Line Avenue's empty Boots Pharmaceutical building is getting a new life as a place of worship. Mount Pleasant Baptist Church will soon call the place home.

"Hurry up! I want to hurry up and move!" church member Willie-May Black said. She's been a member of the 136 year old church since she was 9 years old. She and other senior members can't wait to see their church's next step, which is needed. Pastor Mairus McFarland says 85% of his growing congregation lives in Shreveport, and the church is out of the way on Yearwood Road.

"Because in that area there is a limited amount of population we needed to move the church forward," McFarland said.

Sunday, his church broke ground on renovating the old Boots building, which has been vacant for 10 years. Its more than 80,000 square feet comes along with 9 acres of land.

"The property was grown up, and we say the Lord was holding it over for us," McFarland said.

Church members both young and old have helped clear the land and begin the building's renovations that will improve the surrounding community.

"We're thankful to be a part of the community and to be able to make a difference in the lives of the people," McFarland said.

The congregation will be moved in by the end of the year. Mount Pleasant Baptist Church was founded in 1876 on Yearwood Plantation, just south of Shreveport.