Renton’s largest venue is now open for service – that is worship service.

New Life Church opened the doors to its new 36,000-square-foot building Sunday, which includes two auditoriums and theater-style seating for 1,900 people.

“This has been the vision of the church for 30 years,” said Loran Lichty, the church’s GroupLife pastor. “We see God’s hand in this.”

With a stage deep enough for a musical, the auditorium is open for public use, including Renton Technical College’s graduation.

However, don’t expect to find an eyesore off the Maple Valley Highway. Exposed wood beams and rockery make the church’s front feel more like a lodge than box-church.

A sprawling entry is warmed by fire pits and the whirr of an espresso bar. The concrete floors are stained and dark-wood doors lead into the sanctuary.

“We wanted to create a room where every seat feels comfortable,” Lichty said.

Not interested in disappearing into a 1,600-person worship service? Head over to the North Auditorium to find 300 seats and a floor-to-ceiling projector screen with a live video feed of the sermon.

The second auditorium is also an opportunity to reach people groups who may not prefer contemporary music.

At an early service, older generations are invited to a “Softer Sunday” featuring classic hymns, while later services feature a rock-concert worship style.

“When you look at Jesus, he met people right where they’re at,” said senior pastor Troy Jones. “Music and culture go hand in hand.”

With an 84-year-old church, it’s a different way to handle years of culture shift without driving out senior members or causing a split. People love it, Jones said.

Only in recent years has the technology been available to run the special services, he added.

New Life has about 4,000 regulars and about 2,400 in attendance most Sundays.

While the services were tight in their older meeting space, their children’s ministry needed more space to grow.

“The kids are kicking us out of the building,” Lichty said, adding that they have about 500 children and 300 youth on Sundays.

During the week about 460 students attend an onsite school and daycare, Renton Christian School.

The church is planning hardwood floors and permanent basketball hoops for the old space, giving the school a gym for home games.

Located next to the old AquaBarn, New Life purchased its 57 acres from a doctor in 1979. The property runs from the Maple Valley Highway up to Fairwood, but only about six acres are usable.

The church cared so much about being a part Renton, Lichty led the area’s annexation in 2008 by collecting signatures.

“Our legacy has been the City of Renton,” Jones said.

The about $13 million building project moved along under the city’s regulations, Lichty said.

“Let’s just say, we really enjoyed working with the City of Renton,” he said with a smile.

Pastor Jones, 43, was a newly saved teenager when he first heard that New Life acquired the Maple Valley property.

“I heard them cast the vision and the dream,” he said. “I had no idea that I’d be the person to fulfill it.”

In the past 42 years, the church has only had four pastors, unusual for most congregations. Where one pastor left the project off another pastor continued.

Jones feels much like the biblical Joshua bringing the Israelites into the Promised Land, he said.

A timeline outside the church offices shows how decisions made 84 years ago are affecting the church today.

“Somebody is going to come behind us,” said Lichty, who is 42. “It’s humbling as young leaders.”

Although it’s the completion of a dream, it’s also just a tool to do God’s ministry, Jones said.

“Our buildings could burn down tomorrow and we’d still be the church,” he said. “The building just facilitates what God has put in our hearts.”

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