Why do we need more space now?
Our current building, just three years old, is overfilled with people on most Sundays, and it’s virtually impossible to do more than one thing at a time. As a result, our Church School program suffers from the lack of dedicated classrooms, and cannot accommodate any more people. Additionally, our musicians have no space for rehearsal. The Church Administrator shares an office with both our nursery and youth classroom. File cabinets fill our restrooms. Our entry area is so jammed with people that it’s tough to get to the coffee pot. We need more room to gather more people into the Blue Ridge Presbyterian community.
In a word, our present building, which was built primarily to accommodate worship, is too small to support the growth of Church School, music and other ministries. We are building a new building to house our educational 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. We will make modest upgrades to the present building. And importantly, we will create a comprehensive site plan for future projects as we strive to preserve the iinnate beauty of our Spring Hill Road site. Our mission efforts will be strengthened.
Why are we purchasing a portable building? Why not just build an addition to the present building?
Utilizing a portable building to expand our space for education and meeting rooms is quick and inexpensive. And it is a first step in a multi-phased plan. To meet our classroom needs, Blue Ridge Church would require a permanent building of more than 3500 square feet of usable space, and cost upwards of $500,000, an option the Facilties Team and the Session considered, but rejected because of the high cost and long delay. The portable building being considered would cost about $40,000 and could be in place by fall 2008.
Because of the style of the present building—hip roofed, situated on a high point on the land—it is difficult to enlarge on a cost-effective basis. Plus, just building an addition to the present building is not part of a larger, well-considered strategy. Using a portable building allows our Blue Ridge Presbyterian community to meet and create an effective long-range plan for developing our beautiful site and erecting the sort of buildings that people can embrace and we can afford.
Has building a building been thought through?
Thought through and prayed on for years, yes
The Session has been considering this problem for more than 2 years. In the fall of 2007, the Session appointed a Facilities Team, and they were charged to study our space needs and to explore options. They have been at work since January 2008, and have looked at attendance trends, demographics, space needs and creative options for our community. Outside experts in zoning, construction, real estate, architecture, and civil engineering have been consulted to advise the church over this time. We have explored options ranging from moving the church temporarily to another location such as a school, buying an adjacent house, or making radical systemic changes in philosophy, such as not having Church School on Sunday mornings, in order that the we may utilize the needed rooms.
Blue Ridge’s strength –in addition to worship and music-- is the strong teaching and valuable Christian community created in Church School. Forming people as disciples of Jesus Christ, educating children youth and adults in the ways of faithful living is at the core of what we do.
This plan addresses that matter directly.
Why do we have such a focus on children and Sunday School programs?
Church School, solid Christian education, is the heart of our ministry, and the engine of our growth, evangelism and outreach to the people around us.
1. The Church School program is the primary vehicle for the spiritual growth for most members, but especially for children, youth and families.
2. The Church School and Youth Ministry program is where many of our children make their Christian commitment.
3. Our present building, which was built primarily to accommodate worship, is too small and improperly arranged to support the growth of Church School, music and other ministries. We are building a new building to house our educational ministry because without dedicated classroom spaces, figures show, we do not attract, or retain, families searching for a church home.
Are we being wise stewards? Why does this building cost so much money?
Phase One of our BRPC VISION CAMPAIGN is a movement and investment of “spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ.” not just buying “bricks and mortar.”
One elder said that this ministry is the outreach and evangelism effort that is “closest to our mission of gathering people into a faithful community” and perhaps the one that will give “the greatest return on the contributed dollar” as far as spreading the kingdom of God in our community.
The Session has deliberately started our facilities development in a modest, affordable manner. It is a small step, and the first of many steps, which all move us toward our original vision and goal of establishing a viable Presbyterian congregation in Greene County to serve an a new area of non-churched people of Central Virginia. Additional steps will follow.
Why are we borrowing money for this building project? Our budget is always stretched thin, won’t this make things worse?
Both of these matters reflect the same problem: Blue Ridge Presbyterian Church has too small a space to support ministry. This Phased Development Plan with an additional worship service and a modest facility expansion solves our biggest dilemna: inadequate space. It enables BRPC to gather a large enough congregation to support our ministry financially.
Our budget is always stretched to the breaking point because our present facility has limited space for Christian education, hospitality and meeting. This plan enables us to seat more worshippers, attract and retain more families, children and youth, and if we do our ministry with grace and passion, receive the financial support of more people.
Blue Ridge Presbyterian Church will borrow money from a reputable lender in order to bridge the gap in time and resources; borrowing funds now will enable us to purchase and locate a sizeable portable building on our site in a timely manner.
These are challenging economic times. Rising costs for food and gasoline are putting pressure on many family budgets. Where is this money going to come from?
We understand Scripture to say that we must present the need to you the congregation, asking God to provide through your faithful stewardship BRPC VISION Capital Campaign pledges that are over-and-above annual giving. Gifts given expeditiously would allow the project to be completed as soon as possible, locking in construction costs. Long-term debt would be eliminated or reduced significantly and help Blue Ridge Presbyterian demonstrate financial freedom.
What should a capital campaign gift be?
"Not equal gift, but equal sacrifice" is the theme that describes our understanding of stewardship. The phrase restates the biblical principle of proportionate giving. Not everyone has the resources to make a twenty-thousand dollar gift, but every person can make a prayerful, sacrificial gift. We encourage an equal sense of commitment and sacrifice throughout our congregation with each person prayerfully determining his or her own gift. Capital campaign gifts are given “over and above” regular weekly or monthly giving in every case, and should not replace regular giving.
Where do I send my pledge card?
We want everyone to bring his or her cards on 9/14/2008 for the whole church celebration. Pledge cards can also be mailed to Leslie Bailey.
Will the capital pledge be separate from the annual pledge?
Yes, they will be tracked separately.
Is there a way I can give stock, securities, real property or other accumulated assets, including an IRA, as a gift towards my pledge?
Yes there is. Please see the attached form or call Leslie Bailey, Church Administrator, for information.
What is expected of me?
Join us on the journey! You are this church and there is a gift that only you can give. Look for God to direct each step of faith you take. Ask not what you should do but listen for what God would do through you - through God’s grace and your faith. What would happen if every member of our church were to seek God’s will by asking "Lord, what do You want to do through me as it relates to Your will for this church?" What new in sights would we find? How many lives would be changed?
Make this a journey of faith. Instead of simply making a donation decision, make a faith commitment that represents your sense of calling. Instead of simply sharing some resources let your stewardship become a way of sharing your faith. Begin your journey now.. Learn more about our church’s mission and ministries. Ask questions. Get informed. Take enough time for prayer.
Can I do anything to help?
There are several concrete things that all our members and friends can do:
Pray.
If you have not yet pledged, pledge now.
Give a special gift or accelerate your giving.
Give regularly when possible and sign up for automatic withdrawal.
This helps enormously.