In the spring of 2000, Prairie Chapel commissioned a Building Committee to work on its longstanding vision to build a new sanctuary. After 18 months of work and several affirmative votes along the way, the final proposal from the Committee was for a worship center with a maximum capacity of 300, along with 2 new classrooms. The Charge Conference vote on Sunday, September 30, 2001, was unanimously in support of the project. Ceremonial groundbreaking was held on October 21 with our District Superintendent Jack Dearth. Actual construction started in December by Ivan Yoder Builders of Holmes County. By June 2, 2002, we were ready to move into our new facility. Bishop Jonathan Keaton officially consecrated our new sanctuary on Sunday, July 7.

        The actual project cost turned out to be approximately $375,000. Upon completion, the church owed $130,000. We anticipated that we would need several years to repay the bank. However, ten days after our building's consecration, we received notice that Hazel Ruby McQuain, originally from Coshocton County, had bequeathed $100,000 to Prairie Chapel. Sensing that God desired our congregation to get out of debt as soon as possible, the church was challenged to pay off the rest of the mortgage before the end of 2002. We were indeed able to be "Debt-Free in 2003" when the loan was paid in full on Monday, December 30, 2002, less than 7 months after we took possession of the new building. God does the most amazing things!