Savannah Christian Church, one of the area’s largest with more than 6,000 attendees, is making plans to locate a West Campus somewhere in Effingham County. Lyle Wood has been chosen to be the new west campus pastor.

Wood said they are just in the beginning phase of planning for the new church and they are currently looking at potential sites. They are hoping to find a suitable building to keep costs down and to allow them to grow here in this area.

Wood said that would be similar to what they have done in building their east campus, which is currently housed in Hesse Elementary School on Whitefield Avenue in Savannah.

“We’ve been carefully considering where to place our next campus and we believe Effingham County is the right location to reach a growing population of families,” said senior Pastor Cam Huxford. “Lyle and his wife Rachel are enthusiastic about leading people to a life-changing connection with Jesus.”

Wood said that when they realized there were about 500 people in Effingham County  making the long drive into Savannah each week, the church started looking at whether the time was right for an Effingham Campus.

He stressed, though, that they hope to work with other churches in the county.  

He said that he and other staff are encouraged to get out and visit other churches at least once a month to broaden their experience and to get to know their neighbors.

“I visited First Baptist of Rincon a few weeks ago and enjoyed the service,” Wood said. “I think they were having vacation Bible school at the time.”
Savannah Christian is hoping to begin services sometime in early 2010.