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New direction for the Called to Grow building plans!
Yesterday during the congregational meeting the leadership unveiled what has been an ongoing dialogue for the past few months among the elders and staff. We are excited about this change and what it means for further ministry here at BCC. Our original vision for the building was to renovate the gym so that, rather than looking like a gym we used for worship, it would have the look of a worship center we use as a gym. A new stage, a ramp for handicap access (as well as casket access for funerals) and a large entrance space for a welcome center were part of this plan. However, we would still be setting up and tearing down the chairs and having to use this one space for many multiple purposes.
This summer we began rethinking this plan and looked once again at the concept of a new worship center vs. renovating the gym. As some of you are aware this was part of our earlier discussions concerning the building plans. However, our earliest drawings of this concept were in the $3 million dollar range (this also included other renovations to the existing building) and seemed way out of range. As we reconsidered this option this summer in discussions with another church in Stanton that was in a similar situation to ours (i.e., setting up/tearing down in their gym for 7+ years) and had just built a sanctuary, we realized that maybe a new worship center was possible and need not be as expensive as we first thought.
We considered the added benefits of a new multi-use worship space:
· No more weekly set up and tear down of the gym (thus, freeing people up to minister in other areas)
· The gym gets to be used as a gym (sports, youth ministry, receptions, etc.)
· Less wear and tear on equipment
· A new nursery would be part of this first phase (it was not part of the first phase in the other plan)
· No need to move the kitchen
· Weddings/funerals and a reception/fellowship meal could be done much more conveniently in this new model.
Needless to say, we are thrilled about this new possibility! In the coming days we will be presenting a detailed look at this new worship space so you can comment on it and help us sharpen the focus.
As I mentioned one of the key factors initially holding us back from this concept was cost. But after reconsidering this, we feel we can actually keep our cost to the same initial bottom line. One way we will be able to keep costs down significantly is that we will be doing our own general contracting. Jim Tibbe, who did the general contracting for our gym, will be helping to oversee the project and feels confident we can do much of what needs to be done in-house.
So, let me reiterate where we have come in the past year and a half:
1. We have paid off the $100,000+ debt.
2. We have $100,000+ on hand.
3. Commitments have been keeping a pretty good pace, and thus we have shown through our giving that we are ready to move forward!
4. Plans are still on to break ground this spring.
5. As God grows us, we will look beyond these “four walls” to other communities to start new churches. This new church building will, thus, be a sort of spiritual “birthing room” from which new life can spring!
Thank you for your prayers, your giving and your encouragement to the leadership through this process. Keep it up! We are in this together, and we believe God has been in this process guiding and providing. And we trust that where He guides, He will also provide!
P.S.- Some asked Sunday about the renovations to the children’s area that are planned. Those are still part of the overall vision but are part of the second phase of building. | 
