When faced with a challenge
(Printed in bulletin on January 14, 2024)

Our church has some big decisions ahead, and they must be made expeditiously. Our church buildings are about 70 yrs old and will require extensive repair or complete replacement. The Deacons have just received this information and are beginning to start the process to decide the best way forward for our church. We covet the prayers of every member, but we also want your input. Regardless the direction the church chooses to go, it will be a heavy lift. We need each member of the body healthy and functioning together so the whole body can function. This next year will challenge us all to keep focused on our mission of reaching out to others while reaching up to God. Please accept this challenge to work together so the sweet fellowship we are blessed with, will only grow bigger and stronger. Our work for Jesus must not suffer. The fields are still ripe for harvest. Let us all continue to do our part in sharing the gospel of Christ in our community and elsewhere as the Lord directs. We will endeavor to keep you updated on decisions as they are made. Please talk to any of your Deacons or the Pastor with your ideas or concerns as we are all affected.






Announcement to the Church
(Printed in bulletin on January 21, 2024)

It falls to me as your Deacon chair this year to inform you of an ongoing investigation into the condition of our 70 year old building complex. We have been noticing some cracks and signs that our buildings are showing their age. We decided to contract with an engineering firm to determine if there were safety issues that should be addressed. Our first report indicated problems with the subsurface surrounding our complex. These are the same conditions with loose soils and voids beneath the ground that caused the previous auditorium to be demolished and this one to replace it. We have an unofficial report from a structural engineer that was more encouraging, but additional engineering work is needed to determine if our current building is economically salvageable, or if we should make plans for another building. The safety of our people is paramount and will guide the Deacons response. We must not let the building issue become a distraction from our mission of spreading the Gospel. Let’s resolve to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus and work confidently together for the heavenly kingdom where the road paving is gold and the foundation is unshakeable.
Jim Ivy, Deacon chair