Dear Christ Church Family:

It is time to celebrate what God has done!

Two years ago we took a giant “Step of Faith” in our effort to boldly proclaim the Good News and engage in good works. Given our desire to live and serve in such a way that it would be virtually impossible for anyone living within ten miles of our steeple to be unaffected by God’s love, we agreed to an expansion plan. And then, under a tent in the north parking lot, we made sacrificial commitments totaling $6.4 million to enlarge this campus and address the facility challenges we faced. We knew then that the cost of going forward was high. But we reasoned that the cost of doing nothing was higher.

Here we are—two years later—with the project almost complete. Better yet, here we are—two years later—with many stories about God’s faithfulness:

• There are new families attending Sunday morning worship and Route 6:6.
  
• People are learning about Christ through Alpha and other programs.
  
• People from other churches in the area are gathering in our facility to pray and work together to transform our region. .
• Our teen programs have undergone double-digit growth.

And, we have been able to offer Sunday morning seminars and host Bible studies, support groups, small groups, special speaker series and other events – all designed to help people grow in the knowledge and image of Christ.

The verse we claimed for Step of Faith was from Isaiah 54:2, “Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide, do not hold back; lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes.” Thanks to your faithful giving, we really have stretched the tent curtains wide. Thank you so much.

I am writing today to set a two-part challenge in front of you: the need to finish this campaign well by addressing the gap between our pledges and the total cost of the expansion, and the opportunity to help others at the same time.

Step of Faith: Thanks to the hard work of many, and despite a number of challenges along the way such as the excavation of a farmhouse that was buried right where we put the new building, the actual expenses of our project came in just under the original estimate of $7.4 million. However, our Step of Faith pledges, together with the funds available in our capital reserve account, still leave a gap of about $800,000. Why is there a gap? The short answer is that we anticipated paying the expenses of furnishing the new buildings – with sound systems, stages, furniture, equipment, computers, et al – out of the surpluses in our operating budget. But these surpluses have not materialized. And while the difference can readily be covered by taking on permanent debt, we are willing to do that only as a last resort.

Therefore, on this second anniversary of our three-year campaign, I am asking those of you who did not participate in the campaign two years ago to pray about how you might be part of this effort now. And I am also asking those of you who are participating already to prayerfully consider joining Sheri and me in extending your pledge for a fourth year.

First Fruits: At the same time as we seek to close this gap the church leadership wants to both express our thanks to God for His provision and to lean into our calling by giving ten percent of what is given to help meet the needs of another local ministry. In doing this we are seeking to follow the lead of the people of Israel who thanked God for allowing them to rebuild the wall of Jerusalem by offering a “first fruits” to the Lord. (Nehemiah 12:43-44)

You will be hearing more about all of this in the coming weeks – and will have several opportunities to ask questions about the specifics behind all of the actions we are laying out. Please join me in asking for the Lord’s blessing as we seek to expand His kingdom. And, when you get a moment, please read Mark 12:41–44, a passage that lays out one of the Biblical principles of giving: “Not equal gifts, but equal sacrifice.”

Press On,

Mike