UPDATED: December 2019
The History
Years ago we recognized that as much as we love our building, our children and student ministry areas were inadequate to serve the families God was bringing through our doors. In late 2016 we launched Next Up, an initiative to create new space for the next generation. The initial project scope included a new, 34,000 square-foot children’s building at an estimated cost of $7.1 million (toward which we have raised $4.1 million).
The Mission
As a church we’re called to make disciples, and that includes serving children, students, and their families. That’s why we must create space that’s designed for and dedicated to the next generation. That’s why we must create space that’s safe, accessible, and inviting. It’s time for our building to be an asset, rather than a liability, as we pursue our vision and become the church God has called us to be.
The Plan
Last fall we paused Next Up as we moved through our senior pastor transition, and then at the beginning of this year Barry was tasked with getting up to speed on the project and working with our staff and elders to determine the best path forward. Their shared conclusion, which we communicated in our Midyear Update, was that the planned expansion of our campus was cost prohibitive, and therefore we would pursue an extensive renovation within the existing footprint of our building. In other words, to create the space we need with the resources we have.
Since that time we have partnered with OmniPlan, a local architecture firm with expertise in creating vibrant communal spaces in church and marketplace contexts, to develop a strategic master plan for entire facility and an initial scope of work that will give our children and students the safe, accessible, and inviting space they need while also improving much of our adult ministry space.
