A ribbon cutting Sunday at First Baptist Church of Selma will usher in a new feeling for one of Selma’s older churches.

At 9:30 a.m., First Baptist Church pastor Jerry Light said the congregation would officially unveil renovations that will help the church better serve its congregation.

The building, Light said, has undergone a $1.9 million renovation, which expanded the church’s capabilities.

“We have two state of the art community kitchens, a large fellowship hall with a number of classrooms and a large assembly area for serving hundreds of people,” he said. “We are also handicap accessible and have an elevator.”

Some of the renovations, Light said, were to give the church’s youth a place to go. Around $50,000 of sound and light equipment was installed in the youth building.

“That will help us immensely as far as that ministry is concerned,” he said.

“It also allows us to do more multimedia work so we can access people in many ways.”

The building, Light said, has done a great job through the years of serving its purpose for the church. However, through the years it had deteriorated and was in need of some attention.

Plans for the renovation were originally launched in 1995, Light said. But through the years, they fell through the cracks. Finally, he said, everything came together.

Four years ago a group finally sat down and put together a plan. Several people volunteered their services to help out.

In his first year on the job, Light said it has been great to see all members of the church working together on a common goal.

“It has been amazing to see the congregation working together in their planning,” he said. “It’s the people’s building. It arose out of a need.”

When the building is dedicated Sunday morning, a portion will honor someone very special to the congregation, Light said. The main kitchen will be named in honor of church member Bill Mott.

“He is a very special person,” he said. “He is constantly cooking and preparing. It will be neat to come in and have everything we are planning for Sunday morning. It’s truly a special time.”