Q: Why are we planning to build these new facilities? A: To expand our ministry and make room for more people to find a relationship with Christ here at Black Rock. We are also expanding to meet the challenges of overcrowding with which God has blessed us.
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Q: Do we really need to take down the current church building? A: Despite our best efforts to preserve the existing building, there are many reasons why it is not feasible to do so. First, the building size we are able to support based on our land availability may not exceed a 50,000 square foot "footprint," and structural limitations make adding a second story to our current church cost-prohibitive. To build a facility large enough to accommodate our projected ministry needs and attendance, we need to start over. In addition, the costs associated with remodeling/redesigning the existing structure are three times more expensive than building new. After careful and prayerful consideration, the Ministry Expansion Team (MET), the Board of Elders, and other ministry groups have discerned that a new structure is our only viable option.
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Q: Were other sites considered for this expansion? A: Yes, but early in the planning process it was determined that to move to another location would be more costly than to stay where we are. In addition, our current property gives us tremendous visibility, and our proximity to the Merritt Parkway makes for an easy commute for those who attend from different parts of the state. The proposed building design concept maximizes our use of space, so we believe this site will continue to serve us for a long time to come.
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Q: Did we waste the $1.1 million that we spent on renovations in 1998? A: No, not at all! The 1998 renovations enabled us to meet our space and ministry needs at that time. The expanded Welcome Center and additional classrooms these funds made possible allowed us to broaden our outreach. They have also helped us accommodate the marked growth we have seen in attendance that has paved the way for this expansion.
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Q: Will our ministry philosophy change because of the expansion? A: No. Our mission as a church is to "seek to know Jesus Christ and make Him known." This expansion project will further our mission as a church, allowing us to reach more people for Christ here in our own community and around the globe.
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Q: Why not focus on new church plants as our primary means of expanding our local ministry? A: Black Rock Congregational Church is a dynamic regional resource center, and we believe that the expansion of our current ministry will increase
our opportunity and ability to assist with new church plants. However, while certainly part of our vision, church plants are primarily an evangelistic outreach tool and not a means of solving space and overcrowding issues.
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Q: How much will the ministry expansion cost? A: We anticipate this ministry expansion will cost between $23-$25 million. (Please see the Capital Campaign Giving Program section of the site for more detailed information about the estimated project cost.)
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Q: When will the building project start, and how will it take? A: We hope to begin the project in the spring of 2004, but our start date will be dependent upon the progress of our capital campaign. We need $14 million in pledges and $7 million of those pledges in cash to break ground. From groundbreaking to completion, we estimate the project will take 18-24 months.
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Q: Will we be displaced from our current facility during construction? A: No. The plan for our ministry expansion has been carefully designed so that temporary relocation will not be necessary. Our church is busy seven days a week, and trying to find facilities to support our around-the-clock operations presents overwhelming logistical challenges and significant expense. Building a new facility on an entirely different piece of our property will allow us to use the church we have now until the new one is built and ready for occupancy.
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Q: How will parking be handled during construction? A: Creatively! The details are still being mapped out but we will utilize all the space that is available to us during construction, and we will encourage friends and family to carpool whenever possible. We also anticipate using satellite parking lots and shuttle vans more extensively.
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Q: Will we still offer our traditional service? A: Yes! All three styles of worship (traditional, contemporary, and Sanctuary) will continue to be offered every Sunday in our new facility.
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Q: Are we planning to have a specific area for prayer? A: Yes. There will be a new prayer chapel open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, on the lower level of the new building.
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Q: Will the Welcome Center and Worship Center be easily accessible? A: Yes! Both will have on-grade access. It is important that all of our members and attenders be able to enter these important spaces easily, especially as our attendance continues to grow.
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Q: Should I give the money (or some part of the money) I normally give to the general fund and missions to the building fund instead? A: No. Gifts to the capital campaign must be above and beyond our normal giving. If we simply redirect the funds needed to maintain our existing ministry, this expansion project cannot be accomplished.
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Q: Will my pledge amount be kept confidential? A: Yes. Only the business administrator of the church and his bookkeeping assistant will have access to the pledge amounts. All those who give to the capital campaign will receive an accounting of their contributions at year-end for tax purposes and record keeping.
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Q: How do I decide how much money to give? A: The decision about how much to give is a personal one made between you and God. That said, the Capital Campaign Giving Program information sheet clearly states the financial needs of the expansion project and some things to consider as you prayerfully seek God's guidance about what your commitment should be.
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Q: Will there be any more Town Hall informational meetings to attend? A: As the project moves ahead and more information becomes available we anticipate more meetings will be scheduled. We want the congregation to be kept up-to-date, and we are always eager for any input regarding the ministry expansion plans.
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