By Nathan Howell / Staff Writer

ALABASTER – The Unity Christian Center Church of Alabaster held a day of music, prayer and worship during its official opening ceremony on Sunday Jan. 27, at their new location.

The ceremony kicked off with prayer and a performance of the gospel song “Your Great Name,” and following this UCC Bishop Sylvester Mixon Jr. took the podium to explain how the church came to be.

“This is a dream and a vision realized,” Mixon said. “Something I wrote some 15 years ago, and now to see it manifest and come to pass. If I could encourage anyone here today, I would say never give up on your dream.”

However, the church is not solely a personal project for Mixon. He goes on to say, “we don’t want to exist just to shout and praise, we want to affect change in our community.”

Mixon then introduced guest speaker Apostle Steve Green, Pastor of the More Than Conquerors Faith Church in Birmingham, who gave an impassioned speech about the importance of the new church and the work that went into building it. However, he made sure to remind the crowd the reason they were all there.

“This is all about God,” Green said. “If he is not here, the people will leave.”

It is with this message that UCC seeks to benefit the community. The church offers religious based “life groups” that are designed to help find “God’s incredible purpose for your life,” according to the church’s website.

Lady April Mixon, wife of Bishop Mixon, also offers classes to help women on a range of topics including “empowering other women to reach spiritual maturity.”

Unity Christian Center is located 111 Edmonson Lane, and holds services every Sunday starting at 9:15 a.m. More information about the organization can be found at Unitychristiancenter.org