Real Life Ministries, a fast-growing Post Falls church, has started work on a $1.9 million construction project on its main campus.

The project includes erecting a 16,000-square-foot building, most of which will be occupied by the church's thrift store, and an adjacent structure that will have 7,200 square feet of classroom space, says John Helwich, the church's project manager.

The project site is located at 1916 N. Cecil Road, at the northwest corner of Real Life Ministries' campus, near Post Falls High School. Other facilities there include a 25,000-square-foot structure that was built in 2001 and currently houses a small event center and adult classroom space, and a 70,000-square-foot main building that was erected in 2004 and houses a sanctuary, children's classrooms, and administrative offices.

Real Life's thrift store currently occupies 6,500 square feet of floor space at 1600 E. Seltice Way, a few blocks south of Interstate 90 near a Trading Co. Stores Food & Drug supermarket.

The project is expected to be completed around Thanksgiving, Helwich says.

R.J. Biddle Construction, of Coeur d'Alene, is the contractor on the project, and Troxell Group Ltd., of Post Falls, designed it. Helwich says church members are donating much of the material and labor for the project.

Real Life Ministries was founded in 1998 and originally met in the River City Cinemas, in Post Falls.