Amidst all of the economics upheaval, less than a year ago our elders and finance team decided it would be in the best interest of the church to phase our construction project. The project was moved into the following phases: 1) double the parking on our campus and get “pad ready” for our new building. In essence, we will put a parking lot in the back similar to the one we currently have in the front. In between the two parking lots it will look like a soccer field and that is where the future worship center will go. 2) put in an additional entrance and approximately 100 parking spaces on the city property that joins our property to the north. We already have a signed contract with the city. 3) Construction of our new worship center. Phase 3 may become phases 3 and 4. In other words, we could make the balcony and all ancillary space phase 4.
Our desire was to begin construction of phase 1 in March. It is now August and I don’t even care to calculate the difference in days. For some time we have had a signed contract with Dimare’ Construction and we secured our financing. As far as financing goes, we have approximately $200,000 of the $265,000 phase 1 cost in our building fund. We will borrow all of the $265,000 because we can borrow it at 4% while earning 2% on our $200,000, which is a 2 point spread. Borrowing money at a 2 point spread and there being in essence no closing costs (only 1,400 for doc. stamps) it was a sound financial decision during these times when cash is king. Now, I want you to understand something – I am no financial wizard! This is the decision of our finance team – which is an INCREDIBLY gifted, experienced (including an accountant and banker) and talented team. A couple of these men are responsible for over 100 million a year in their companies. I support these men, as do our elders and the finance team is led by one of our elders, Chris Dawson. Also, do not let the term finance team fool you – these men love the Lord and are extremely committed followers of Christ!
So, if we have a signed contract with Dimare and have secured our funding, what is the hold up? RED TAPE. From our engineer and contractor’s perspectives, we were required to jump through an excessive number of hoops with the city. Then nearing that completion, we discovered that our Saint Johns River Water Management District permit had expired 4 days earlier and actually needed to be modified for our project anyway.
All the above being said, our engineer sent everything to SJRWMD today and they have promised us they would expedite the process, because they are aware of all of our delays. It should only be a matter of days before we get approval from them.
Last week I had breakfast with our City Manager, Jim Landon, who is a friend of mine and a friend of our church. He was unaware of the situation and I had withheld from calling him because I did not want to leverage our friendship in that way. He told me I should have called and he would push this project through once we were cleared up with SJRWMD.
Ultimately we know that everything is in the Lord’s hands and the Lord’s timing, so after typing all the above, I simply sigh. My sigh is a sigh of relief knowing that God is in control. I also recognize that these are “normal” experiences with construction.
Church, God is blessing Parkview in amazing ways as we guide people to Life Change!!!! I am looking forward to the Fall. I am also reminded that parking lots and buildings are only tools to reach more people. The church is the body of believers, not some building that will one day no longer be in existence.
I want to thank you for your faithfulness! I also want to thank our staff, elders, finance team, small group leaders and ministry leaders for all that you do to make Parkview what it is! God has blessed our church with a great spirit and I give Him glory! I guess in the back of my mind I know the devil will fight what we have and we must protect it. Our church has no junk going on behind close doors or amidst some “clique”. But I want to be certain not to give the enemy an opportunity and I want all of us to be careful of his devices as we seek to guide people to Life Change in Jesus Christ.
In the next day or two I will talk about our giving, budgeting and how these economic times are impacting us as a church.
Long post, think I said everything I needed to – I’m out. Be Blessed!