Working Towards a Master Plan
Approximately a year ago, our church family heard and accepted a comprehensive report concerning our future from the Long Range Planning Committee. Within that presentation, we were challenged in specific areas of our purpose (To Seek, Serve, and Share Jesus Christ). For example, we were prompted to consider the way we seek the Lord through worship by moving toward the construction of a new Worship Center within five years. The first action item to accomplish this objective was as follows:
That the Nominating Committee presents to the church for election, not later than the July 2009 business meeting, the names of a special committee that would be responsible for acquiring all detail information relative to the construction of a new Worship Center (e.g. location, seating capacity, design, construction timetable, etc.) and fo presenting their recommendations to the church for approval.
A special committee was indeed elected and began its work in mid-2009. Throughout the last few months, the committee has prayed together, traveled together, and discussed various options. Ultimately, the group recommended that we hire (Joe Fuqua) Fuqua and Associates out of Huntsville, Alabama, to assist us in assessing our ministry needs and planning our facilities accordingly. He was approved this month during our regular business meeting.
During my service on the committee, I have noted the need to balance any approach we propose to take. In other words, we must not overextend ourselves in one area of ministry to the neglect of another. We must consider the impact of each decision to the overall health of the church. There is no such thing as just building a "building." That is why we have engaged Joe in a Master Plan for our facilities. We need to address the entire campus in this work (e.g. parking lots, welcome areas, children's ministry, youth facilities, etc.). Over the past couple of days, Joe has met with the staff as well as about forty other individuals from ministry focus groups. In every one of those meetings, I saw strong advocates for their respective areas. Passion ran high, and each person felt that his/her area was of utmost significance. Some pointed toward growth as reasons for considering facility expansion while others felt that stagnant numbers were an indication something needed to be done in order to jump start growth. I came away with the realization that BOTH ARE LEGITIMATE concerns and should be addressed.
I believe I can speak for the committee in saying that we have all grown exponentially over the past few months. We have seen greater oppportunities to move the kingdom forward here in Zachary. Our eyes have been opened "so to speak," and we feel that we are on the brink of something God-sized. The staff and I share the same optimism. We have had to reevaluate ministries and clarify God's vision over the last few weeks, but we are convinced better days are ahead. We believe that the adoption of a Master Plan will further enhance our ministries and place us in a greater position to seek, serve, and share Jesus Christ with Zachary and beyond. Do not discount the process! We have an opportunity to get some things right so that future generations will be a part of a vibrant, growing spiritual family. Joe has already begun to highlight some exciting possibilities with this in mind, and we will continue to strive for God's design. Please pray that we as a church would demonstrate faith as we take a step forward in reaching epople for Christ!
During the evening service on Sunday, May 16, I plan to share a little more of the process and considerations we are involved in through the MAster Plan. Stay informed, and please make an effort to attend!