Boone Co. megachurch expanding to downtown Indy

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) – Traders Point Christian Church of Whitestown and Carmel is set to open its third location downtown.

The church is taking over the former Jehovah’s Witness Assembly Hall in the Old Northside neighborhood.

A church member donated nearly $3 million to buy the building and the church is spending $2 million to renovate it.

“Jesus loves everyone and we just want to welcome everyone in our church as possible and really to communicate his hope and his love and his grace,” said Petie Kinder, who will serve as pastor at the downtown location.

The building is over 35,000 square feet and can seat 1,200 people.

“It’s really not about the numbers, it’s way more about serving people,” said Kinder.

The church is on the corner of 12th and Delaware Streets.

“It’s just a really cool space. It’s in the heart of the city, so it will be a really great place to serve the city, administer to the city for decades to come,” said Kinder.

The original church in Whitestown has nearly 4,000 members.

Last November a memorial service was held for Amanda Blackburn who was murdered in a home invasion.

And then in January, a service was held for Andrew Smith. The former Butler basketball star died after a nearly two-year battle with cancer.

That location isn’t moving.

Instead, they’re expanding into an historic new location, dating back to the early 1900s, in an historic neighborhood that’s on the National Register.

“We’re not really concerned with growing a big church, we want to make a big difference,” said Kinder.

Church officials are hoping to open the downtown location in early January.