Update 7/30/2019

Three weeks have passed since we last posted here on the blog.  Somehow, the summer months have a way of flying by like that!  Between camps, vacations, the July 4th holiday, and various other summer commitments, the core building team has not met in person as much this month.  However, we have tried to be faithful to keep working on things as each person is able.

As mentioned in the last post, the core team has been working to wrap up a pre-design packet to hand to an architect.  In the process of fine tuning it, we have needed to camp out on a few sections more than anticipated in an effort to be as accurate and unified as possible.  But it is SO close to being ready!  We've had some conversations with local architects and hope to soon determine whose services we will use for some initial facility sketches.

We have also been working to coordinate what needs to happen with remaining demolition cleanup.  In the meantime, we have an iconic "stairway to heaven" on the property that has people talking.  Now to come up with a clever message for the sign...

Thanks for continuing to pray.  Please pray for these things...

--For perseverance and encouragement for the core building team and their families

--Praise God that He continues to provide.  May we make His name great through this process!

--For the team's decision as they choose an architect

--For hearts of unity and gratitude among the people of our church

Update 7/8/19

Look at the progress! The demo crew was amazed by how much rebar was in the structures, and because of it, they had to crunch away at the concrete walls and roof more slowly than originally anticipated.  But the hotel buildings are down!  The property will look much like this for the next week or two as the demolition machines must be pulled away for some other jobs with tight deadlines.  But they will be back in the coming weeks to finish clean up of the site.

Other news is that the core building team is in the process of procuring an architect to work on initial concept design drawings.  In preparation for that work, the team is finishing up a large pre-design document that will be given to the architect team.  The document is a culmination of much of the work and analysis done to this point as it seeks to outline space requirements and needs, goals, and values for each ministry space.  Please be praying for continued wisdom and discernment as we edit and finalize this step.

Thanks for reading, seeking to stay updated, and for praying!  Know that the teams of people involved in the building project desire to keep communication open and flowing among our church body.  If you have questions, thoughts, or just want to hear more, please reach out to a core building team member.  Their names and photos are below.  

Prayer requests

-That we would all continue to value the Gospel and people over programs and buildings

-May the buzz about what is happening at the property prompt conversations about God, church, and faith all across Manhattan

-That God would continue to guide and provide, writing a story through our church that only He can write

-Pray for energy and encouragement for the various teams and volunteers serving our church

Core Building Team Members

Cody and Hannah Canterbury

Eric and Anna Nielson

Justin and Kristey Wiebers

Brad and Kira Buser

Tony and Carmen Classen

Demolition Well Under Way

Hopefully you've taken time to stop by the property to observe some of the demolition action.  In case you haven't been able to, or if you just like to see big machines in action, here are some demo photos and videos...

People around town are noticing the verses and quotes on our sign...This time we gave them a little humor

Some who showed up to watch it all kick off

Kids find the machines captivating

Progress

One building down...starting to be able to really see the space we've got to work with on the site.

Police Training and Upcoming Demolition

If you drove past the hotel property last Wednesday, you probably saw evidence of the police training in action.  Law enforcement vehicles lined the front of the parking lot and cones blocked off entrance to the property.  Here are some photos...

After many weekends of work, final gleaning efforts at the property wrapped up this past Saturday.  We are so thankful to all who contributed numerous hours of labor in the attempt to salvage all we could.  And while it may not be as dramatic as the fall of Jericho, hotel walls will begin tumbling down soon!  Demolition crews will start the process this Wednesday or Thursday.   The look of the property will change drastically over the coming weeks! 

Behind the scenes, volunteer teams related to the building have been meeting consistently in recent weeks.  The Building Team continues to work through rough financial estimates for construction and sustainment costs of a building.  The Cultivating Team is laboring to develop vision, revamp the church website, collect contact information, and develop an overall communication plan.  And last, but not least, the Finance Team is prayerfully considering many aspects of financial health for our church in this next season and how to care for our church family from a stewardship perspective.  Thank you for your continued prayers for these teams of volunteers.

Update 6/619

If you've had any thought about offering your time and energy to help mow at the hotel property, check this out!  New Hope now owns a fancy, fun to use mower!  Please add your name to the volunteer spreadsheet (link at the top of this page) or get in touch with Tom Grogan directly to discuss the mowing/trimming needs.

Additionally, we can report that the trailer of copper seen in the previous post brought in about $4000.  God continues to provide through the salvaging efforts, and we have just a few more weeks to pull things out before demolition.  We can use all the help we can get, so plan to come out on Saturday or coordinate to help during the week if you're more available then.  It would be a great investment of your time!

Thanks for your prayers:

• Pray for endurance and perseverance for those who have been committing significant time and energy at the property and behind the scenes.  Pray that they would have wisdom and freedom in taking time to rest as well.
• Pray for continued unity and clarity of vision for everyone in New Hope.
• Pray that God would captivate our hearts through this season and continue to give us stories of His faithfulness.

Update 5/27/19

Happy Memorial Day!

Thanks to a group of you who showed up to help this weekend, there is another trailer full of copper ready to take to salvage.  Some estimate this is close to double what was harvested last weekend, so we're hoping it's worth about $5000.  For reference, that is about equivalent to New Hope's KidsLIFE budget line for a year.  That's a good day's work!

Other things in motion this past week included...

• Preliminary movement of the property boundary between the hotel buildings and the North building was successful as part of being ready to sell the North building.
• The Finance Team and Cultivating Team have both been working behind the scenes to help New Hope be successful in communication and financial stewardship through this building project.
• Initial calculations were done to begin assessing realistic costs of sustaining a future building.  The core building team will continue to revisit these numbers as we work through the facility plan.
• A storage pod was purchased and moved onto the property to house the new mower along with P-TAC units and other salvaged goods yet to be delivered to buyers.
• Demolition work was scheduled for mid to late June, but may be contingent on flood emergencies around town in the coming weeks.

Between now and mid-June, people will be at the property working on Saturdays.  Consider coming out to help!  If Saturdays don't work for you, let us know and we can get you (and your family or small group) set up with a project to be completed when you're able.  Any time and effort is appreciated.

Update 5/22/19

The core building team is working to finalize dates and details related to demolition in June.  As that looms near, efforts to salvage materials from the hotel buildings continue.  There are door locks and P-Tac units (air conditioners) that still need to be pulled out, and plenty of miscellaneous furniture and small appliances that could be useful to someone.  A group of folks have been working diligently to remove copper piping throughout the buildings, and that has proven to be a worthwhile effort.  The first day's effort resulted in this check!

In recent weeks, as both the Cultivating and Building Teams have met, momentum has been gaining towards the building master plan.  The cultivating team has been putting together a plan for communication, and working to get tools in place to enable them to engage our community well.  Additionally, the building team has continued to work on pre-design concepts, discussed building costs, and is working on initial numbers for a sustainment plan.  These conversations will continue to be worked out as our teams move back and forth between them.  Pray with us that the master plan picture becomes more and more clear as we drill down through these things.

One thing that continues to stir a sense of worship is to see how God has given people within our community such a wide variety of gifts and temperaments.  We pray that this building project would continue to be a process that cultivates teamwork in New Hope as we each offer our strengths and vision for God's work.  Continue to pray and consider how God might want to use your skills and resources, both for the building and for His redemptive work among people.

REMEMBER...THERE IS A LINK FOR VOLUNTEER NEEDS AT THE TOP OF THIS BLOG PAGE.