Current Phase Two Projects

Formerly a bowling alley and bar, this very large basement space of 10,000 square feet (about 20% of the entire building) opens a large door of potential ministry to youth and children for generations to come.

The basement will be transformed into a vast multi-purpose area with ample space for our youth ministry to continue growing. A portion of this area will be exclusively for club room, refreshment area and meeting space for teenagers, both from New Life and the community. Adjacent to this area will be a 200 person space for larger worship venues, equipping events, and community activities. Finally, the space will include small group room, new restrooms and office space for youth staff.

Sanctuary

God has given us a unique sanctuary space to meet Him. This phase is designed to complete the renovation project of creating a space to help lead people into a deeper experience with the living God. Along with completing the physical renovations of the walls and electrical systems, we plan to upgrade our sound system (long overdue) and initiate visual system capabilities. This will take our worship experience to another level of quality and enable us to record our services and other events (for overflow rooms and distribution). Some specific tasks include painting, electrical upgrade, new sound and visual systems and building out of the balcony or stage area for additional seating.

Poustinias (Desert Places)

Moses, Elijah, John the Baptist, and Jesus were people who withdrew from the noise of life in order to seek God in silence and solitude. This tradition has been continued through church history with the desert fathers of Egypt and Palestine in the third to fifth centuries and others. In Russia, during the 19th and 20th centuries, certain people were drawn to move to a hut, a poustinia (literally, a desert place) away from the town to live in solitude. They did this in order to pray, to be with God, to be equipped to offer counsel from God for the community. Simply put, these poustinias offer desert places where people can withdraw from the noise and rush of New York City to BE with the living God. We believe this is the key for our ability to be free from the world that our lives might be a gift to the world. Four rooms will be transformed into small prayer rooms that will be simply designed and have sound minimizing equipment.

Children’s and Youth Sports and Activities

Our passion is that this building will be a gift for our community in the central Queens area. Towards this end we have sponsored a variety of community outreach events, some of which have attracted more than 500 people from the community. As we reach out to these families with the transforming love of God, we wish to create a space where they can engage in fun and active events for the whole family. This includes providing space for basketball, soccer and other sports clinics, arts and crafts activities and other activities. Some specifc tasks include creating safe spaces for active outdoor play, repaving the back parking lots and creating activity spaces on the 1st floor and 2nd floors.

Handicapped Access

It is our desire to make NLF accessible to all races, cultures and especially to those physically unable to attend New Life or take advantage of our community development services – whether it be the food pantry, the medical clinic or attend NLF and encounter the living God.

Due to the historical landmark status of our building, handicapped access must be completed within the guidelines of the landmark commission. A handicapped entrance will be made at the rear of the building that will allow wheelchair and others needing assistance to enter directly onto our first floor.