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KEARNEY — Stan Murdoch, pastor at First Baptist Church, said the church is going through a two-part expansion — to meet the immediate needs and the future needs of the church.

The immediate needs of the church will be met with the church’s purchase of the First Church of Christ Scientist across the street from First Baptist Church.

Murdoch said the church has a need for classroom and office space, but what will be moved to the church across the street is still being discussed.

The second part of the expansion includes the purchase of 13½ acres at 56th Street and Sixth Avenue, the future building site of the church.

“I am most excited for the one on 56th Street because it’s saying God has a future for us,” Murdoch said.

Murdoch said many factors will determine the cost of the new church, with paperwork still being finished.

The church, with about 600 families, has seen a steady increase in the size of the congregation over time.

“The hope would be to continue the mission God has for us in the community and steady march forward so we never become content or comfortable,” Murdoch said. “Once you become content or comfortable, you stop caring.”

The church celebrated its 135th anniversary in October, recalling the one other building occupied by its members.

The old church on 22nd Street was built in 1874 and was occupied until 1973.

Murdoch said when the present church on 39th Street, 17 blocks north of the old church, was built, people asked, “Why are you building so far out of town?”

There were no houses around the current church when it was built, and there was just a farm across the road.

“Going to 56th Street is no different than when they built on 22nd Street and no different then when they built on 39th Street,” he said.

Murdoch said some day, 56th Street, another 17 blocks north of the current church, will not be an open field, but a busy street.

“The reason for 56th Street is just another process, and it goes back 135 years.”

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