14 April 2008
Question and Answer Session
Click here for audio of the event.
by Chris Turner
No, no, and could be any day now.
Those were the short answers given to some of the questions asked during the Future Grace Phase Two Giving Campaign question and answer session held yesterday afternoon in the Gathering Hall. Although not heavily attended, many issues were raised, giving church leaders the opportunity to review pertinent information.
Questions like:
Is there giving fatigue among Grace’s members after having recently finished Future Grace Phase One (which provided funds for the current worship center, Gathering Hall and existing educational space)?
“No, not at all,” said Scott Patty, pastor of Grace Community Church. “I haven’t heard people say they are tired of giving. I’ve heard from people in different places financially now than where they were [during Phase One] and they are not able to give like they did the last time, but others are able to give now who weren’t able to give last time. Also, half the people attending now were not with us the last time. Part of it is educating them into the culture of Grace and we are trying to do that.”
Is it possible and practical to alleviate the need for space by continuing with adult classes meeting offsite?
“No,” Patty said. “Offsite is a wonderful temporary crisis management type of situation, but presents the other issue that if those classes are not super close to our building here you start to lose the time for teaching. Every time you start to do an offsite you are limited to someone else’s mercy [in allowing Grace to continue meeting there] and it doesn’t make for a good long-term situation. For instance, using Brentwood Academy isn’t a long-term option for us.”
When will construction begin and by when will it be finished?
“There could be activity this week,” said Dave Wills. “Some preliminary dirt work could begin this week and that could be the primary activity for the next six to eight weeks. There are utilities that need to be moved and drainage that needs to be dug. We’re looking at December as a completion date. That’s the plan, but weather and other factors can always play a part.”
Numerous other questions about Future Grace Phase 2 are addressed here.
A slowing economy raised a concern and the question posed to the elders was what bearing they felt that would have on people’s ability and commitment to give. Patty responded that tension is a part of just about everything God calls us to do (read his recent post about tension here).
“One of the lines that popped into my head during Phase One is that God is not going to orchestrate events in our lives that do not require faith,” he said. “I prayed that someone would give us a large gift [during Phase One] that would get us all off the hook financially. That would build the building but it isn’t going to build the church. So a few weeks ago I asked the elders, “Do we need to pull the plug on this?” We decided to keep going. We have tension, what do we do with it? We pray, seek God, do what we feel we can do and we wait and see what happens. We live at peace with it.
“If we get to the other side and it goes bad, did we blow it? I would say no, we made a decision based on prayer, affirmation of the congregation, direction we believed God was leading us. It won’t be that we missed it but that God wanted us to go through that season. We need to do what we sense the Lord is leading us to do then get to the other side and see where we are. I don’t want people to be nonchalant about this decision, but prayerful.”
The need for additional space is a primary reason behind the building expansion. Patty said that as he was walking to the Great Commission Room for yesterday’s baptisms, he was reminded in a “fresh way” why additional space was needed. Halls were clogged and a crowd crammed into the small space for the ceremony.
The rapid growth in attendance had one person asking if the building would even be enough to accommodate those who will come if the current growth continued. J.C. Haynes said that the additional 15,000 sq. ft. would be enough, adding a net space of 13 additional classrooms that will provide room for 160 additional children as well as 200 adults on the second floor. Also, the modular building is in good condition and will stay in place. Patty added that future phases will always be weighed against what the needs are, what is financially responsible and how the elders and congregation believe God is directing.
There will be a one-time cash offering collected May 4, as well as pledge cards submitted for what families and singles will commit to give over the next three years. Patty said the more money given up front decreases the interest the church will pay on loans over three years, and the three year commitment amounts to the church being able to give more than it can give up front. Both are important, he said.
“What we are moving toward is a household decision making time,” Patty said. “We are asking families and singles to set aside some time between April 23 and May 4 to seek the Lord then commit to give.”
Additional information and videos can be found throughout the Future Grace website and a more extensive list of questions and answers can be found on the sites FAQ page.
Category: Event Summaries.
