Help us with Name and Nominations (Update 3/18/19)

As the building team met this week, some discussion centered on the topic of fundraising.  We agreed that we need to get a team of the people formed who can begin the work of planning and preparing for this.  However, as we deliberated about what their task would be, we acknowledged that "capital campaign team" doesn't seem to capture fully what they will be asked to do.  "Capital campaign" might connote a negative idea to some in our community, perhaps giving the sense that the team is just hungrily searching for money.  While an obvious and unashamed part of what this team will do is ask for money, we agreed that it is much more than that.

The people who comprise this fundraising team will be trusted with the job of researching and putting together a strategic plan.  There will be administrative tasks.  They will ask for money.  But most importantly, they will be tasked with communicating well the heart and vision of New Hope.  This is the key.  We hope and pray that in the fundraising effort, the focus isn't just on dollar signs and getting a fancy facility.  Rather, we hope there is a compelling vision with a longing to help better equip our church for the sake of God's kingdom.  This is what we want people to give towards.

For weeks, we, the building team, have been seeking to get an accurate grasp of the "DNA" of New Hope.  In doing so, we are more excited than ever about the unique personality and calling God has given our church in the Manhattan community.  We think a building of our own will be an invaluable tool as we minister in our town.  Are you someone who gets excited about communicating that vision?  Do you know someone who is naturally enthusiastic and able to draw others to a cause?  Who in our church body is a skilled communicator and vision caster?  We need those people!  Would you please take a minute to consider who you think could be a good fit for the fundraising team, and let us know at jwiebers@gmail.com?  

Additionally, would you help us come up with a name for the "capital campaign team" that better encompasses the role of sharing vision and communicating well?  If you brainstorm any ideas, please send those on to jwiebers@gmail.com as well.  

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And for those following our progress as we work through our church's ministry master plan, you might be interested to know that we are almost done.  We talked through momLIFE and women's ministry this week, and will tackle Fusion, Team 127 and campus ministries in the coming week(s).

Please be praying:

• For perseverance and continued momentum for the building team.  Pray that they would lean into God and seek rest even as they work diligently.
• For gleaning team sales that should wrap up soon...multiples transactions should be finalized this week!
• That the North building would sell.
• For the formation of the fundraising team.

Getting Caught Up

Before we move forward, updating on the process, it may serve us well to recap briefly how we got here.  Let's travel back to the beginning.  From the start, New Hope has been a body of Christ-followers who have had a high value for relationships as we explore the Gospel's implications.  This value has informed much of our church culture.  The early body of New Hope was never explicitly against having a church building, but for many years, church size and finances, among other things, made Sunday morning facility rental the best fit.  Much of church activity has functioned outside of a central building in the context of relational circles.  This has worked sufficiently, but in recent years, leaders have acknowledged more consistently the limitations we experience without a space of our own.

Over the past 15 years, our church has explored various options for obtaining our own space.  Leaders have looked at many properties, talked with other churches in town, and even purchased land at one point.  It was eventually the sale of that land which enabled New Hope to build the Greenhouse office and study center with out incurring any debt.  The Greenhouse allowed us to have our own office space as well as space for some church activity throughout the week.  But until this most recent hotel property came on the radar of church leadership, a worship facility of our own continued to seem out of reach for the body of New Hope.

In early/mid 2018, some people in our community started to wonder if God might be up to something as they were made aware of a foreclosed hotel property that had been sitting vacant for a long time.  Inquiries were made, prayers were prayed, and leaders brought the conversation to the larger church body.  The feedback from the people of New Hope included much excitement and optimism mixed with a healthy bit of trepidation and uncertainty.  A finance team was formed to prayerfully assess the church's ability to make an offer.  Following a time of prayer and evaluation, the team made a recommendation as to what we could offer.  It was far below the asking price.  With humble hearts and open hands, we submitted the offer, and to our amazement...it was accepted!  God had worked as only He can.

We took ownership of the hotel in early Fall.  So, here we are, moving forward to steward the property God has given us.  He has shown Himself faithful to lead and provide, and we trust He will continue.