Bridging Out

This stream provides funding for the proposed sanctuary renovation.

So, why are we proposing sanctuary renovation?  Well, remaining true to our identity and purpose necessitates the renovation of our worship space and ongoing updates of our entire facility.  You might have noticed old and peeling carpet, creaking and crumbling pews, dim lighting and the 42-year-old heating and air conditioning system.  It’s more than just a time for updates. It is a time for transformation.

The name and byline of our initiative describes a priority for the renovation.  Building Bridges: Connecting Our Legacy to Our Future indicates the renovation will emphasize things that are “old” while bringing things that are “new.”

By God’s grace, the people of First Baptist are welcoming, engaged, participating, gracious and inviting.  Just imagine the synergy that will come when a renovated space “sings” in harmony with our renovated community of faith!  God is doing amazing things among us and now is the time for our worship space to be amazing as well.

The sanctuary renovation committee, church staff and architect have used three broad principles to guide the design of the renovation:

1. The renovated space will become even more warm and welcoming.
2. The space will encourage participatory worship rather than worship as a spectator event. 
3. The space will have a high degree of flexibility and adaptability.

In traditional capital fundraising campaigns, the funds for ministry and the funds for the building are designated and separated.  In our Building Bridges initiative, all of the streams lead to one Mission River.  We are one church, with one mission so we have one fund. The building, particularly the sanctuary renovation, is an integral part of our ministry and mission.

Please ponder and even pray over the renderings and images of the renovated space in this booklet that help us all to envision how the renovation could potentially take shape. 

Picture new seating which allows for flexible configurations, thus short personal pews (yes, worship chairs).  New flooring, improved lighting, acoustics, sound and video and a new, more efficient heating and air conditioning system.  Remaining consistent with the principles of participatory worship, transcendence, flexibility, adaptability and long term thinking, we plan to remove the balcony.

An added benefit will be more openness in the space and improved welcome and gathering space.  Another exciting feature is the redesigned exterior on the Iron Street side with a new central entrance, a handicap ramp, a “front porch” and a section of glass and re-used stained glass from the interior of the sanctuary allowing light to shine in and creating missional transparency.

The total estimated cost of the sanctuary project is $1,100,000.  We also need a roof replacement on the east building and other building updates.  The trustees have estimated the roof and updates to be $180,000.  As with any construction project, we will have a construction loan during the actual building phase, this combined with other associated campaign project costs takes the goal to $1,350,000 for Bridging Out over the next two years.

Through the Building Bridges season of revival, reflection, commitment and sacrifice, we are trusting God for commitments equal to or exceeding the amount needed for the project.