirit Taekwondo, Element Boxing and Fitness (see page 8), West Bank Music School, St. Paul Ballet (see page 9) and R.E.A.D After School & Summer Development Center.

The vision of senior pastor Lesley Ford, Jr. and his wife, lead assistant pastor Rosella Ford, is a place in the city where the church can reach out and touch people within the community.

“Eventually, it will be the City of Hope, having anything that anyone in the city could need,” explained Living Word Church Administrative Assistant Sharon Ford, who is the pastors’ daughter. They envision a place that serves the community from birth to death.

“The space at 655 Fairview is rapidly becoming a model; a space for community building and communities,” remarked Network for the Development of Children of African Descent Executive Director Gevonee Ford, who is the son of Lesley and Rosella and the first tenant of the building.

Over the past three years, he’s watched additional organizations move in and bring their own energy and traffic. “They’re really connected to the community,” he remarked, “and it’s the community building community.” Gevonee is particularly excited to see adults modeling community building for children.

“I love the fact that all these businesses not only work toward the betterment of the individual, but also our surrounding communities,” observed Agnes Espino of Spirit Taekwondo. “Our businesses are in full support of each other while remaining independent.”

“We all serve young people in different ways to supplement their academic education and give them creative and physical enrichment,” remarked Lori Gleason of St. Paul Ballet.

“The synergy that I see and feel within my own business and other organizations here is one of those unexplainable beauties,” said Dalton Outlaw of Element Boxing and Fitness. “It’s everything that you would want from a community facility run by community people.”

Church moved in 2006

Living Word Church purchased the block-long facility in 2005 and moved in the next year.

The church had outgrown its home once again.

It had started in 1983 with seven people meeting in a backyard. As it grew, it went from a community center to a small church facility at 205 Otis, and then later into the gymnasium next door. When they outgrew that, they sold that property and the parking lot across the street to purchase the large Banta paper warehouse.

Two other tenants include Murphy Warehouse and Plush Pumpkins.

The church’s Crocheting for a Cause group meets each Wednesday from 12:30-2:30pm. Members crochet blankets for vets, sew caps for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, and give blankets to the Episcopal Home down the street. You can find out more at http://lwcwom.com.