VIDALIA — After 16 years at the same location, an increase in numbers has forced Greater Mount Carmel Missionary Baptist Church to build a new building near the river.

The old church, located at 510 Laurel St. in Vidalia, has a congregation that has outgrown its walls, said the Rev. Raymond Riley, head pastor at Mount Carmel.

“I’ve had so many people tell me they would come, but the place is too packed,” Riley said. “Some people have had to be turned away.”

Approximately 150 people make up Mount Carmel’s congregation, and the new building, which will be built in a lot across from Vidalia Upper Elementary School, will house approximately 300 people in its planned sanctuary. Including classrooms and nurseries inside the new building, the total capacity will be nearly 435 people, Riley said.

“It feels awesome,” Riley said about moving. “We’ve been looking for a place and almost bought a new building, but we didn’t feel right about it spiritually. Someone told us there was a place right around the corner (of the old building), and so I called the guy and purchased it.”

Being located near the school and the river will be nice, Riley said, as will having plenty of parking spaces. The church is looking to break ground in January and have the building completed sometime during the summer.

Riley said the church’s growth is due in part to its outreach initiatives and the church’s strong youth program.

“We have anywhere from 80 to 100 children on Wednesday,” Riley said. “When there’s youth, there’s growth.”

In addition to Vidalia, the church has members from Ferriday, Natchez, Waterproof and Clayton and has had visitors from Chicago, Dallas and Sacramento, Calif., check out the ministry.

“It makes me feel good people would come that far to check us out,” Riley said.

After the new building is completed, Riley said his vision for the old land is to have an elderly home built to house four people on the property.

With the big plans he has for his congregation, Riley said he’s looking forward to the day where he doesn’t have to turn anyone away who attends on Sunday.

“That will probably be a tear moment,” Riley said. “It will be awesome to serve and to minister to people who want to come and tried to come but weren’t able to.”