(Gardendale, AL) WIAT-  It's hard to miss the new Gardendale First Baptist Church worship center. The campus spans 145 acres and there is a 120 foot cross towering over the site.
 "The response of the cross really has been incredible to us and really surprising. It's amazing the folks who drive by and have contacted us, sent us emails or contacted the website or called our church," said Dr. Kevin Hamm, Senior Pastor.

 The new sanctuary seats twenty five hundred people and it was packed Sunday morning.  The new campus cost more than 19 million dollars and the church faced many challenges prior to its completion.  It was originally supposed to open earlier this year, but two different fires delayed the big day.  A Georgia contractor plead guilty to mail fraud and arson charges in connection with two fires which were set at GFBC in April, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. Prosecutors say the defendant wanted to cover up taking money to install seating that he never purchased.

 As members of the congregation streamed into the new building today, some church members said the facility was definitely worth the wait.

  "There's a lot of people here. Everybody's excited about being here. We've been praying for this for a long time. A lot of us have been here for a long time and we have moved in different... from one building to another and this is a great thing," said James McCombs.
 "Well you know I always say anything worthwhile is worth fighting for and the devil always fights what he doesn't like. We've had our challenges. Anytime you build a large building like this you're going to have challenges," said Dr. Kevin Hamm. "But it's not just about building a crowd. It's about building a church and a church is about going and telling."