Below is Lynn's Message About Journey of Faith and Building Expansion
Given April 20, 2008
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1.I have been taught that it is not good for a speech to being with an apology.
2.Today I will violate that very good principle and issue you this apology.
3.I apologize on behalf of your eldership for long periods of silence and even some vacillating on the issue of our building plans.
4.Please do not assume that this silence has been lack of attention being given to the subject or a lack of earnest prayer on the behalf of the congregation.
5.Your elders are men who are very cautious about going public to sooth impatient ears when they are not completely confident on God's leadership on a subject.
6.They would much rather be guilty of slow communication than hasty communication that gets ahead of God.
7.Their dilemmas:
a.The building as originally envisions just kept getting more costly.
i.From 4 or 6 M to 10 to 12M
ii.From very expensive to not even attainable.
b.They had to deal with scriptures like:
2 Corinthians 5:7
We live by faith, not by sight.
i.Careful use of context will teach that a life lived in this faith is the complete confidence of heaven that is surely ours - even though we have not seen or experienced it.
ii.It has nothing to do with amount of money borrowed for building programs.
Parables about counting the cost of discipleship.
Luke 14:28
"Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it? For if he lays the foundation and is not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule him, saying, 'This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.'"
b.These principles of being a disciple seem to have great and easy application to a church and leadership.
i.Good planning is important.
ii.We will not indebt this congregation to a point that ministry and effectiveness will be compromised and call it "faith."
- That is what would happen if we attempted to borrow 10M.
- This would also violate the principles we are teaching for families.
- Simply put - "debt" and "faith" are not synonymous words
c.The original plan had an issue that we were never completely comfortable with.Adults would be in a different building from our K-6th graders.
8.So what is the plan? And - When do we begin?
More Space:
- We have designed a minimum of 75% more space for all ministry departments.
- Adults and a more secured children's area under one roof.
- Much more common areas and fellow areas. (Eliminating the chaos in our halls and creating a welcoming atmosphere.)
- Enhanced audio, video and lighting in worship center.
- Every seat will be able to see and hear with no loud spots or mushy spots.
How can we accomplish this?
- Discuss knocking out wall and redoing stage…
- Seating would be increased to approximately 1200
- Wider isles and improved sight and sound.
- Relocating Early Childhood and then children's Ministry.
- 5th and 6th grade center
- New 17,000 sq. ft. Youth and Community Center.
- Not mind having Jr. & Senior High in separate building.
- Full kitchen and banquet too!
- Vision of athletic fields and other park and aesthetic areas for use.
- It will also be our goal to cover all buildings on our campus with n material that will look good and be the same. Eliminating more if not all of the white siding we currently have.
Optimal Times!
- We will then have the ability to offer 2 identical worship experiences that will begin and end at optimal times.
- Not begin before 9:00 and end prior to noon!
Wise Stewards of Faithful gifts.
- A plan will be revealed in the near future that will cast the vision of building what is needed to accomplish our mission and also eliminate all debt within a 5 years period of time.
So - When do we begin?And, when will it be completed?
- We will begin in early May.
- Youth & Community Center
- Put out for bids a.s.a.p.
- Remodel will begin as appropriate construction is accomplished on spaces impacted by the enlarging of the worship center.
- Our goal is to occupy all of the new and remodeled space by April of 2009.
- We will not hurry and do a poor job.
What about Journey of Faith?
- Don't stop giving.
- Remember your pledge.
- It appears that we will be able to accomplish this vision for $2M to $2.5M.
- That still requires your faithful giving - to and even beyond your commitment to J of F pledge.
Numbers 30:2
When a man makes a vow to the Lord or takes an oath to obligate himself by a pledge, he must not break his word but must do everything he said.
** Leaders will be available in the Connecting Place this morning if you have specific questions or ideas for them.