Updated Building Proposal: |
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Nursery |
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Why should we build? Although this is a question that the congregation has answered, it’s important to hold in our minds the reasons that members have listed as reasons to expand our present building: · We need classroom space for effective teaching · We will need more seating space in the sanctuary, if we see much of an increase on Sunday mornings · We have no large fellowship space for special events in the congregation’s life (receptions, etc.) · Our present kitchen does not legally allow us to serve food on anything other than disposable plates (too small and unequipped for church use) Why this size for an addition? It is always expensive to build; the larger the building, the greater the cost up front. To build too small, however risks either not meeting the purpose of building in the first place, or else risks making something that is inadequate from the outset, or becomes inadequate too quickly. It can be more expensive to build too small than to build too big! Considering the needs mentioned above, this size is perhaps, on the small side of adequate, but its estimated cost does not seem to be beyond a reasonable step or two of faith. The committee considered both cost and need when coming to this proposal. What will it cost? The total estimated cost for the project is roughly $486,000— a number which does not figure on the congregation supplying much labor at all. At present, the congregation has raised around $140,000, and can probably borrow an additional $300,000 from Thrivent. An additional $46,000 will need to be raised or pledged before the project can begin. Projected Costs: Framing/Enclosing: $ 46,000 Materials $120,000 Sprinkling $ 48,000 Electrical $ 30,000 Plumbing $ 40,000 Slab $ 80,000 Permits $ 10,000 Architect $ 22,000 Site Testing $ 4,000 Site Work $ 30,000 Contingency $ 50,000 Total $480,000 Other Figures: Assuming 6.75% interest on a 20 year loan for $300,000, the congregation would need to raise an additional $2,314 per month in principle and interest payments. This would equate to a little less than 18% increase in giving by the congregation overall. In 1993, St. John’s Free Lutheran took out a loan for approximately $130,000 from the AFLC builders fund, at 8% interest. Assuming the congregation planned on a 20 year repayment, the congregation would have had to raise an additional $1,087 per month in principle and interest payments, at a time when the church’s annual budget (still subsidized by the AFLC) was $67,000. This equated to a little more than 19% increase in giving by the congregation overall. It seems that we have been here before. As we did then, we need to seek the LORD for His guidance; but we should do so not fearing the cost; simply seeking His guidance. Should we feel that He is guiding us this way, we can be confident that He will provide— we saw Him do so in exactly the same way fifteen years ago. |
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