1: WHAT IS OUR NEED?

Anticipating future ministry needs has pushed us to evaluate our physical facilities. Simply stated, we need to improve our existing facilities to continue effective ministry to our congregation and to the community around us. We need to provide facilities that enhance current ministries and look to the future. Renovating our facility to improve ministry effectiveness calls us to a Journey of Faith that is God sized!

A church prayer retreat in Jenner, California, on January 11-13 2001, began the formation of the Facility Team consisting of 17 church leaders. The team raised $37,052 to hire professional engineers and architects to help evaluate our existing facilities. This resulted in needed improvements in the sanctuary, fellowship hall, restrooms, entrances, kitchen, offices, parking lot and landscaping. The following five needs of the sanctuary are: Safety (earthquake retrofitting), Sound (improve sound quality), Sight (improve lighting and visual aesthetics), Seating (improve balcony visibility and accessibility) and Support (improve ventilation and electrical wiring.)

2: WHAT IS OUR FACILITY PLAN?

The overall facility plan includes three phases. The first phase includes the renovation improvements in the present sanctuary involving the five needs mentioned above. The second phase includes renovating and expanding the church kitchen, restrooms, the rear church entrances, parking lot, courtyard landscaping, and office expansion. The third phase includes building a new gymnasium while converting the existing gymnasium into a multi-purpose fellowship hall favorable for various fellowship gatherings, seminars, church banquets, community events, and large group receptions.

3: WHAT WILL THIS PROJECT COST?

The final cost is an estimate until all architectural details are complete. Professional estimates put the cost at:

Phase 1: Sanctuary Renovation $685,899

Phase 2: Kitchen, Restrooms, Office, Parking, Landscaping $681,281

Phase 3: Fellowship Hall and New Gym TBD

4: WHAT IS OUR FINANCIAL PLAN?

Renovating a little at a time or all at once makes a huge difference.

Renovating in small steps can escalate the total renovation costs dramatically. We hope to accomplish all the renovation plans of phase one in the Spring of 2006.

To do so, we are inviting the congregation to prayerfully give over and above annual ministry budget giving. This approach empowers our church to respond to God’s call without shortchanging the annual ministry budget.

Three year pledges allow the project to be completed as soon as possible, locking in renovation cost. We will be using commitment cards. Each individual or family will fill out one of the cards as a simple statement of intent. This card is not a contract. However, knowledge of what dollar amounts to expect is critical in planning wisely for the future. All giving is confidential.

5: THE JOURNEY OF FAITH CAMPAIGN

In September 2003, the congregation voted to hire a campaign consultant to launch a campaign to raise pledges over a three year period, over and above regular contributions to the annual ministry budget, in order to renovate our church facilities. And so our journey began.

Our church stands at the threshold of a new future. God is calling us, in faith, to walk through this doorway into improved and new ways of ministry. A Journey of Faith Champaign is all about faith that God calls us, leads us, and works miracles of grace with us and through us.

6: WHAT IS EXPECTED OF ME?

Join us on the Journey of Faith Campaign! You have a part that only you can give. Make this a Journey of Prayer.

Seeking God’s will is the foundation for this Journey of Faith. Pray that God will open your heart and mind to take decisive steps in your own journey of faith. As God, “What do you want to do through me here at First Baptist?”

Make this a Journey of Discovery.

See what is happening and what God is doing in your church. Learn everything you can about our ministries, our vision, mission, and our campaign project. Get involved! Make this a Journey of Action.

Turn your prayers and discovery into action. Make a giving decision that honors God and that is right for you. Faithfully and joyfully join your gift to the gifts of our congregation on Sunday, October 24.

May this be a testimony to God moving in our hearts and lives, leading each of us, and all of us together, to accomplish more together.

7: WHAT KIND OF GIFT IS ENCOURAGED?

The campaign theme “Equal sacrifice, but not equal gifts” describes our understanding of stewardship. The phrase restates the biblical principle of proportionate giving. Not everyone has the resources to make a million dollar gift, but every person can make a prayerful, sacrificial gift. We encourage an equal sense of commitment and sacrifice throughout our congregation, with each person prayerfully determining his or her own gift.

8: WHAT IF WE DO NOT RAISE ALL THE MONEY?

For now, our focus is on what God would do through us in this Journey of Faith. It is impossible to determine our future courses of action until our congregation completes this journey. We would certainly rejoice to have phase one paid for in the three year period of this capital campaign! If some amount of debt is anticipated after the campaign concludes, the Building Finance Committee will weigh all options and present further recommendations to the congregation.

9: WHEN WOULD RENOVATION BEGIN?

The Sanctuary renovation would begin in the Spring of 2005. It is planned to be completed in Spring of 2006.

10: WHAT HAPPENS ON SEPTEMBER 26?

The campaign journey began with a five week Sunday series “Continuing Our Legacy”. September 26 is the culmination of three years of prayer, research, evaluating, designing…and the start of an extraordinary journey together. That Sunday morning we will celebrate our church’s ministries and share our renovation plans. Both services will invite us to walk hand in hand with God, to seek God’s will in the life of this church and in our individual lives.