Proposed Project Timeline
Last Update: March 2014
Jun 2012 Confirmation on salient points & scope (scale down
to RM2.5 million) Sep-Oct 2012 Architect submit Detailed Design to CRC (with
detailed cost estimate) Nov-Dec 2012 Submit to Miri City Council for approval Consultant to prepare tender documents Jan-Feb 2013 Invitation to bid to contractors Selection of successful bidders Apr 2013 Approval by Miri City Council Award contract
May 2013 Construction Phase begins Apr 2013 Building completed
Revised Timeline Jan-May 2014 Detailed Design Approval Process. Approved by BOMBA, Land & Survey. Miri City Council approval in progress.
Est. Project Cost: RM3.2 million Remaining funds to raise: RM2.4 million
Original Building
Baptist work in Miri was started in September 1973. Our early pioneers first rented a house at No.36 Piasau Garden, and then shifted to another rented house at No.271, Piasau Garden. On 26 May 1974 the first Baptismal Service was held for 16 new believers, eight Chinese and eight tribal people. Miri Baptist Church was formally organized on 14 February 1976 with 25 charter members. It was later re-registered as the Piasau Baptist Branch under the umbrella body of the Sarawak Baptist Church on 27 August 1982.
In 1977, our Sarawak State government granted us a one-acre site at Lot 821, Piasau Garden. A church building program was quickly initiated with the help of FMB (Foreign Mission Board of Southern Baptist Convention) and local funds. Construction of the original church building began in October 1978. A grant from Malaysia-Singapore Baptist Mission, building pledges and gifts from the church members made possible the construction of the new building. The present building, originally designated as the "education block", was completed in early October 1979. On 21 October 1979, the first worship service was conducted in the new Miri Baptist Church building. On 25 November 1979, the first Baptismal and Lord’s Supper Service was held in the new building. 3 candidates were baptized. On 6 January 1980, a Dedication Service of the new building was held jointly with the Ordination Service of Pastor James Khoo.
The Vision To Re-build
Over the years, the building has gone through much wear and tear. The original roof had to be completely replaced. The ground floor was walled up, and subsequently tiled, to add a multi-purpose fellowship hall, library, children's playroom, prayer room and kitchen. On the first floor, the sanctuary was re-orientated and renovated to increase capacity and make the environment more conducive for worship. The former pastor's quarters were repartitioned into Sunday School rooms. A basketball court and children's playground was for the community's convenience.
Incremental renovations have increased the building's capacity to the maximum. We started experiencing constraints in accommodating the needs of our increasing ministry activities - particularly activities that impact the community such as E-Kids, Free Tuition, Vacation Bible School, Sunday School classes, Youth meetings, leadership training and seminars. In particular, the size and the number of suitable rooms became the limiting factor for us to take in more participants.
In 2008, the vision to build a new sanctuary was birthed in a Day of Prayer on 21st June, 2008. PBC launched a project in October 2009 to rebuild the church sanctuary to seat 300 to 500 worshippers, and to provide additional rooms to house the above outlined activities. The project was called "Re-Building The Lord's House". The conceptual design was developed together with Megan Chan of CCC Architect, Kuching. The Church Re-building Fund was launched with various fund-raising initiatives.
The initial cost of the project was estimated to be RM4.5 million (which includes a new multi-purpose hall at the back of the church). After meeting with our architect on 26 June 2012, the project was scaled down to RM2.5 million (leaving out the multi-purpose hall and other renovations to the present sanctuary). This estimate was revised upwards to RM3.2 million by our architect after detailed design.
Currently, the project is at the Design Approval Phase. Fund-raising efforts are continuing. |