Emmanuel Evangelical Free Church is in the process of completely renovating the stage in their sanctuary.

Worship Ministries Pastor Danny Plett says this has been a long time in the making. He notes the old stage has remained the same for the past 30 years.

"We decided to upgrade and renovate. What we are doing is bringing all of the different levels that there were on that stage up to the main level which really creates a broader and a wider and a deeper stage for us with a lot more possibility to be flexible on that stage."

Plett says the old stage was very relevant back when it was built in the 1980’s but with changing trends it has become less functional over time.

"There was much more emphasis on choral music, on classical music and so the stage as they had built it was relevant for that time but as time went on it became less and less functional and kind of restrictive and so what we decided to do was to simply make the stage in keeping with the needs that we have right now at this time."

Plett says in addition to rebuilding the stage, the sanctuary will also be getting a new lighting system complete with an entirely LED setup. He adds this project is moving very quickly.

"We worked it so that we will be able to still have church this Sunday. The stage rebuild is happening over two weeks. The first week is basically the ripping out of the old and the building in of the new. We will be able to be on it this weekend, but next week we are going to be finishing it off and painting and doing whatever we can to finish it off."