Cross Community Church of Brownwood has been meeting at the Bennie Houston Recreation Center.  For each service, they unload a trailer of all the items needed to conduct the service.  Afterwards, they load the trailer until the next service.  Loading and unloading is about to be a thing of the past.

On November 18, Cross Community Church purchased a building at 408 Sixth Street in Brownwood, at the south end of the Truman Harlow Overpass.

“This building was originally a chapel for our military on Camp Bowie.  Camp Bowie had thousands upon thousands of soldiers come through.  An article I read said 240,000 soldiers came through Camp Bowie,” said Emmanuel Jimenez, Senior/Lead Pastor of Cross Community Church.  A Bangs High School graduate, Emmanuel holds a B.A. in Ministry from Howard Payne University and Master’s of Theology.

“God just gave us a God given vision and dream to build a church in Brown County that would help people move from where they are to where God wants them to be.  That’s our vision, plain and simple,” Jimenez said.

According to a document that records the history of Camp Bowie, on March 1, 1943, it was reported that 213 mess halls and 224 bathhouses had been built over the sprawling complex.  There were 22 recreation centers, 3 libraries, 1 golf course, 3 dental clinics, a hospital that could care for 2,000 and 14 chapels.

“We’re just so honored and in awe that we’re going to be worshiping in this building where many people, during World War II, worshiped.  We’re praying about how we’re going to minister to the military,” Jimenez added.

Phase 1 of the renovation process is planned for January 2021 with work on the auditorium, restrooms and children’s ministry areas.  Jimenez said many people have already stepped up to volunteer their time and skills to get the building ready for use.

Cross Community Church has a website which is www.crosscommunitychurch.us.  You can learn more about the ministry and new building there or on the church Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/CCCBwd.