Let me take this opportunity to update you on the Great Investment. If you aren’t a part of our building and expansion program, it’s never too late. Great Investment
• Lockport Campus
Renovation has been underway for weeks now on our new campus in Lockport and is on schedule for grand opening on September 21. As of this writing we are working on finalizing our last staff position and Brian Hunt is ready to lead this team. We do need your prayers, because some things are messed up (go figure). But check this out, the Olympics are affecting us. Because all electronics come through China and they are closing ports to get ready for the big show, we are having trouble getting some of the new equipment we need. So please keep that in your prayers.
• Orland Campus
Parking – Construction of our new 300 parking spaces began on June 30. It is scheduled to be completed by the end of August just in time to make room for our new guests in the fall. I know parking doesn’t sound exciting, but do you know that by adding these spaces we are making room for around 500 additional people to come and hear about Christ? These parking spaces represent people that need Jesus.
Children’s Ministry/Administration Space – Construction is scheduled to begin on the new administration space within the next couple of weeks. We are simply out of room when it comes to staff work space. The most important thing about the admin space is that it will free up additional space for Children’s ministry. Once the admin space is completed we will immediately begin work on additional nursery space on the main level of the building.
Chapel/“Front Porch” Space – We are still finalizing the details for the chapel and the front porch/community space. We have been working and reworking this plan to fit our budget and some new realities – like the fact that we’ve determined that adding basement space under the new chapel is too costly to our budget and programming which causes us to shift everything. With the rising cost of materials added to that, we are working at trimming every place we can without giving up space we need. I actually believe you will like the new plan better; I do. It looks like we’re going to figure out a way to do Children’s ministry all on the main floor. As soon as it is finalized, we will update you and publish a construction timeline.
I’m very encouraged by our pledges and have been bragging about you all over the country. People are impressed with our 11.1 million dollar pledges to this campaign and really impressed with the 1.8 million we already have given. Thank you for it, because we are using it as fast as it comes in. Even though we aren’t starting the new construction yet, the other projects are well under way and have to be completed before other things can happen.
We’ve also already started giving money away so far to help plant churches in Chicago land, but more will be happening there too. Pray about the guy I’m trying to get to start the church in the Loop area. He would be great.
All of this is to say - “thank you for being the awesomest church ever.” This next ministry season will be our best. I can’t wait to get to Christmas and look back on our Lockport campus, building work, kingdom work, parking lot, and all that has happened in 2008. Thank you for making it happen.
In Christ,
Tim
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