March 4, 2009
Dear MSC Family,
Ten months ago, we launched the Love.Loud. initiative. The two-fold purpose of this initiative was to manage the mortgage on our land and current building for the next three years ($1.5 million), and build additional space for children and youth. We estimated the new building to be 10,000-12,000 square feet at a cost of approximately $1.5 million. Because we committed not to incur any additional capital indebtedness, we needed to receive at least $3 million in pledges for the three year giving period. But when our pledges came in at just over $2.1 million, we obviously could not afford to build what we initially proposed.
So we began meeting last summer with our children and youth teams and our architects to develop alternative plans. Then the economy began to slump, which gave us pause on whether or not to proceed. So our leadership team redoubled our effort and went to work on ideas for how to best structure our ministry and maximize our current facility. What is evident is that we will outgrow our current facility exactly when we predicted--by the end of this year. Space desperately needs to be added. But how? And given the state of our economy, is it prudent? How has the economy impacted financial stewardship at MSC? Have we been able to meet our projected budget needs for the general operating ministry and the mortgage on our current building and land? Is it even possible to borrow the money to build with our current pledges in hand?
These are great questions . . . ones that we've been working diligently on for the past few months. And it's imperative for you, those who look to Morning Star Church to provide spiritual support and guidance for you and your family, to know where exactly we currently stand and how we propose to move forward. To that end, I have committed to do a series of Congregational Town Hall Meetings for four nights, Monday, March 30 through Thursday, April 2, from 7:00-8:00 pm at the church. I trust that everyone who calls MSC their spiritual home will not only desire to attend one of these meetings, but will mark it on your calendar right now and make the commitment to attend. I have tried to make it as easy as possible for you to attend one of these meetings. I will offer this meeting on four different nights; I have arranged for child care to be provided for your children; and I have asked small groups to make this their weekly meeting.
Would you take a moment right now to register which night you will attend and the number and ages of children you will bring to childcare?
Thank you for your continued prayers and for all the ways you give and support the ministry God has entrusted to Morning Star Church.
Sincerely in Christ,
Pastor Mike