Peace Lutheran Breaks Ground for New Location - KOAM TV 7

A Joplin church takes it's first steps in the rebuilding phase, with a ground breaking.

Peace Lutheran Church members met at the new location off north 3100 St. Louis to break ground.

The old facility at 20th and Wisconsin Avenue was destroyed in the May 22nd 2011 tornado and since service has been held at Bethany Presbyterian Church.

The new property is 14 acres and will include a focus on the welcoming area, a sanctuary, a fellowship hall and a place for future worship and ministry programs.

Pastor Kathy Redpath says the location was key in rebuilding.

"People were within walking distance not too many of our congregation members are anymore out here I see neighborhoods all the way across the street there and while they may not walk to work or to worship, the potential is there and so it puts us back in the middle of residential area" says Redpath.

Pastor Redpath says she is not certain when the church will be finished.