Construction will begin soon on a $2.1 million 16,000 square foot expansion project at Victory Baptist Church.

The church is located off U. S. Highway 278 between Rockmart and Cedartown in the Fish Creek community.

E.A. Benefield of Cedartown is the contractor and Lyman Davidson Dooley, Inc. of Marietta is the architect.

The church rolled out a Lasting Legacy Building Program three years ago. Since that time, a total of $535,000 has been raised with about $225,000 paid out to architects, project managers and civil engineers.

On the first day, a total of $107,000 was donated for the building project. Each month, the congregation continues to give to the building program.

The new structure will provide a sanctuary with seating capacity for 830 people. It will also house a large choir loft, welcome center, baptistery with changing rooms, nursery facility and a front entrance drive through for easy access during inclement weather.

It will be erected where an older building now stands. An additional 290 parking spaces will also be added.

Rather than the long traditional church, the new facility will be wide and spacious, according to Pastor Barry Snapp.

“We have been told the back seats will only be 90 feet from the platform,” he said. “This indicates it will have a more intimate feeling for our congregation.”

No decision has been made regarding the current building. However, it will still be used for Sunday school since the new structure will not have space for these classes.

Attendance at the church has continued to grow in the last decade. It was at 80 percent capacity when Pastor Snapp arrived about 7 years ago. Today, it is at 100 percent with overflow seating in the lower level.

Last week, attendance was 560 for morning worship and 300 in Sunday school.

The current project is the first phase of the building program. Plans are to erect a sanctuary with a seating capacity of 1,500 in the next few years.

“There is plenty of space to grow,” said Joseph Davidson, student pastor. “The church owns about 49 acres of property at this location.”

Pastor Snapp said the church is not promoting a building program or people.

“Our primary focus is Jesus, helping those in need and spreading a message of hope and peace," he said.