East Orange County residents are fighting plans for a “megachurch” in a rural neighborhood
Some residents of a rural East Orange County community are opposing plans for what they call a “megachurch” next door.
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In May, CrossLife Church, a Baptist church based in Oviedo, purchased a 15-acre property on Lake Pickett Road to build a new church building.
The pastor said civil engineers have since worked closely with Orange County to develop site plans for a new church that could seat between 350 and 450 people.
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“We have no desire to build a megachurch,” said Doug Osborn, pastor of CrossLife Church East Campus, “We want to be a place where community happens.”
But after a rally on Sunday, where hundreds of people gathered under a tent for on-site services, some neighbors said their concerns about traffic and infrastructure problems have only increased.
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Residents posted a sign at the property that read: “We love God and churches, but we don’t want your megachurch in our rural area/ranch/farm! Please do not destroy what we have been blessed with.”
Neighbors told Channel 9 the community has already experienced rapid development that has led to flooding problems in a community that runs on well water and septic tanks. They also expressed concern that a rural road leading to the church would not support traffic.
“We have lived here for twenty years. We don’t want a church here. That doesn’t make us bad people, it just makes us want our way of life,” says longtime resident Pat Buchanan.
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Pastor Osborn told Channel 9 he understood the neighbors’ concerns and said engineers were working closely with county officials to allay those fears.
Meanwhile, Orange County resident Don Jacobs told us he has been attending Cross Life Church East Campus at East River High School for years and is looking forward to attending a new church with his six grandchildren.
“All six of my grandchildren go to church at this location. My son and daughter and my in-laws are here, many of my friends and neighbors, a large part of the community is looking forward to having a church in the community,” said Jacobs.
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