| Local immigrants find special reason to be thankful this season Standing in front of about 1,000 Slavic immigrants for the first time in their first-ever church must have felt like Christmas and Thanksgiving all wrapped into one for Pastor Gregory Kasap. Most, if not all, in attendance came to the United States seeking religious freedom. Now they have a 25,000-square-foot symbol of religious freedom in which they meet to celebrate their faith. Kasap is the senior pastor of the new Slavic Pentecostal Church at 4925 West Ridge Road. The church is the largest of its kind in Rochester, with only two much smaller churches existing in this area. Kasap's congregation first gathered at the Greece Assembly of God 11 years ago. There they were a devoted group of 25-30 meeting in a small room in the Greece church. Over the years that group grew dramatically larger to where they now stand 700-members strong. With growth came the need for a new venue, so Kasap and some other church members began searching for a suitable building. Not finding what they felt they needed, the congregation began to look for land in the area instead. They found their current location, a 97-acre parcel, just three years ago. On that land Kasap's congregation built a $2.5 million church that includes eight religious education classrooms and a 60-foot-by-80-foot gymnasium and fellowship hall. "I am proud to have our own building," Kasap said, and he is even more proud of the sacrifices his congregation of immigrants has made. Members, who make up part of Rochester's 5,000 member Slavic immigrant population, made great financial sacrifices and dedicated a great deal of their time to create the awe-inspiring facility. "Every Saturday for three years we have had 30 to 50 of our members spend the day helping to build this church," said Kasap. In fact, members of the congregation did everything down to the artwork and ornate woodworking. The only outside help was for the electrical wiring and the heating and air conditioning. Vladimir Sushchik, a member of the congregation was responsible for the gigantic waterfall mural that decorates the backdrop for the pulpit. Sushchik was a Ukrainian artist before he fled for the United States in 1992. Now he is employed at the Jewish Home of Rochester. "I chose a waterfall because God's word is alive, like a waterfall," Sushchik said. The enthusiasm among the parishioners is also alive. Bogdan Beregovsky, of Gates, said the new church is an answer to his prayers. "We put all of our hearts into it. Everything was built with our hands," Beregovsky said. "It's like our beautiful home." 'Home' on Monday night was crowded as nearly 1,000 gathered to worship. It might not be too long before their home will need an addition. Ulyana Lukomsky, of Hilton, who attends with her husband, Yaroslae, and son, Daniel, said she hopes the church will be big enough to meet the expanding congregation's needs. "I think it is, but the congregation is growing however," Lukomsky said. Even if they have to wait awhile to build again, Kasap and his congregation will revel in the religious freedom that they now share. "It is very thrilling," Kasap said. "We give all glory to God." Service Schedule |