We will tell

top Why are we building a new building? Why are we building more even though we have debt from our old building?

It’s not about buildings and debt; it is an investment in ministry.

We are building a new building to house the children’s ministry, but that is only one of the campaign’s goals. The proposed expansion will better enable us to meet the needs of the entire congregation. The community’s clamor to be involved with the Day School program will be answered. Our missions efforts will be strengthened.

top OK, but what will this campaign do?

It will provide the space needed to conduct ministry for visitors, children and adults. It will make our ministry staff more efficient. It will increase our outreach to our community and our ability to conduct international mission efforts.

The specific function of the new building will be to serve and house the children’s ministry. The children’s ministry exists to create a passion for God’s Word that the next generation may learn of God’s glory and delight in Him.

Both our children and adult spaces for Sunday school are filled to overflowing. We simply cannot grow further in our current space. On our peak Sundays, people are discouraged from coming, and visitors are disappointed when there is literally nowhere to sit in a classroom. We have lost many young visiting couples this past year because we needed to start the new young couples class but were unable to for lack of a room. If we do not build, this problem will only continue. We will turn even more people away from our doors. This building will affect our outreach.

The new children’s building is going to allow us to serve children better not only on Sunday but also through Mother’s Day Out and the Day School. When these groups move, it will free the old space to be renovated for classrooms for youth and adults. We lost our prayer room about a year ago; this might be brought back with space renovations. We can rid ourselves of the modular buildings that are in poor condition and rob us of parking spaces. We can increase safety by eliminating the need to have the high school and singles classes walk across the street for meetings in the Lakeshore building.

The staff works in fragmented and cramped quarters— conditions we would not want to work in. Frankly, it inhibits their ability to function efficiently. New office quarters that are designed for their needs would replace the “cobbled together” space they use today.

We will even have financial benefits. By removing ourselves from the Lakeshore building, it can become a profit center. In turn, we can direct more money toward missions. We will retire old debt, again freeing more money for missions and ministry.

top Why did we hire consultants and spend all this money on brochures? Shouldn’t we have just used that money for the building?

Before the campaign started, a member stepped forward to underwrite this work.

Why are the materials nice and the campaign professionally run? Because we desire for all that we do to be done with excellence, just like we are called to do in Ecclesiastes 9:10. As an aside, typical capital campaign wisdom dictates spending 10 to 15% of the total campaign monies raised on consulting fees and materials. We are running at about 1.8%.

top Has building a building been thought through?

Thought through and prayed on for years, yes.

The Elders and Deacons were charged and have been studying this problem for more than 3 years. Outside experts in law, building, architecture, security, and civil engineering have been retained to study and advise the church over this time. We have explored options ranging from selling and moving the church to making radical systemic changes in philosophy, such as not having adult Sunday School in order that the children may utilize the needed rooms.

Covenant’s strength (other than its missions focus) is the strong teaching and valuable community created in adult Sunday School. Not ignoring worship, our vision embraces and centralizes adult Sunday School. The final thinking and leading is that we should make room for the ministry that God has placed in our stewardship.

top Why not plant a new church?

We intend to!

Considered opinion and wisdom reveals this simple application: With the structure we have, the church will have to entirely change the way we think and do ministry, or remain stagnant (which as a church means you are beginning to die), or build. We intend to plant a church, but that will do little to solve our current needs. In fact, planting usually results in continued growth for the mother church.

top Why does this building cost so much money? Are we being wise stewards?

It is a “spreading the gospel” investment, not buying “bricks and mortar.”

One elder said that this ministry is the evangelical effort closest to home and perhaps the one that will give “the greatest return on the contributed dollar” as far as spreading the kingdom.

top Why do we have such a focus on children and Sunday School programs?

Sunday School is the heart of growth, evangelizing and outreach!

1. The Sunday School program is the primary ingredient for the spiritual growth for most members.
2. The Sunday School program is where many of our children make their Christian commitment.
3. The Nursery/Preschool program is perhaps our largest outreach program and is the source of many of our new members.