Sunday is a day nearly four years in the making for the congregation of Westview Baptist Church in Florala.

That morning, thoughts of the fire that destroyed the church in May 2009 will be doused in celebration as the church doors are opened for its dedication ceremony.

And the public is invited to attend, said Pastor Phil McMillan Thursday.

For the last year and a half, missionary crews from Carpenters for Christ and First Baptist Church of Palatka, Fla., as well as members of Westview Baptist Church in Opp, have reconstructed the church’s physical structure – saving the church nearly $300,000.

Before the facility was built, church services were held in two portable buildings on the property.

McMillan said it was a great day when those trailers were gone for good.

“Oh yes, ma’am, a good day,” he said. “We appreciate the people from Alabama Baptist letting us use (the buildings). They served their purpose, but we were glad to see them move out.”

The small congregation has met in the new building the last four Sundays, he said; however, this Sunday, they’re ready to show off their new building. The doors open at 10 a.m. with testimony from the three volunteer groups, followed by lunch at noon. There will be no Sunday school service, he said.

“It’s going to be a big, big day,” McMillan said. “In addition to all that, we’ve got four that’s going to be baptized. We’re expecting a large crowd. I know for sure 40 are coming with the group, plus there is a lot of people around Florala that I know are coming.

“I think we can seat around 250,” he said. “I hope that we fill it up. As I have traveled the community this past two years, I found out that there has been a lot of people touched by this church in the past, lot of lives, too.

“Now, we’ve changed the church’s emphasis from building the building to building up the body of Christ so that we can fill this church up,” he said.

Westview Baptist Church is located on Ala. Hwy. 55.