Join us Friday

We want to remind you that you are invited to join the core building team at the Greenhouse, Friday night from 6:30-8:00.  

The time will begin with a brief summary of the team's process and considerations to this point, followed by explanation of the architectural plans as they exist currently.  There will then be space for questions, conversation, and input.  We hope you will come!

Floor Plans and Dirt Work

Mark your calendars for Friday, November 22nd, 6:30-8:00 at the Greenhouse!  Come join the core building team as we review the process we've gone through to this point, and share an initial floor plan sketch.  This will be a great opportunity to learn more about the building team's process and to get first looks at a possible floor plan.  Plan to bring your curiosity and your questions.  The building team covets your input.

Other action at the property this week involved some final demolition and site work.  If you've driven past, you might have noticed some equipment rolling around.  Our demo crew was back to finish removing the pool and some sidewalks, as well as to bring in fill dirt.  After filling the pool, they will regrade the site to aide in optimal water drainage until we are ready to prepare the site for building. 

Thank you for continuing to pray for...

• The architectural drawings.  Pray that nothing would be overlooked, and that the plan would be one that can serve our ministries well for many years to come.
• The November 22nd meeting at the Greenhouse.  
• Praise God for Garland, our demolition guy.  He has been very cooperative and generous towards us in what he has charged through the multiple steps of demo.
• That God would show Himself to be the writer of our story.  May He continue provide for New Hope in ways that only He can. 
• For enthusiasm and unity of vision for our whole church body as we long to make much of God.

Thank you, Farmhouse!

A week ago, a bunch of guys from Farmhouse Fraternity came out for a morning of work at the property.  They were very helpful in cleaning up in and around the place.  There will be steady work and upkeep needing done between now and whenever we are able to break ground, so groups like this are a blessing to us all!  If you happen to talk to a guy from Farmhouse, be sure to express gratitude.  THANK YOU, FARMHOUSE!

Quite a puzzle

Do you enjoy puzzles and brain teasers?  The kind that makes your brain hurt?  Like them or not, the building team finds ourselves working on a rather large puzzle, trying to work towards a general floor plan for the new building.

You might be surprised to hear that it's challenging.  But it's true!  There are so many variables, desires, and limitations.  Our team spent significant time early on trying to really understand each existing ministry within New Hope, along with their needs, desires, and potential pinch points with growth in a new space.  This formed a document we call the "ministry plan".  Then we put together a building plan document based on the ministry plan evaluation.  It was a lot of written descriptions of the spaces we deemed a priority within the new building, along with what spaces needed to share access and so on.   We also tried to address the need to plan for future expansion if that should become necessary. Then we passed that to the architect.

In recent weeks, we have been working with the architect firm, Anderson Knight Architects, to land on a floor plan that will work well for New Hope.  We reviewed an initial sketch and sent it back with requests for revisions.  This past weekend, our team was presented the revised floor plan, and we all agree it is getting closer to fulfilling the needs and desires we outlined in the ministry and building plans.  But there is still some tweaking to do, and the architects will keep working on it this week.

We understand that some of you wonder why this is taking so long, and what could possibly be so difficult.  If you can imagine a really complicated brain-teaser puzzle in which all the pieces must be moved to fit just perfectly, it's a little like that.  You might move one piece to where you think it goes, but then, as a result, all of the other pieces move farther from where you want them.  Every piece of the puzzle impacts the other pieces.

There are a number of "pieces" our team has to consider in addition to trying to fulfill the space needs we identified in the ministry plan.  For one, we have the existing lobby building to consider.  We have gone round and round about the best use of that existing space.  Those conversations have also explored the wide range of expense vs. cost savings involved in how we use that space.  Obviously, what we put in that space dictates a lot about what needs to be built new, however, being an existing building, it has it's own limitations.  Additionally, there is an underground sewer line on the property that we have to consider.  To move the line, would cost us significantly more money than our church is willing to spend, so we have to maintain a sufficient building easement from that line.  We also have to consider parking spaces and how to maintain as much of the existing parking lot as possible in order to save money, and in order to simply have enough parking for the church.  These are some of the "pieces" that are just part of the existing land and what it dictates.  Then you add in considerations for traffic flow inside the building, security for kidsLIFE spaces, how the new space relates to the existing building, etc. and there is a lot to juggle.

Hopefully, that is some helpful insight into the process.  If you are feeling eager to see progress in the form of a picture, rest assured, the building team is just as eager to provide one.  Please be praying that God would guide our process, causing all the pieces to fit in the most honoring way possible.  

Know also, that if you have questions or want to hear more in the context of a conversation, the building team members are happy to visit.  It's difficult to relay details of our process through large group meetings and written communication.  Please reach out to a staff member if you don't know a building team member, and the staff can get you connected.

Thank you for reading, and thank you for praying!

• Conversations with professionals outside of our church.  The building team has conversations frequently with various people like architect staff, electricians, plumbers, city officials.  May God use this building and the heart of New Hope to draw these people to Himself.
• The architectural drawings.  Pray that nothing would be overlooked, and that the plan would be one that can serve our ministries well for many years to come.
• That God would show Himself to be the writer of our story.  May He continue provide for New Hope in ways that only He can. 
• For enthusiasm and unity of vision for our whole church body as we long to make much of God.

Waiting, waiting...

Waiting.  That has been a theme of the past month for the building related teams.  We had to wait for the Kansas Department of Health to give the "all clear" for the property following asbestos abatement.  We had to wait for the architect to draw initial floor plan sketches.  We met to review the initial sketches, and then we had to wait for the architect to return from vacation.  As a church, we are all exercising patience in this process, trusting that God is the one moving this project forward.

But there are some action items to report! The site has been cleared by asbestos authorities, and we have had a follow up meeting with the architect who is now drawing revisions.  The cultivating team has sent out an initial email to alumni, and they are working to prepare upcoming communications.  We have been working to get electricity hooked up again since we had to disconnect and tear apart aspects of it during demo.  A group of FarmHouse guys plan to come work this Saturday to help with various cleanup/grunt labor tasks.  And with the cold forecast for this week, we have been working to winterize the buildings to prevent issues with frozen pipes.  

The building team knows that everyone is most eager to see some architectural drawings.  We are excited to have some to share as well!  Please continue to pray for the process, for clarity and direction, and for God-glorifying conversations between the team and architect.  When we have drawings to share, there will be opportunity for feedback and opportunity for forming sub-teams of people willing to start thinking through the details of each ministry space.  More on all of that in the weeks to come!

In the meantime, let's be a church characterized by prayerful patience.  Some things we can pray for...

• Conversations with professionals outside of our church.  The building team has conversations frequently with various people like architect staff, electricians, plumbers, city officials.  May God use this building and the heart of New Hope to draw these people to Himself.
• The architectural drawings.  Pray that nothing would be overlooked, and that the plan would be one that can serve our ministries well for many years to come.
• That God would show Himself to be the writer of our story.  May He continue provide for New Hope in ways that only He can. 
• For enthusiasm and unity of vision for our whole church body as we long to make much of God.

First Day of Fall Update 9/23/29

If you've driven past the hotel property, hopefully you've noticed that it is looking much more clean since all of the excess rubble has been cleared away.  It is much less of a liability now and it's easier to envision the possibility of the land.  There will be additional demo of the pool and some sidewalks, and then some dirt work to follow, but we are thankful for the progress to this point.

The core building team recently secured Anderson Knight Architects to work on preliminary concept drawings for a building.  We anticipate receiving the initial draft within the next two weeks.  From there, we will be able to tweak design ideas and consider different phasing possibilities for the future.  It will be exciting to finally get to "see" a glimpse of what our team has been working towards, and in turn, to share it with you!

Lastly, if you haven't already, be sure to mark your calendars for Sunday, October 6th, when we will have a church family meeting following the service.  During that time, you will get a (hopefully) concise update about things happening across the building, finance, and cultivating teams.  There will also be time for some Q&A, so we hope to see you there!

And as always, thanks for praying.  
   --For initial architectural floor plans to be thorough and without any oversights regarding what we truly need in the space.
   --For God to provide financially for our church and this project.  He has been so good to do so to this point!
   --That the Lord would make this project about the greatness of His name, not ours.
 

Update 8/21/19

The cicadas are singing earlier in the day, the shadows are getting longer, and students are flooding back into town.  The Fall semester is upon us!  With the return of college students, including many new internationals, we are looking to connect with those who may have use for some of the remaining furniture and appliances we have stored from the hotel buildings.  We have continued to give things through the care portal, and may be able to contribute some items to the HIS furniture giveaway coming up soon.  If you know of anyone wanting or needing a refrigerator or microwave at a discount price, let us know!

This week, our core building team will be receiving a proposal (like a bid) for initial concept drawings from an architect in town.  We will need to review that proposal and present it to the finance team before we give the go ahead.  Once the architect is able to move forward, the design team will be working from the pre-design document (facility plan) we put together for them.  It outlines our church's space needs, values, and desires as best as we understand them.  If you're interested in seeing the written facility plan the core building team diligently put together, you can read the full document HERE.

Lastly, many of you have likely noted that much rubble still remains on the property.  You can know that it has not been forgotten about.  We are working with our demolition contractor, who has been so kind and generous towards us, and he will be getting the lot cleaned up in the coming weeks.

God continues to graciously guide the multiple teams of people who are working on various tasks related to the property and future building.  What a humbling process it is to know that He is faithful and is zealous for His own glory.  May He continue to show Himself faithful to our church community as we take steps forward in faith.

Please continue to pray:
-For our potential architects and the work their design team will do soon.  Pray that God would guide their creativity and work, and that their hearts might be open to the gospel as they interact with people of New Hope.
-Pray for wisdom and clarity for all of the volunteer teams involved.  The finance team, the cultivating team, and the core building team are all meeting regularly and need God's leading for decisions.
-For unity and expectancy among the people of our church as we labor to make God known to those around us.