Dream Team seems appropriate. The name, that is.

The Rev. Joshua Joy Dara knew this when he brought these particular church members together. He knew it even before borrowing the title from past Olympic basketball teams.

But the focus here isn't so much on the Dream Team as it is its accomplishment. Still, can't have one without the other.

Dara knows this, too.

"I knew enough to put them together, then let them work," he says. "Then I applaud them afterward."

He smiles. It's one filled with mischief.

"Then," he begins, looking at each Dream Team member, "everyone applauds me."

Laughter fills the conference room inside Zion Hill. This is where Dara is pastor, where Dream Teamers are members.

And it's where plans have been finalized for construction of a new Family Life Center.

This isn't just another building -- it's the second of two phases in New Zion's plan to minister to the whole person. Think about Jesus' sermon on the mount here.

Before Jesus could speak to the crowd, he first had to attend to their physical need of hunger. He did this by multiplying some fish and a few loaves of bread to feed hundreds.

Dara hopes to follow this example.

"This is part of pastor's vision," Georgia Humphrey says.

That's how Zion Hill members refer to Dara. Nothing fancy. Just pastor. But the title of pastor at this church says so much -- especially when held by someone who has led the church in growth from barely 100 members to 2,200 in a nine-year span.

Humphrey is chairwoman of the Dream Team. This, like Dara, bears a simple title: the Building Committee.

And also like Dara, this simple title carries so much meaning. If there are any doubts, just take a drive along the Pineville Expressway and take a look at New Zion's sanctuary building. This was built as a result of the Dream Team's efforts.

It can seat all of its members, but there are times when chairs must be placed here and there to accommodate crowds.

Now imagine a new building not just standing beside the sanctuary but connected to it. A two-story building housing not only Christian education classrooms and child care facilities but a theater, a weight room, an aerobics room, a two-lane bowling alley and a gymnasium complete with a full basketball court and bleachers. The gymnasium also can be converted into a skating rink.

For the children

"And the children's areas will have a theme, like the ones at Calvary Baptist Church in Alexandria," Humphrey says. "We haven't decided what it will be yet, but we're talking about making it an African theme to reflect pastor's home country."

"And all of these rooms are multi-purpose," Eric Ford adds. "They can be used for conferences and meetings as well."

He's another Dream Team member. Rounding out the roster are Harold Davis, Daphne Robinson, Bobby Collins, Ricky Gibson and John Harley.

"Spiritual needs are met by the sanctuary," Humphrey says. "And the ministry of the body will be met by the Family Life Center. The uniqueness of this building is in that it's not just for the church -- it will be for the community. Pastor emphasizes that."

"Yes," Dara agrees, "and we're not criticizing churches whose facilities are only for their members. We're only talking about our church."

The Dream Team began meeting a year ago in May. Its membership includes an attorney, a contractor and a broker. One member even has a background in architecture.

"Our committee is very diverse in background, and Pastor knew this when he put it together," Humphrey says. "He knew the members would have background experience when putting this project together."

The committee went through a bidding process before deciding on Barron, Heinberg and Brocato architectural firm of Alexandria. The committee consulted the congregation about what the new building should include, then drew up a wish list. Architects took the wish list and incorporated it into a 30,000-square-foot plan.

Humphrey holds plans for the first and second floors at the front of the conference room. Parts of the church's parking lot will be sacrificed for the gym and the part of the building that will connect the Family Life Center to the sanctuary.

And the connection isn't just walking space. The theater will be located there, as well as a terrace that can be used for outside services.

"And when you walk into the Family Life Center, you'll be entering on the second floor," Harold Davis says.

That's because the lot next to the building begins with an incline, making it possible for the second floor to be even with the sanctuary.

"The architects are going to give a virtual presentation to the church," Humphrey says.

"After that, we'll start the process to look for contractors," Robinson adds. "We're hoping that this will also be an economic development tool for our area to help small businesses and minority businesses."

Dara's vision reaches beyond that.

Spirit of excellence

"We are aiming for a spirit of excellence," he says. "It's not unusual to see nice buildings in the corporate world, but in the religion world, there's a lower standard. We want to raise the standard and have church in a state of the art facility.

"I take a lot of my marching orders from what the Pentecostals of Alexandria and Calvary Baptist Church are doing. They are my mentors. I want to do the same for this community."

And again, for Dara, it's all about the community.

"I will not be surprised if our facility is not as good or better than any in this community," he says. "What you can expect from this ministry is that it will speak directly to the issues of this community. The focus of our ministry is empowering people to do better for themselves and using the Bible as a blueprint."

And that focus includes a quality staff, quality service and quality facilities.

"You must expect quality," Dara says.

This is where the Dream Team comes in. Dara is pleased with their work and has approved the architectural plans. The church will see them on Sunday.

Yes, Dream Team is an appropriate title.

This team is certainly helping Dara and the church realize its dream of a ministry for the whole person, for the community.

For new members yet to come.

Originally published July 16, 2005