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Frequently Asked Questions
What is "imagine"?
"Imagine" is the scriptural inspiration
(Eph. 3:20) behind the capital stewardship campaign that will
underwrite our current building and expansion needs. We will have the
opportunity to participate in a three-year effort to accommodate
current and future growth. The theme is built on the foundation that
God has repeatedly blessed the mission of our church beyond any of our
imaginations.
What will be built and
renovated?
A new 32,000 square-foot children's building
will be constructed to house the entire children's ministry. The
present nursery area will be renovated into a middle school area.
Additionally, an elevator will be added to the Chandler building to
make the second floor accessible to everyone.
How will this expansion and renovation benefit our church?
This campaign will have far reaching benefits to
all generations in our church, both now and in the years to come. The
new building will allow all children's ministries to be centrally
located so the nursery and other children's rooms are easily
accessible from the sanctuary and Community Life Center. A central
location will also enable us to provide a much higher level of
security for all of our children. The addition of 60% more space will
allow for more capacity and growth opportunities in children's Sunday
School, Kids Worship 2, Wednesday night programs, Mother's Day Out,
the Wesley Academy Preschool and special programs like Vacation Bible
School.
The new middle school area will not only give
our middle school ministry a permanent home, but it will be used on
Tuesday nights by our singles' ministry and during the day by our
adult and family ministry. On Friday nights, this space will provide
rooms for our new Celebrate Recovery® program, and it will allow us to
expand our current programming.
Many rooms presently used by the children will be available for other
groups in the church including Wednesday night groups, adult Sunday
School classes and the recreation ministry.
The new elevator will make the second floor of the Chandler Building
accessible to those who are unable to navigate stairs.
A covered crosswalk between the Community Life
Center and the new building will provide protection in inclement
weather.
Why is this expansion and renovation needed now?
God has moved in incredible ways in many
areas—beyond our imaginations—which make this expansion an immediate
need.
Children's Ministry – When the Community Life
Center opened in January 2004, the average children's attendance on
Sunday mornings was about 160. Now we are averaging well over 400 each
week. In 2003, more than 400 children attended Vacation Bible School,
and this year the program had more than 700. Every room in the church
was used, and furniture had to be brought in to accommodate the
growth. The Wednesday night children's program has grown from less
than 60 in 2003 to more than 200 currently. The Wesley Academy
preschool—which had only 12 students in 2004—now has 102 students and
a waiting list for all classes.
Youth Ministry – The entire Wednesday night
youth attendance was less than 150 in 2003. This year as many as 300
are present on a Wednesday night. When the Community Life Center
opened, the multi-purpose room housed the middle school students with
30 in attendance. They quickly outgrew that room, currently reaching
numbers of 145, and have no place to call their own.
Adult Ministries – We have only been able to
sustain this phenomenal growth in the children's and youth areas
because a number of adult Sunday School classes and Wednesday night
groups have given up their rooms. This sacrifice has already halted
the growth of these adult groups. Even the most conservative growth
estimates reveal more than 2500 in worship within the next eight years
and more than 1200 in Sunday School. Unless we build now, we will turn
people away from our church and possibly from Christ.
To summarize, the Imagine campaign is not a
"build it and they will come" effort—they are already here and we must
provide for them.
What will the Children's building look like?
The children's building will be designed using
various biblical themes. The downstairs, called "Jonah's Place", will
have an underwater theme. The upstairs, called "Crosswalk," will have
a boardwalk theme. The entry of each room will look like a storefront
that emphasizes a Christian principle.
How much will this expansion and renovation
cost?
The estimated cost of the entire project is
$9,600,000. This includes the architect fees, construction costs,
capital stewardship campaign costs, interest expense from the time the
construction begins until the capital stewardship campaign ends, and
all the furnishings and equipment for the building.
How will we pay for this?
Our goal is to pay for the entire cost of the
project through the funds raised during the capital stewardship
campaign. The objective is to not increase our debt.
Does the church leadership believe we can raise the entire $9,600,000
in the capital stewardship campaign?
Yes! This is a great challenge, but we believe
we can accomplish it through God's power when we all do our part. This
campaign has been faith-led and prayer-supported since its inception.
There are several factors that we know will contribute to our success.
The first is the giving spirit of our church family. The second is the
success of our first capital stewardship campaign, and the third is
the strength of our church when compared to the start of our first
campaign. We have had more than 1000 members join our church since the
last campaign, and Sunday attendance now reaches more than 2000.
What can I do to help?
First, make prayer your top priority. Pray individually and
collectively that this campaign and everything that we do in it will
be consistent with God's will for our lives and for our church.
Second, read all the materials you receive from the church
about the campaign.
Third, think about how this project can impact the ministries
and the mission of our church and our community.
Fourth, get involved. Ask God to allow each of
us to imagine beyond what we finitely presume is possible, and to
participate with trust that He is able to do immeasurably more than we
ask or imagine!
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