Frequently Asked Questions and Comments

We have tried to build this building before and it hasn't gotten off the ground. What makes this time any different?
God has faithfully given us exactly what we needed, which is precisely what he promised to do. Jesus taught us to pray for daily bread -- not a year's supply in advance. This year we need more to pay for the building (a lot more) and we believe God will faithfully give us what we need.

We currently have room enough to grow. Our services are not full. We just don't need it.
It is true that we have room to grow in our worship space but we have very little recreational space (which we need for our community programs) and we have almost no outreach space. The Family Ministry Center will give us the room to grow in non-worship areas.

How much is this going to cost? Is this all the money you will ask us for?
We will know exactly what this building will cost when we are completely done building it. Any number we share before that is an estimate. However, we have very carefully evaluated all the anticipated costs and have prepared professional estimates, supplemented in some cases by actual bids from sub-contractors. We are very confident that we need about $600,000 in addition to the monies we have collected to date to finish this project. That number has a built in contingency and is a “good number”.

How much do you expect me to give?
We expect you to give what God tells you to give. Most people are smitten with unusual humility when they think about how much they are able to give. But, God knows the truth. God knows how much he has given you and how much he wants you to pass on to this project. We want you to ask God what you should give and listen for a big number. Specifically, we believe there are at least thirty of you who will be able to give us at least $10,000. Some will be able to give less than that. All of us can give something.

What is the biblical basis for giving this offering?
We see a model for this type of offering in Exodus 35-36. God had revealed detailed building plans to Moses and then God told Moses this project was going to be funded with a willing offering.

Exodus 35:4-5
Moses said to the whole Israelite community, “This is what Yahweh has commanded: from what you have take an offering for Yahweh. Everyone who is willing is to bring to Yahweh an offering of gold, silver and bronze.

Notice that the offering was from what they had and it was to be brought willingly. No one was pressured into giving. You will be encouraged to give, but not pressured.

Exodus 35:10
All who are skilled among you are to come and make everything Yahweh has commanded:

Exodus 35:20-21
Then the whole Israelite community withdrew from Moses¹ presence, and everyone who was willing and whose heart moved him came and brought an offering to Yahweh for the work on the Tent of Meeting, for all its service, and for the sacred garments.

Notice that skills were also to be offered. Here we see the people withdrew to think and pray. We plan to give you time to do that. After consideration, the people willingly brought some of what they had for the project.

Exodus 35:29
All the Israelite men and women who were willing brought to Yahweh freewill offerings for all the work Yahweh through Moses had commanded them to do.

Exodus 36:2-7
Then Moses summoned Bezalel and Oholiab and every skilled person to whom Yahweh had given ability and who was willing to come and do the work. They received from Moses all the offerings the Israelites had brought to carry out the work of constructing the sanctuary. And the people continued to bring freewill offerings morning after morning.

So all the skilled craftsmen who were doing all the work on the sanctuary left their work and said to Moses, “The people are bringing more than enough for doing the work Yahweh commanded to be done.”

Notice as the resource accumulated, the project leaders started work, but the people kept giving.

Then Moses gave an order and they sent this word throughout the camp “No man or woman is to make anything else as an offering for the sanctuary”. And so the people were restrained from bringing more, because what they already had was more than enough to do all the work.

Notice that when they had more than enough, the leaders asked them to stop giving. When we have more than enough for our project, we will do the same thing.