Even One Pt.2
"...If God Isn’t in it, it Will Fail!"
COMMITMENT SUNDAY!
THE TIME HAS COME for what has been prayed about for at least a decade, has been talked about for years, and we have been planning for months!
Last Tuesday, Elders, staff, and ministry leaders set goals totaling $583,720 from 21 households. and brought an offering of $36,820 towards our “For the One” capital initiative!
I’m so glad you are interested in this! I wanted to address some of the common questions I’ve heard with regards to For the One!
THE TIME HAS COME for what has been prayed about for at least a decade, has been talked about for years, and we have been planning for months!
Last Tuesday, Elders, staff, and ministry leaders set goals totaling $583,720 from 21 households. and brought an offering of $36,820 towards our “For the One” capital initiative!
I’m so glad you are interested in this! I wanted to address some of the common questions I’ve heard with regards to For the One!
WHY ARE WE BUILDING?
1. Devote the current building as a secure children's facility
2. Provide more seats for more people at our worship gatherings
3. Create more space for people to connect seven days a week
4. Increase our capacity to host more people at discipleship events
1. Devote the current building as a secure children's facility
2. Provide more seats for more people at our worship gatherings
3. Create more space for people to connect seven days a week
4. Increase our capacity to host more people at discipleship events
WHAT IS BEING BUILT?
1. 780 seat worship center with rooms for young children (babies, toddlers, and pre-school), prayer, and connection space.
2. Development of our 10 acre campus (parking, landscaping, and outdoor discipleship and connection spaces)
1. 780 seat worship center with rooms for young children (babies, toddlers, and pre-school), prayer, and connection space.
2. Development of our 10 acre campus (parking, landscaping, and outdoor discipleship and connection spaces)
ARE YOU SURE THIS A GOOD TIME TO BUILD?
How you answer that question will depend on what you mean by “a good time.”
Any step of faith will carry an element of risk and there will never be a time when we won’t have to exercise considerable faith for a project this size.
If we ask, “When do we need the benefits For the One will provide?” The answer to that question is, “As soon as possible!”
How you answer that question will depend on what you mean by “a good time.”
Any step of faith will carry an element of risk and there will never be a time when we won’t have to exercise considerable faith for a project this size.
If we ask, “When do we need the benefits For the One will provide?” The answer to that question is, “As soon as possible!”
DO YOU REALIZE THAT BY BORROWING THAT MUCH MONEY, WE COULD LOSE THE CHURCH?
YES! However, I also believe that NOT building puts the church at GREATER risk. Unless there is the possibility of failure, there is no need for faith!
One of the most attractive elements of starting this church, to Kim and I, was the assurance that if God isn’t in it, it will fail! The greatest danger for churches today is that they can exist without God. Does it sound ridiculous? I know many churches whose doors are open but they are “dead” on the inside.
We don’t want to be the church of Sardis, “To the angel of the church in Sardis write: These are the words of him who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead." Revelation 3:1 (NIV)
Yes, if we default on our loan, we could lose the church but I am more concerned about defaulting on our mission!
Literally for seven years I have been asking God, “What makes us worthy of this kind of investment?”
YES! However, I also believe that NOT building puts the church at GREATER risk. Unless there is the possibility of failure, there is no need for faith!
One of the most attractive elements of starting this church, to Kim and I, was the assurance that if God isn’t in it, it will fail! The greatest danger for churches today is that they can exist without God. Does it sound ridiculous? I know many churches whose doors are open but they are “dead” on the inside.
We don’t want to be the church of Sardis, “To the angel of the church in Sardis write: These are the words of him who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead." Revelation 3:1 (NIV)
Yes, if we default on our loan, we could lose the church but I am more concerned about defaulting on our mission!
Literally for seven years I have been asking God, “What makes us worthy of this kind of investment?”
Even this year, our staff was challenging me to justify a project of this magnitude and before I announced it publically, my wrestling brought me to the point that the risk of NOT building was greater!
NOT building would be at the cost of the passion of our faith for the mission of Christ because they moment we decide to “play it safe” and be content with what we have, we become a church dominated by people arguing for their preferences and the result would be a passionless faith that not only none of our children or grandchildren would want but none of us would want to be here either.
THAT’S why so many organizations (including churches) have a “life-cycle” and the “death spiral” always begins when contentment is chosen over risk and preferences
NOT building would be at the cost of the passion of our faith for the mission of Christ because they moment we decide to “play it safe” and be content with what we have, we become a church dominated by people arguing for their preferences and the result would be a passionless faith that not only none of our children or grandchildren would want but none of us would want to be here either.
THAT’S why so many organizations (including churches) have a “life-cycle” and the “death spiral” always begins when contentment is chosen over risk and preferences
WHEN WILL WE BREAK GROUND?
With the project estimated to cost $7 million, and because we are at most qualified to borrow $5 million, we must raise at least $2 million before we can break ground.
In order to qualify to borrow $5 million, our General Fund giving must increase from $900,000 to $1,250,000.
It’s the prayer of many that borrowing $5 million won’t be necessary but we will do it in order to reach the people God has for us to reach.
WHY WOULD WE BORROW MONEY?
We consider interest expense to be an investment in the people we would reach by building now rather than later. When you look at the original building in 2008 and Relentless Love (2019), interest expenses proved to be a good investment.
With the project estimated to cost $7 million, and because we are at most qualified to borrow $5 million, we must raise at least $2 million before we can break ground.
In order to qualify to borrow $5 million, our General Fund giving must increase from $900,000 to $1,250,000.
It’s the prayer of many that borrowing $5 million won’t be necessary but we will do it in order to reach the people God has for us to reach.
WHY WOULD WE BORROW MONEY?
We consider interest expense to be an investment in the people we would reach by building now rather than later. When you look at the original building in 2008 and Relentless Love (2019), interest expenses proved to be a good investment.
Let me also say this, WE DON’T WANT TO BORROW ANY MONEY and believe that ALL THE MONEY WE NEED TO PAY CASH FOR THIS PROJECT IS HERE IF WE EXERCISE THE FAITH TO GIVE IT!
WHAT IS OUR OUTREACH COMPONENT?
Our tradition has been to tithe on what’s given to our initiatives for outreach. In the past we have featured Pastor Alex in the Philippines (Building Faith) and Lori’s Place (Relentless Love) and we are excited to use For the One to help CareNet complete the purchase and equipping of the mobile unit they are currently hard at work to raise funds to complete! You can read about it here!
WHAT IS OUR OUTREACH COMPONENT?
Our tradition has been to tithe on what’s given to our initiatives for outreach. In the past we have featured Pastor Alex in the Philippines (Building Faith) and Lori’s Place (Relentless Love) and we are excited to use For the One to help CareNet complete the purchase and equipping of the mobile unit they are currently hard at work to raise funds to complete! You can read about it here!
“HOW DO I PARTICIPATE?”
1. Visit the “For the One” table on Sundays to pick up information and a goal card OR you can get it here.
2. Circle April 2 as “Commitment Sunday” where we will turn in our goal cards and give our first gifts.
3. Celebrate on Easter Sunday, April 9 when the totals are shared of our goal cards and our first offering.
1. Visit the “For the One” table on Sundays to pick up information and a goal card OR you can get it here.
2. Circle April 2 as “Commitment Sunday” where we will turn in our goal cards and give our first gifts.
3. Celebrate on Easter Sunday, April 9 when the totals are shared of our goal cards and our first offering.
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