July 20, 2023
Updates from Town Halls
Below are items that were discussed at the town halls, beyond what is already provided in the prospectus and Q&A document. This information is an addendum to the prospectus and Q&A document.
Would pastors, staff, and leaders need administrative help to manage the property?
Yes. We are currently in conversation with a potential new part-time staff person who would help with event set-up, building maintenance, and project organization. The strategy here is to make sure that leaders are not inundated with building administration, which would hinder growth. Also, if a part-time staff person could help organize and even complete some technical projects, this would be more financially efficient than hiring it out at a much higher cost.
The plan is that this part-time staff person would help us more quickly and efficiently move toward hiring an additional pastoral role by enabling pastors, staff, and leaders to focus on shepherding and ministering to the church. Stewarding the building would be a team effort, but adding this part-time role would make it much more manageable.
Where would the Seed Youth ministry gather in the building?
The reception hall on the bottom floor would be used for Seed Youth on Wednesdays.
Would the Seedlings ministry be expanded beyond 2nd grade?
Yes. The Seedlings ministry would expand to include 3rd and 4th grade. Seed Youth would also change to include 5th grade through 12th grade.
If we stay in our current campus, would we move toward holding multiple services?
Yes. Our current campus, especially in the Seedlings ministry, is presenting us with many space challenges. To move forward in organizational development and ministry effectiveness, we need to make room for the new families and individuals God is sending to us.
How would we order the priority and organization of building projects?
The potential new church campus is way too large to update and/or renovate all at once, and that isn’t even necessary. Initially, the goal is to do three things excellently: 1.) Corporate gathering, 2.) Hospitality and fellowship, 3.) Seedlings & Seed Youth. We would focus first on addressing spaces that help us accomplish these goals. These updates would be largely cosmetic and emergency response related.
Additionally, any building system repairs and/or updates on roof leaks, chiller system, etc. would also be pursued, as these are necessary for the building as a whole. Also, there is a reality that different ministry leaders feel differently about the priority of updates, based on the ministry they are serving within. This is a challenge in every organization, and we would work to wisely manage the budget and expectations to balance all the various priorities.
Any updates on the chiller system?
The working chiller is only three years old. The reason why the building is not staying cool on hot days is because the other chiller needs to be replaced. This update would cost far less than converting the building over to modern HVAC, and it would also be more cost-effective for use of utilities.
What is “Pick a Project?”
‘Pick a Project’ is a campaign we would launch to involve the church in preparing the new campus for moving in. These projects would include things like: painting, installing light bulbs and some new fixtures, installing new door knobs / latches, cleaning and dusting, replacing ceiling tiles, updating some doors, etc. The goal is to mobilize the church toward accomplishing some simple building projects.
What would be the timeline for officially moving in?
If the member vote results in affirming the move, we would set a transition period of several weeks for the Pick a Project campaign. This would allow us to prepare the space, do some updates and renovations, learn the space, make adjustments, develop protocols, etc. before officially moving in. We would also have both a “soft” and “hard” launch. A soft launch means moving in for the purpose of working out bugs, getting a feel for the change, and solidifying protocols. This would be for a short period. A hard launch means publicly inviting people to the church for “grand opening” Sunday, so to speak.
There is no hard and fast timeline at this time, as we would need to leave room for transaction & closing details and do not currently know how long that would be.
Will Rock of Christ address any of the building projects before they leave, or is it strictly an “as is” purchase?
Rock of Christ is addressing the problems that have been discovered over the past few weeks. Any new problems, that we weren’t aware of in early 2023, are being addressed by them. This includes the evaporator coil leak on the sub floor and some mold that was discovered. They are bringing in professionals to address those. The surrounding areas were checked for mold, and it was contained to one area.
How would we grow ministry teams for Sunday morning service roles?
We are building out a list of all the servants we would need for a Sunday corporate gathering. The plan would be to make that clear to the church and begin recruiting for those roles. We will be able to fill all these roles, but it will require an organized way to make the need clear and some vision-casting for the value of each role.
How many parking spaces are at the potential new campus?
There are about 65 parking spaces on the potential new church campus. Our current campus has 29 parking spaces. There is additional parking in the surrounding businesses around the potential new church campus, as well as the neighborhood street that runs along the south side of the property.
Have you thought about potentially renting some office space in the building?
Yes. There are eight offices on the 2nd floor. We will not need all eight of those and will be seeking and considering leasing some of those, if it’s a good and wise fit.