Grace will have a Membership Meeting and Congregational vote on Sunday, May 18th at 12:20 PM in our auditorium. At this important meeting, the members of Grace will be asked to vote on two issues.  Members will be able to begin voting as soon as a quorem is established.

Issue #1: Affirmation of Elders

APPROVED!

As part of an annual process, the members are asked to affirm, as Elders, men that have been asked to serve. Matt Cassidy is an on-going Elder as Senior Pastor. Four men have agreed to serve as Elders for the next twelve months; Mark McClain, Frank Childers, Dennis Henegar and Greg Herring. Click here to view their profiles.

Issue #2: Grace Transforms Debt Ceiling

Approved! 86% Yes, 14% no

The leadership request authorization to raise the long-term debt ceiling for the worship center from $1,900,000 to $3,000,000, if needed, to cover all cost to complete the worship center. Below are answers to 6 Frequently Asked Questions about this issue.  If you have any other questions, please contact Executive Pastor Ray Anderson.

What is the current issue regarding additional funding for the Worship Center?

In February we put before the congregation the need of $2,500,000 to cover the phase two expenses to finish the worship center and make it fully functional for use.  The congregation responded with $1,400,00 in new pledges.  That is wonderful! Since then we have firmed up the cost for the seating, audio, video and lighting equipment.  There are other things like the cross tower that we would like to go ahead and do. We now have a good read on what it will cost to finish the worship center and fully use it.  The contractor has been working hard to keep the project on schedule so they could be done by the end of the year.  This means that the timetable to order the seating and the equipment has moved up.  This is to our advantage in that it will cost more if construction gets delayed.  Bottom line is we need to enter into contracts for the expenses of these phase two items. 

What are our options?

First, we could just not finish the building to the level of using it.  It does not seem that the Lord would take us this far to have us stop at this point.  Second, we already have the plenty of construction funding to cover these items but it could change the amount that rolls over to long term financing in 2010.  We could receive additional cash over the next two years to cover these contractual commitments and stay under the current long-term debt ceiling.  We’d be excited to see God do that.  Since we need to sign contracts now for these expenses it seems prudent to inform the congregation and ask that the long-term debt ceiling be raised from the approved $1,900,000 to $3,000,000 in case it is needed by September 2010.  This ceiling was set and approved by the members of Grace in February of 2006 based on our best estimates at that time.

What are the Elders proposing?

The Elders are proposing that the members of Grace approve raising the long-term debt ceiling to $3,000,000 total and pray that over the next two years we will not need to carry any long-term debt. Our construction funding covers up to $5,000,000 of construction expenses until September 2010. It will be then that we would go to long term financing. This will create more time for this additional funding to come in over the next two years.  So we are seeking to project a point we will be at financially over two years from now.  At best we can predict a range from needing zero up to $3,000,000 in long-term financing to finish our building this year.  It will be determined on the final cost of the building and how much the congregation actually gives over the next two years to Grace Transforms.  It will not just be the current congregation but also those that join us over the next couple of years. 

Why did we move forward with building if we did not have enough funds to complete the whole project? 

We prayed, sought the Lord’s direction and considered our options all along this journey.  We knew we had enough funding to get the building built and that there were items we could delay to a later time.  With the rising cost of construction that we already experienced during our 8 month redesign we considered it prudent to move forward with at least constructing the building.  This also allowed us time to pray for additional funding which once again our congregation came through.  It seems prudent, wise and God directed for us to finish now what He has set before us.  This really is not about getting a nice new building.  It is about the ministry opportunity that God wants us to be ready for when the building is finished.  The worship center is a tool to impact more of our community for the kingdom and glory of our Savior Jesus.

How do the Elders sense that God is in this and we are not just doing this in our own effort?

In the Bible there are many examples of God telling His people what He wants them to do, getting them moving, gives signs that He is with them and then revealing progressive details along the way.  He wants them to trust Him to accomplish what He said He would do.  The Lord directed us to provide more space for the Children’s Ministry and for worship back in 2004.  He got us moving and has led us to make mid-course corrections along the way.  He provided an office building that was not for sale to us that was across the street.  He stirred our congregation to pledge $9,400,000 and the congregation has been fulfilling those pledges at an amazing rate.  We have never pledged this much nor given as much as has been given in the last four years for the building and the operating budget.  We have remodeled the Cornerstone Building for the Children’s Ministry and built the worship center thus far without drawing any funds from the construction loan.  We think these are tangible signs that He is walking with us and wants us to trust Him to finish the good work He has started in us.  Lets praise the Lord and keep moving!  There is nothing in front of us that He cannot take care of for us.  What a great God we serve and trust!

What are we really focused on as a church?

The church is the people, of God not the buildings where we meet.  Buildings are one of many tools that we can use the have effective ministry in the community for Christ.  Over the last several years we have expanded our staff team and our ministry options so that we can equip you as a minister with resources, strategies and skills to minister to others.  Our vision has to do with reaching people with the gospel, deepening their understanding of how the Bible transforms our lives, equipping believers to minister to their neighbors, families, friends and coworkers and playing our part of reaching the world for Christ.  That vision has not changed.  We have refined how to do it more intentionally and effectively but we have not left the core reasons why we are a church.  Building a new facility is an interim task so that we fulfill why we are here.