FAQ
Below are answers from our Elders to some frequently-asked questions (FAQs) about the Mission Expansion Project. You will find a variety of questions about such items as our present challenges, other growth options we've considered, and financial details of the project.
Click to review answers to questions in the following areas:
Transition Plans | Building Use | Growth Strategy | Financials
- What is the renovation schedule for the older section of the building?
The renovations will include two phases and will begin immediately after the move into the new sanctuary. Phase One begins September 19, 2011. Phase One will include converting the old sanctuary into two floors of nursery and children’s classrooms, a new staircase leading to the new second floor, and new offices in the former Fellowship Hall. Phase One will finish in February 2012.
Phase Two will begin February 2012. Phase Two renovations will include work in the existing office area and the conversion of the old nursery into Adult Education classrooms. The entire project will be completed in June, 2012.
- How do I drop off & pick up my children during the renovations?
We will continue to utilize the check-in kiosks and computers located in the Children’s foyer and elementary hallways. You will need to print out a name tag for children in the nursery through grade 5 and present your check-out receipt to the classroom teacher in order to pick up your child. For questions regarding children check-in or registration, please contact Tillie Pyatte vial email or via phone (317.875.0282 x148).
- Will there still be a dedicated space to welcome guests like the Coffee Talk Room?
Yes. There will be a spacious and inviting Guest Reception Area with coffee in the Commons for visitors on Sunday mornings. This area will be much more accessible and noticeable, and getting to it will not be as intimidating as it was in our former configuration. Please note: food and beverage will not be allowed in the sanctuary.
- Will there be space to connect in the new atrium (foyer)?
Yes, and you are invited to do so. We will now have lots of space, furniture and areas to sit or stand with your friends and family. Grab a cup of coffee in the Commons and experience community!
- Can I bring my morning coffee into the new sanctuary?
No. We ask for your cooperation to not bring any food or drinks (including insulated coffee mugs) into the new sanctuary. There will be trash receptacles near the doors and in the Commons.
Building Use
- What are the guidelines for the new sanctuary?
The new sanctuary is our primary worship venue for Sunday mornings and will a wonderful platform for ministry and outreach. During the week, there will be limited to no activity in this new space, and because of the accessibility of the sound booth and equipment to the seating area, the sanctuary will be kept locked during the week. Events such as weddings and funerals that used to be held in our old sanctuary will be better served in the Chapel. As noted above, food and drinks will not be permitted in the sanctuary.
- How will the new chapel be used?
The chapel is designed primarily for weddings, funerals, and large group teaching. Other events (such as large banquets) will occur on a limited basis when strategically necessary. For more information about scheduling a wedding or event in the chapel, please contact our Resource & Events Coordinator Shannon Lewis via email or via phone (317.875.0282 x158).
- How will the new kitchen be used & are there any regulations for use?
We are blessed to have a bigger, high-quality kitchen that will be able to support a variety of ministry events, lunches, and receptions. It will be equipped with commercial-grade equipment, and the Indiana Department of Health has strict guidelines for commercial kitchen use. Therefore, every ministry department will be required to have a representative trained on the new equipment and on safe kitchen practices. The kitchen must be reserved in advance and must always have at least one trained ministry representative present. These guidelines will help ensure we abide by sanitation requirements and ongoing maintenance for many, many years of use.
- What is the Young Families Room & what is its intended purpose?
The Young Families Room is located adjacent to the sanctuary entrance near the Commons. It provides a room in which to watch the service via a closed circuit feed on a television screen. The intent of this room is to provide a place for a parent or guardian to take a child who may be overly fidgety or distracting to others in the sanctuary. It is not intended to be a play area or nursing room. Nursing moms will still have a room available to them in the nursery.
- How do I schedule an event? Is there someone I can call?
To schedule an event, meeting, or Bible Study at College Park Church, you can contact our Resource & Events Coordinator Shannon Lewis via email or via phone (317.875.0282 x158). If you are scheduling a wedding, please review the College Park wedding information before calling.
Growth Strategy
- What are the present growth challenges and our need?
God is bringing many new people to College Park. Our adult and children’s attendance is up by 44% over the last 20 months and two of our three services are at or over capacity (8:00 a.m. – 88%; 9:40 a.m. – over 100%; 11:20 a.m. – 94%). Our average monthly attendance (over 3,400) is the highest in College Park’s 25-year history. Every area of ministry needs additional space, and some areas are in serious facility deficit without factoring for any additional growth. The word is out, people are inviting hurting and needy friends, and every week we are seeing lives being changed. Igniting a passion to follow Jesus is contagious!
We are seeing people do more than just come; they are connecting into the body. Here are a few examples:
- Over 600 people have joined College Park as members since April 2008
- Over 150 people have been baptized
- Over 25% increase in volunteer involvement in key areas such as Next Generation Ministries and First Hand Ministries
- 14% increase in giving units since 2007, including nearly 900 giving units contributing to the 2009 Christmas Offering for Togo (West Africa)
- Have we considered church planting as a solution to growth challenges?
Yes, we have twice engaged in church planting, in New Palestine and Columbus. New Palestine Bible Church and College Park Church Columbus both started as church plants with video feeds and now are independent churches.
However, we do not believe church planting is our answer to our growth challenges. Our view is that church planting should be pursued based upon a philosophy and strategy to reach a particular region of our city. “Mother churches” still face attendance pressures since planting a church doesn't change the fundamental reasons why a church is growing. Therefore, planting another church – a worthy pursuit – will not solve our present and future challenges. Church planting is something the Elders are interested in philosophically, but not to address our present growth issues.
- Have we considered a Saturday night service?
Yes, we have. A number of churches have chosen this as a solution to their Sunday morning attendance challenges. At present we are not convinced that this is a good solution for us for three reasons: 1) it tends to create a service with an independent identity, 2) it dramatically increases the organizational needs, and 3) the demands on volunteers and staff are very significant. In our research, the churches who moved to Saturday night found that it solved some problems, but it created big new ones. Therefore, a Saturday night service is an option we will continue to consider, but it is not our preferred option.
- What about doing the same morning service on Sunday night?
Some churches have an evening service to minister specifically to the people who volunteer on Sunday mornings or as an alternative to Sunday morning. However, the challenge with a Sunday evening service is that most people prefer to worship on a Sunday morning, and therefore, the number of people who attend at night is minimal. The result is not enough people attend Sunday night services to make a difference in the morning worship services.
In addition, we are committed to continuing our focus on seeking God’s face as a congregation through our Sunday evening Fresh Encounter Prayer services. These services have had a real and significant spiritual impact among our people, and we would not want to lose this opportunity to focus upward.
- What about multi-site venues?
We have used multi-site/video venues for years. New Palestine Bible Church and College Park Church of Columbus both began using this model. New Palestine is now an independent church, and CPC Columbus used the video venue until the end of August 2009. Over the years we have learned, by experience, what is required in starting and maintaining a video venue church. Experience has taught us that 1) video venues require significant leadership development (e.g., worship leaders, pastoral oversight, volunteers); and 2) there is a significant financial investment required for facility and audio/visual support. Multi-site venue options will be part of our long-term plan after we complete our expansion and renovations at our facilities at 96th & Towne Rd.
- What are our plans for the Ministry Center?
The Ministry Center will remain part of our short-term and long-term facility plans. The Ministry Center provides 1) a dedicated facility for our growing High School Ministry; 2) a space for “incubator” ministry development for such ministries as Hispanic Church, Deaf Church meetings, Arabic Church Bible studies, and offices for our ministry partner NANC; and 3) an option for future multi-site exploration and expansion. We see that in the short-term the Ministry Center is a useful facility for addressing some immediate needs.
Project Financials
- What is the total amount needed for the project?
The price of the project is $19,000,000. For the project to begin, our minimum funding commitment from the church congregation was $12,000,000, and over $15,000.000 was committed. Additionally, about $2,000,000 will be applied toward the project from giving to church operations. The remainder of the project cost will be funded via long-term debt, which currently is on target to be in the $3-$3.6 million range. Our Elders are praying that at the end of project funding season (2013), we might finish deft free.
- What is the project budget?
Design, Engineering & Construction Price
$17,000,000
College Park Church additional costs
$500,000
College Park Risk Contingency
$800,000
Construction Loan Interest
$700,000
Total
$19.000,000
- What impact does the Mission Expansion Project have on our commitment to global missions?
Please refer to our Elders' Impact on Missions summary for an answer to this question.
- How much debt will we take on as part of the project?
The Elders have set a long-term debt limit of $5,000,000, and this not-to-exceed limit was approved by the congregation in March 2010. During the construction phase of the project, there will be a construction loan used to manage cash flow between giving and expenses. Once construction is completed, a long-term loan would be entered into, and currently the projected debt total is approx. $3.6 million. Although we have a debt ceiling which will not be exceed for long-term debt, the actual debt amount will be determined by the level of giving and the amount of upfront giving by the church congregation. More gifts and earlier giving have a significant impact in reducing in long-term debt.
- What do the Elders think about being in a position of debt?
That is a question that is on the mind of every one of our Elders, and it is a major prayer point for us. We live in uncertain times, and that makes any option more challenging. That is one reason why we took so much time to carefully seek God’s face and evaluate our needs and potential solutions. Moving forward on a facility expansion project right now has some challenges. Our need is clear, but the economy has made us walk very carefully and slowly as we have conducted our feasibility study. However, there are also challenges to not addressing these issues head on. We could miss an opportunity to minister to more people by having inadequate facilities. We are already faced with having to make structural changes in order to relieve pressure. We see the need to address a growth strategy sooner rather than later.
Moving forward on a facility expansion project now allows the following advantages:
- Significant cost savings to building right now (i.e., 30% reduction in construction, material and contractor costs)
- Opportunity to secure guaranteed pricing (to mitigate cost inflation exposure)
- Opportunity for savings by timing our drawings/plans with Hamilton County road/roundabout planning at 96th and Towne
- Relatively fresh perspectives and assessments from our congregation of building needs (from the previous committee needs assessments and recommendations)
Please refer to our Elders' Perspective on Debt for further reading.
- What increase in operational costs are we building into future annual budgets?
Our budget projections show ongoing operational costs increasing 20% when we occupy the new space and then an additional ongoing 10% increase when the renovated space is completed. We have factored future operational costs into our projections and financial models, and the increased operational costs remain feasible.
- Who will see my financial commitment?
After you turn in our commitment card, only Jevne Livengood, our Financial Manager, and her small internal staff finance team will see the individual commitments. Each person on the team will keep the commitments confidential.
- What is the commitment period?
The commitment period for Mission Expansion pledge giving began in April 2010 and will continue through Spring 2013.
- How will the facility construction be managed?
College Park has engaged Aspen Group as our construction design/build partner. In this arrangement, the Aspen Group is currently responsible for coordinating the Concept Definition and Architectural / Engineering Development for the Mission Expansion Project.