Our lease with Southern State Community College expires on June 30, 2014. Last year, the college informed us that they did not wish to renew or extend our lease. Thus we have to move. Throughout 2009, the Leadership Team carefully reviewed four options:

• Renting another facility
• Selling our property and buying other vacant land to build on
• Selling our property and buying an existing structure to renovate
• Building on our own property

Some have asked, "Isn't it more cost effective to rent? Won't owning a building divert money from ministry to a mortgage, utilities and maintenance?" Granted, it is more cost effective to rent. However, we have not found a space to rent that is sufficient to house our current attendance without:

• Requiring us to share space, or
• Incurring signifficant rent and build-out costs

The Leadership Team also evaluated five vacant properties and eight renovation sites. After prayfully analyzing the pros and cons of each, the Team concluded that God was leading us to build on the twenty acre property we already own debt-free.

As a design slowly began to take shape. Two questions have guided our thinking:

• What is the "culture" of GNG?
• How is our "culture" reflected in the design of the Ministry Center?

Our goal is to design a Ministry Center that matches our culture functionally and architecturally. The following describe our culture and thus impact our thinking about the design:

• The Ministry Center will not look like a traditional church building
• "Church Not As Usual" has been our motto for years and accurately reflects our casual, come as you are mind-set.
• The Ministry Center will provide for high quality worship experiences that are current, creative, artistic, engaging and done with excellence.
• The Ministry Center will provide high quality children's space in order to help us reach the next generation.

Yes! Since giving has exceeded our ministry budget the past couple years, we have set aside over $290,000.00 toward a future facility. This is outstanding! However, this amount plus our current giving will not fund the Ministry Center. We have scheduled our "BUILDING PEOPLE" campaign for March 6th through April 17th. Again, two questions have guided our thinking about the Capital Campaign:

• What is the "culture" of GNG?
• How is our "culture" reflected in a Capital Campaign?

We teach on Biblical stewardship every year, we don't pass a plate and we've never used high pressure tatics to get people to give; that is our culture and it will NOT change. That's why we've entitled our campaign "BUILDING PEOPLE." Our focus is on PEOPLE and the Ministry Center is the necessary next step in helping us Build More People.

Obviously this timeline will be in flux due to cost adjustment, permits, weather, etc. However, our rough outline has us breaking ground for the Ministry Center in Summer 2011. Although the lease with SSCC does not expire until June 2014, the Leadership Team felt that breaking ground sooner would give us plenty of time to absorb construction delays. If construction goes according to plan, our occupancy date would be Fall 2012.

The design of the Ministry Center will be about 90 - 95% complete when we begin our "BUILDING PEOPLE" campaign in March. At that time, we will be prepared to share both the interior and exterior plans.

Although the Leadership Team receives designs each time we meet together, it has not be appropriate to share them with everyone. For example, the first week the Minstry Center was a square box, the next week it was a different shape with a pond in front, the next time it was about 5,000 sq. ft too big. Each revision has gotten us closer to the final product.

The Leadership Team has been meeting with ministry leaders to help define their ministry needs which in turn helps define the space and functionality.

Until the building design fits our culture and meets our functionality requirements, we do not want to share plans in the fear that it could set unrealistic expectations.

In the near term (before we move into the Ministry Center), our goal is that the design phase, capital campaign and building phase will NOT change the ministry of GNG. Too often building projects become the primary focus of a church's leadership and congregation thus becoming inwardly focused. Our goal is to remain outwardly focused, continually looking for ways to BUILD PEOPLE.

Once the Ministry Center is built. We pray that God continues to grow our outreach by allowing us to use the Ministry Center well. The children's area will be of specific emphasis in the Ministry Center. They are our future and we feel it is essential to give the children space that will allow them to be creative, artistic and engaged as they learn about Christ.

Most things won't change by moving to the Ministry Center. For example, the LOFT will continue meeting uptown as it is easy for students to gather there. We will not start a food pantry and clothing distribution simply because we have a facility (other organizations like Samaritan Outreach Services do those ministries well and we will continue to supoprt them).

We will be the same GNG! We will simply have a better tool to BUILD PEOPLE.

Short answer:Costs are expected to be in the range of $2.5 Million

Long answer: Although we have a range, a firm cost is several months away. Representatives from the builder are still meeting with county officials, utility companies, etc to narrow in on exactly what we need.

Issues such as sewer handling, water supply for sprinkling, borings for rock still need to be fully resolved. As answers come in, we will be able to focus in on a realistic cost.

We want to hear from you! This is the largest project we have taken on as a family. It will take all of us working together to reach our goal.

Please do not hesitate to contact the office with any of your questions. Call 937-393-5383 or email us.