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When pastors and board members of Bible Center Church sat down three years ago to think about the future of their church, they might not have realized how quickly that future would be upon them.

They built an addition onto their facility they hoped would accommodate their rapidly growing congregation for at least 10 years. It only took two years for that new space, 10,000 square feet, to be filled to capacity.

More than 1,300 people attend Sunday services each week and that number grows at least 8 percent every year.

Senior Pastor Shawn Thornton, who has been with the church since 1997, said although approval from the congregation would be a requirement for any relocation, the church has been looking for new space for three years.

The eight-acre lot off Corridor G across from Ashton Place lacks enough room for parking, day care and resources for the church's elementary school.

A long-range plan calls for at least 25 acres of developable land before 2015, which could mean a multi-million dollar purchase for the church.

That money, at least right now, isn't in the bank, Thornton said.

"We have just now begun discussions with banks and capital consultants, but they've told us the resources are there for the congregation to really step up to the plate if this is what they decide to do," he said.

Within 12 years, projections estimate more than $3.8 million could come in from annual contributions, though the bulk goes to local and global missionary projects.

Though negotiations with BIDCO for the purchase of 88 acres at Southridge Centre Business Park are still in "preliminary phases," the potential for land is a bright spot in what has been a very difficult search, Thornton said.

Pastors, board members and members of the congregation have done a walk-through of at least 20 properties.

"Most of them have been so unacceptable that we looked and walked away," church administrator Lee Walker said. "We are a Charleston church and we want to stay in Charleston."

The challenge with that, Thornton said, is that he's found a deficiency of flat, developable land in the area to suit the church's needs.

Walker said the church checked out land behind Ashton Place, farther down Corridor G and past Yeager Airport on Greenbrier Street, but none of the properties worked out.

A new location would allow for the possibility that the Bible Center's elementary school could grow to a middle school and high school.

"We're asked so much about building the higher grades, but we're so limited by space right now to even consider that would be premature," Thornton said.

A new facility also could include a full-size gymnasium, athletic field and fitness center for all ages, a library, resource center and bookstore, and a kitchen and cafeteria. Counseling services would be expanded and residence space is proposed for visiting missionaries.

A new retirement community for senior citizens also is outlined in the long-range plans and could provide the potential for new jobs in the health-care industry, Thornton said.

The number of church employees is expected to grow from 70 to more than 125 in the next 12 years.

"All of our employees, are for us, part of our ministry," Thornton said. "They share our goals and are an important part of our mission."

Writer Kris Wise can be reached at 348-1244.