To God Be the Glory from Generation to Generation

What is the scope of the project?

We are planning to build a tower on the west wall of our current Administration Building, allowing access to the upper floors by means of a fire stairwell. Additionally, this tower will have an elevator, which is required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The plan also includes adding restrooms to the main floor of the tower, which will give our staff same-floor access for the first time ever, and to the second floor, providing easy access for both the middle school and high school students. This tower will also provide the opportunity for an enclosed connection to the future Fellowship Hall.

The upstairs renovation includes a large room for the middle school, a larger room for the high school, and a break room that both groups can use for meals. A new corridor will also be built, connecting the Administration Building to the Sanctuary building.

“Each of you should give what you have decided to give in your heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” 2 Corinthians 9:7 

How will the planned renovation and construction improve our program?

The current plans will give our students safe, size-appropriate areas that they can feel are their own “spaces.” FPC is experiencing growth in both its middle and high school ministries, and has to use creative scheduling, staffing, and facility rotation in order to help support the growth. By providing ample room to grow, the renovation has great potential to help increase participation in our student ministries, and that will strengthen the church overall.

The separate meeting spaces for the middle and high school groups will give them room to expand, and the shared break room and adequate restroom space will further support the growth. Additionally, the project provides easy access to outside play areas and the parking lot, and an enclosed pathway between buildings. The connection hallway to the Sanctuary Building will benefit our staff by providing comfortable access to the Sanctuary Building. It also will provide the Deacons a secure means to move offering monies from the Sanctuary to the vault.

This is just a brief outline of many potential benefits to be gained as we move forward and begin Enlarging Our Vision.

A View Toward the Future

From Our Pastor…

It wasn’t even my idea! I’m sure many people think, “He’s doing it again!” Well, seriously, the most exciting thing to me about what we’re about to attempt is…it wasn’t my idea in the first place. Yes, I’m a dreamer, a visionary, but I never imagined something like this.

Which is why “Enlarging Our Vision” fits for all of us, including me! I thought our next big step would be a new Fellowship Hall. After all, it was on the drawing board, part of our Master Plan. It seemed to be the next, logical-and most-needed step.

But then the Lord opened the door for a wonderful gift. In 2014, God made it possible for us to acquire ownership of the Jones Cleaners property. Our Associate Pastor at the time, Justin Jones, started dreaming (it’s contagious!), and started talking to me and our elders about utilizing our existing space upstairs in the Administration Building for our youth group. It caught such traction that the Session authorized the formation of a new Long-Range Planning Committee, and they ran with the idea. So, now we are on the verge of something very exciting: a major renovation project that will enable our students- middle school & high school- to have a safe, workable space that is all theirs.

Please join us in this exciting step of faith! Join us in “Enlarging Our Vision,” that the Lord’s work in our midst will continue…for the generations to come!

–Rhett Payne, Pastor