Strategic planning coupled with the sale of their downtown facility has made it possible for the King Solomon Missionary Baptist Church to come in two years ahead of schedule with the second phase of their church on Oak Ridge Road.

The intention behind the three- phase plan was to give some of the older members of the church the time to get accustomed to the new county facility, the Rev. R.G. Bernard said, and now four years later and with the sale of the church at 1401 Farmer St. to the Living Word Baptist Church, King Solomon will move ahead toward the construction of a 3,500-square-foot addition.

Bernard has been the pastor of King Solomon Missionary Baptist Church for more than 10 years.

In 2012, ground was broken at 180 Oak Ridge Road for the first of the three-phase building plan, and at 5 p.m. March 20, a groundbreaking ceremony is scheduled for the second phase.

“The second phase will include classrooms, administrative offices and a multimedia facility,” while the 7,500-square-foot first phase will continue to include the worship space, the industrial kitchen and additional offices and nursery areas, Bernard said.

The addition, which is set to be completed six months after the groundbreaking, will allow the church to offer extended ministries, Bernard said.

“Because of the additional facility, we will be able to do a lot more from a multimedia perspective,” he said, which will include a radio broadcast, short films and on-site plays.

The church will also be able to offer summer programs and academic and after school tutorials.

“Previously, we were limited in those areas,” Bernard said. Moss Construction, who built the first phase of King Solomon Missionary Baptist Church, has also been hired to build the second phase.

“We have a good working relationship with the Moss brothers, “Bernard said.

The projected timeline to begin the third and final phase of the church is in seven years.

“The summer of 2023 is when we are expecting to break ground if we stay on our plan, Bernard said.

The third phase, Bernard said, will consist of a 580-seat worship facility.

A worship service will precede the groundbreaking ceremony on March 20 and a balloon launch will be held immediately following.