By Hamil R. Harris
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, September 16, 2007

After years of long lines, cramped quarters and sermons via television monitor, the 7,500 members of the First Baptist Church of Glenarden had the opportunity yesterday to worship as one big family in their new Upper Marlboro sanctuary.

"This is wonderful. There are no words to describe how I feel," said the Rev. John K. Jenkins moments after he cut a big gold ribbon, grabbed his wife, Trina, by the hand and led a procession of church officials, politicians and area clergy into the 4,000-seat sanctuary, which quickly filled with worshipers and songs of praise.

"This is the day that the Lord has made," sang a 300-voice choir, as many elected officials, including U.S. Sen. Benjamin L. Cardin (D-Md.) and Prince George's County Executive Jack B. Johnson (D), looked on. Officials later addressed the congregation.

This weekend's opening launched a month of celebration and marks the culmination of more than a decade of dreaming by church leaders and congregants. The church was housed in a former Hechinger warehouse for years before members were able to purchase 83 acres off Watkins Park Drive near the Capital Beltway. The church was founded almost 90 years ago in Landover.

The multimillion-dollar church building, one of the region's largest at 205,000 square feet, includes a bookstore and several classrooms. It was designed by HH Architects of Dallas, which specializes in mega-churches.

"I just think that the churches help to restore the values of our community," Johnson said in an interview before his speech. "We have moved away from the old-fashioned values that allowed us to have hopes, that allowed us to have dreams, that allowed us to have a work ethic and respect we used to have for the older people. I hope that this is what this church can help restore."

Before starting the service, Jenkins and church elders held a brief service outside.

"Except the Lord build the house, they that labor, labor in vain," said John Terry, a church elder. "Father, we have gathered here this morning because we don't believe that our labor has been in vain. . . . Lord, we pray that we go into the church with big hearts and not big heads."

As Terry prayed, hundreds of members surrounded the church. They then followed Jenkins and the VIP procession through the wide front doors.

"I feel happy and blessed to see what God has done for us," said Yvette Austin, a Northeast Washington resident who has been a church member since 1997.

"The move symbolizes another direction of transforming our lives as a family," said Elisa Gilmore of Mitchellville, who attended the service with her husband, Brent, and two daughters, Monet, 9, and Matisse, 7.