Sunday, April 08, 2007

Terry Fox figured there would be casino-style gambling in the Wichita area
some day. He also dreamed of building a church north of the city. He never
thought the two could happen at the same time. "It's God's timing," the
pastor said. Just days after the Kansas Legislature approved expanded
gambling in the state, which would pave the way for a casino and slot
machines, Fox's 7-month-old Summit Church in Park City announced it had
raised enough money to pay for one acre of the prime real estate that
borders Wild West World. "Rather than criticize and complain (about
gambling), we're going to roll up our sleeves and say we're going to reach
out to you when those dark days come. . We're going to love all people at
Summit Church." The church, which draws about 600 people to Sunday worship
inside the park's Johnny Western Theatre, will eventually buy five acres in
the southwest corner of the park's 130-acre complex. It has an option to buy
more. The church wants to start building part of its "mega church" in the
next few months, and its first facility could open "in a year or so," Fox
said. "We are optimistic we will have a facility to minister to thousands of
people," Fox said. The church hopes to expand its current ministries,
including Christian counseling as well as regular programs for adults,
children and families. "We don't even have a church building yet and we're
already on the move for the Lord," Fox said. He said the church paid
"somewhere in the middle" of $2 and $10 per square foot for the acre of land
and is close to paying for the second acre. An anonymous donor matched
church funds up to $1 million to help with the project. "We didn't buy just
property," Fox said. "We bought a presence." He said the church sees
opportunities in being close to the theme park, where officials expect
500,000 visitors in the first year. Fox said the possibility of being near
gambling operations also is an opportunity for the church to serve. The
expanded-gambling bill, which Gov. Kathleen Sebelius is expected to sign,
would allow slot machines at horse and dog tracks, including Wichita
Greyhound Park just north of Wild West World. The bill also would allow
destination casinos in Sedgwick or Sumner counties, Wyandotte County,
Crawford or Cherokee counties, and Ford County.

Sedgwick County commissioners this week set Aug. 7 as the date for Sedgwick
County residents to vote whether they want it in this county, a requirement
set up in the bill.

"God directed us to be out here," Fox said. ". We believe God saw what was
happening (with gambling). We're just not smart enough to plan that."

Fox said he will continue to encourage people not to gamble, saying it's
"not a smart thing to do."

"I am mandated as a pastor to preach what God lays on my heart," he said. ".
But I don't want people to ever come to church to get beat on."

Instead, he said, he sees the church as a "lighthouse" in the "middle of a
lot of needs." It's a place, he said, where people will be cared for and
helped.

"We're going to love people, care over people and minister to people," Fox
said. "We believe Summit Church will be a blessing to this community."

The state also recognized the potential fallout from expanded gambling. In
the bill, 2 percent of the gambling revenue would go to help people who have
gambling and addiction problems.

"We would have preferred it not happen," said Fox, a longtime and vocal
opponent of expanded gambling. "But we accept God's call to be here when it
does."

Thomas Etheredge, owner of Wild West World, said he welcomed Summit Church
as an "integral" part of the commercial development around the park.