With an eye toward the future, Triad Baptist will soon complete the latest addition to its South Main Street campus in Kernersville — its NextGen multipurpose building.

Expected to open in early July — the current occupancy date is July 6 — the $7.1 million building will give Triad three new floors of classroom and other multipurpose space adjacent to the Worship Center/Gym opened in 2014.

“The secret to our growth is really not a secret because it is something you see over and over in scripture and the process we’ve always followed,” said Lead Pastor Rob Decker. “We put Jesus Christ first in our worship, service, the way we connect with each other and reach out to the community, and move forward in faith to take hold of what He’s provided.

“This new building is the latest way we’re doing that, and the result will be further equipping Triad Baptist Christian Academy and all other Triad Baptist Church ministries to point lives to Christ in Kernersville and beyond.”

Advancing all ministries

Decker said the building simultaneously addresses dual ministry needs — the Academy’s need for more classrooms to educate and equip students for lives of service and the church’s need for more dedicated space.

“Most of the space on the main floor will be for the church,” Decker said. “There will be four new nursery rooms for nursing mothers, infants, crawlers, and walkers much more conveniently located for parents, a large multipurpose room groups can reserve for their meetings and a new choir room. Members will also be able to use the new exercise room in the addition with Nautilus equipment.”

Underscoring the Academy’s importance to evangelism, Decker said about one in three members now come to the church through the school.

“In years past, the assumption might have been that students and their parents already were grounded in faith but that clearly is not the case anymore,” he said. “The Academy is increasing an important part of accomplishing our mission of pointing lives towards Christ.”

Dennis Roberts, Triad’s executive administrator for Church and Academy Operations, said supply chain issues have caused some delays but the elevator was supposed to be installed on May 30.

“With the new nurseries, choir room, Nautilus equipment room, and large fellowship room, this new addition will advance all our ministries,” Roberts said. “The additional classrooms will enable the Academy to grow with large classes while allowing the youth area in the current building to be designated to the youth without sharing the classroom spaces with the Academy.”

Pinnacle Bank of North Carolina is financing the $10 million project which included $3 million to pay off the church’s existing mortgage.

Jeremy Chandler, the church’s creative communications director, is leading the NextGen Environment Team and Robin Harrelson the Nursery Team charged with picking paint colors, furniture and other furnishings that reflect the existing look and feel of existing church and Kids Street Children’s Ministry spaces.

The building’s exterior also will feature the updated logo unveiled April 30 for members at both services.

As for what’s next after NextGen, Decker said the pace of Kernersville’s Whicker Road extension project will guide the timing. The next phase of Triad’s long-range plan calls for a new sanctuary.