The Best Laid Plans

The Sanctuary Renovation Then and Now

By Tom Jenkins, Photos by Joshua Rodgers

A plaque is posted on the old audio-video booth’s door in the back of the sanctuary balcony. It reads: “In memory of W.W. Langerfeld for his many contributions and dedicated service to the Audio-Visual Ministry of First Baptist Church. October 1st, 1962 – March 23rd, 1978.” I never got to meet Mr. Langerfeld, but I imagine him to be a man of quiet patience and dedication. He ran our audio-visual ministries for almost 16 years, so I imagine he dealt with many issues during his tenure! The plaque is a testament not only to the man but to the forward-thinking, technology-appreciating congregation who built the sanctuary in the 1960s. And then to the congregation who erected the Applegate building in the 1970s.

When both buildings were built, they were planned to include the latest technology for audio-video ministries. The sanctuary incorporated a well-equipped audio-video room; full of equipment with reel-to-reel players, cassette players, VHS machines, a multi-channel audio mixer, and amp racks. The Applegate music suite contained a professionally designed recording studio with dedicated microphone lines throughout the choir room and all the way to what is now the new office suite.

All of this was provided to enable the church to minister to a wide range of individuals by using increasingly diverse methods of communication. The message of the Gospel never changes, but the delivery system must adapt to the times.

Today, First Baptist Church continues to move forward! The world of communication has changed dramatically since Mr. Langerfeld worked the audio mixing board. Even when he retired in 1978, we had no idea of what was to come: cell phones, internet, 4K TVs, Twitter, Instagram, and streaming video on demand, among many other things. Today’s average college student has never known anything else! We used to provide cassette copies of sermons for shut-ins, now you can hear the latest sermon on your phone, tablet, or TV with a tap of your finger.

These changes have not come easily. Some feared that we might lose the character and personality that is FBC Starkville. Others championed the progress and chomped at the bit to move forward more quickly. The architecture of our 1960’s sanctuary proved difficult and costly to upgrade. On a personal note, I began having conversations about the needs of our sanctuary shortly after I arrived in 2004. Many people have contributed their ideas and reviewed plans and architectural drawings over the years to bring us to this point. Even in 2004, I didn’t imagine the impact that these renovations could have on the ministry field that is Starkville and MSU. Can you imagine having sermons in a phone app at your beck and call?

The first step was to improve the electrical infrastructure. You can’t plug 2020’s technology into a 1960’s electric circuit. We simply didn’t have enough plugs! The process was like pulling a thread on a sweater – once you started pulling, so much more came undone that needed repair or renovation.

God has blessed us tremendously. Even though we were not able to complete the entire sanctuary renovation in 2019, we were able to accomplish the first phase, which included a massive improvement to the infrastructure. When the pandemic struck in March, we had to move our services completely online. God provided the foundation so we could bring in a few pieces of equipment (carefully chosen so as to be used in the future) and provide a decent online church worship experience. Our live stream services at live.fbcstarkville.com have been the main connection point for many of our church members during this pandemic. It has been only through these updates that we have been able to provide this ministry.

Phase Two began this summer with the completion of two new columns which will hold both video screens and platform lighting. These columns were carefully crafted to copy the existing beautiful architecture. Many people who come into the sanctuary remark that they look like they’ve been there since the church was built! Phase Two continued with the installation of acoustic tile on the walls of the sanctuary and continues with audio, lighting, and window shutter installations. These items will greatly enhance our regular worship experience and provide a better venue for Christian concerts and other corporate experiences.

The church voted in 2018 to ‘pay as we go’ with our sanctuary renovation. Phase Two was enabled by a generous donation of an estate gift designated for the sanctuary. Phase Three depends on financing. As funds become available, the list in phase three includes new cameras, new high definition video screens (mounted on the front of the new columns), new carpet, paint, pew renovation, and a foyer facelift.

The goal has been to bring our sanctuary into the 21st Century, with the tools and tech necessary to minister to new generations. But it was also to keep our particular personality and corporate character. We’re not striving to copy the church down the block, we want to be the church Christ leads us to be! Among our priorities is Unified Worship, which means that we incorporate music of various styles and from various generations as they fit best within a given worship experience. We’re not a ‘contemporary’ or ‘traditional’ church which also means that we use all kinds of instruments. The audio equipment of 1960 was not built to handle the wide range of instruments we use today. From electric guitar to the organ, ‘let everything that has breath, praise the Lord!”

Another priority for us is to continue to be a multi-generational church. We strive to minister to the student population in our college town, but also give strong priority to all ages. Our lighting and video systems were woefully out of date. In 2020, everyone is accustomed to crystal clear video, which we use to communicate, encourage, and enhance our services. Lighting improvements will greatly enhance the in-person worship experience, but will also improve online streaming video for all.

The ultimate priority for us is to be able to effectively communicate the Gospel. We have a wonderful message to share, and we are working to provide an updated sanctuary with appropriate audio/video/lighting technology that will serve as a platform for ministry for decades to come. When our sanctuary and the Applegate building were first built, they incorporated state-of-the-art technology. It was beyond what was needed for the early 1960s, but our church builders knew they were building for the future. This beautiful sanctuary has carried us through sixty years of ministry but has suffered through the last decade or so from a lack of needed upgrades. When I think of the work we do now, I think of standing on the shoulders of those who came before, who left a wonderful legacy for ministry. Now it is our turn. I have two daughters, sons-in-law, and a beautiful granddaughter for whom I pray that this renovation will be a tool for ministry and a place of worship for them and generations to come.