AULANDER – Now the work has really begun.

Twenty months after breaking ground on The Place of Possibilities, members of All God’s Children United Methodist Church gathered May 23 to officially dedicate the new facility.

The afternoon celebration featured a social hour and an official dedication of the new facility held inside its doors.

The new structure holds a full size basketball court, stage, classrooms, kitchen and restroom facilities.

The dedication service began with a prayer of invitation by the Rev. Michael Rice which was followed by special music from the Rev. Dr. Laura Early, pastor of All God’s Children, Betty Adams, Anne Cloe and Linwood Cloe as they sang the hymn “The Old Rugged Cross.”

Other special music followed before Juanita Staples, Chair of The Place of Possibilities Board of Directors, offered words of welcome.

The dedication of the Place of Possibilities was led by the Rev. Joe Mann, Executive Director of the Leadership Education at Duke Divinity School.

“Dear friends, it is with joy we gather to consecrate The Place of Possibilities. But the consecration of this building is vain without the consecration of those whose gifts it represents,” the dedication read. “Let us give ourselves anew to the service of God: our minds, that they may be renewed after the image of Christ; our bodies, that they may be fit temples for the indwelling of the Holy Spirit; and our labors that they may be according to God’s will, and serve God’s eternal purposes.”

After more music and a presentation from the After School FAMILY, the Rev. Dr. Early introduced the Rev. Vance Ross who delivered the message for the dedication.

The evening closed with singing and the All God’s Children Motto, which reads, “We come in many shapes and sizes, and different colors, too. Our languages are many, our cultures, quite a few. But for all our variations there’s one thing we all share, we are molded in His image and protected in His care.

“A Father to all children, His arms are open wide, to welcome every one of us; He is always by our side,” the motto continues. “And when our troubles daunt us, on His loving grace we call, for whatever color, race or creed, Our Lord God loves us all.”

The Place of Possibilities is a ministry of All God’s Children United Methodist Church. The board members include Staples, Vice Chair Tim Clapp, Secretary Bill Early, Treasurer Anne Cloe, Laura Early, Wendell Edwards, Beth Godfrey, Pat Heafner, Michael Rice, John Richardson and John Wyse.

The building was designed by Ann Collier of Oakley-Collier and Associates with Ray Rawls of Heaton Construction serving as the General Contractor on the project.