Dear Friend,
On Sunday, July 24th Family Bible Church members approved a motion for our church to move forward with construction on “stage two” of our building. We reviewed a floorplan created by Morley Architects, to be constructed by Midwest Contracting. The design is for 10,800 square feet of space that includes new nurseries and classrooms, additional bathrooms, storage, offices and an expanded kitchen, coffee bar and cafe area that will serve our existing facility and future expansion to the south. We had good questions and discussion about the design.
Our elders also presented the cost for this project quoted to us by Midwest Contracting which is $1,890,000. Obviously there were questions about the feasibility of our church paying a sum like that, just as there were when we presented the cost of construction for “stage one” of our facility eight years ago, which is now paid for. Based on the Lord’s track record of faithfully providing for us since then, we believe he is quite capable of providing for our needs now, even with the rising cost of living that we are all experiencing.
Of course the primary way the Lord will provide is through our people’s generous giving. Therefore I am inviting you to give willingly, sacrificially and cheerfully to the building fund of Family Bible Church. As you pray with your family about your contribution, there are several things I want you to keep in mind.
First, although I am the one doing the asking, you are not doing this for me. You must see your gifts as “to the Lord” for them to be of the most benefit to you. Your gifts are for you and future families and generations to whom the Lord wants to be gracious through the ministry of Family Bible Church.
Second, because your gift is “to the Lord” it must be given in the proper spirit. The apostle Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 9:
2 COR 9:7 Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
Since God loves a cheerful giver, I want you to give cheerfully. God loves you no matter what, but he is pleased with you and your gift when you give it gladly or cheerfully. You can’t give cheerfully and reluctantly at the same time. Nor do I want you to give feeling “under compulsion” by me or anyone else unless it be the Lord who compels you. But I do pray that he will compel you to give.
Third, I believe that in order for us to accomplish our goal, all of us will have to give sacrificially. When a friend offered King David supplies to build an alter and make a sacrifice to the Lord, David refused, saying:
1 CHR 21:24 … “No, but I will buy them for the full price. I will not take for the Lord what is yours, nor offer burnt offerings that cost me nothing.”
It was unacceptable for David to make an offering that cost him nothing because it would not have been a sacrifice. It will cost all of us something to add teaching space to our building. Your task is to determine what you are willing to sacrifice cheerfully.
Finally, if you already give to Family Bible Church, your gift should be above and beyond whatever you already give. Our operating expenses are currently low and we already save a portion of our budget for the building fund. But without raising additional funds it would take us many years to save enough money to pay for the expansion of our building at our current level of giving. We would love to have additional teaching space sooner than that. On our pledge card (attached), there are options for a one-time gift, or monthly gifts extending 1-3 years. Going forward, please designate all gifts for our building by writing “Building Fund” on any check memo line that you wish to go to the building to distinguish them from your normal giving.
Please pray about what you are willing to give. Let me commend to you 2 Corinthians chapter 9 as a passage for your family to read and study together as you pray. It is full of rich instruction to help guide your decision. On August 14thwhen we gather for worship at our Sunday service we will present our pledges and gifts together and eat a thanksgiving meal following the service. Please fill out the attached card and bring it to offer at our service on August 14th. Or if you are unable to be with us that day, please mail the card with any gift to Family Bible Church, 15515 Husky Way, Evansville, IN 47725.
May the Lord bless you and keep you,
Colin Kerr
Pastor, Family Bible Church
Building Fund Pledge Card
