September 16^th, members of Grace committed to the following:

 "...authorization of a debt service level of up to $13,000 per month to fund construction and payoff of the Phase 3 ministry facility."

Since the February authorization of a lower debt service level, the following factors have impacted the costs associated with Phase 3:

-          Changing costs associated with construction

-          Higher interest rates for funding

-          Banking requirements for up front cash

-          Anticipated higher estimates now that we have better drawings of and details about the facility

To follow God's leading for ministry at Grace, and proceed with Phase 3 construction, the building team and church board needed to know that funds were available to build the facility presented during the "For Such A Time As This" campaign last Autumn.  We selected a bank and are in the process of finalizing the loan to build Phase 3 of the Master Plan.  Based on the terms proposed by the bank and without authorization for the additional debt service level, we anticipated only being able to fund the outside walls of the Phase 3 facility.   This would actually take us backward in the ministry that Grace would be able to provide and add expense to the overall process associated with building out Phase 3 and the Master Plan. 

The commitment to authorize the new debt service level will allow the finance and building teams to move forward with plans to begin construction of Phase 3 in January 2008.  And while we have authorized the larger debt service level, the church board agreed we should challenge the body of Grace to pay off the existing mortgage of approximately $150,000 by the end of 2007, and raise another $150,000 in pledges toward the "For Such A Time As This" campaign (through December 2009).  Accomplishing these goals will allow us to enter into permanent loan financing with a debt service level of approximately $11,000 per month.  The body will be hearing more about how we can all participate in the coming weeks.

As we discuss numbers, construction and facility, I want to remind all of us of the message that Pastor Joel has consistently taught throughout this building process.  "For Such A Time As This" is not about a building, rather it is about ministry and seeing God work in and through His people, each of us. Having additional space allows us to reach and impact more children and families through AWANA, GraceLand and GEM Express.  It allows us to expand the adult education ministry through Grace Bible Fellowships.  It will allow us to do things God has not yet revealed. 

Please don't hesitate to contact me if you have questions about this commitment or how you can be involved.  As we step out in faith and sacrifice, trusting God to provide all our needs, as we invite others to join us in ministry at Grace, as we live the life God calls us to live before our neighbors and co-workers, God will build up His Kingdom and He'll use each of us to accomplish His will.

 Living the Life (Micah 6:8) by God's Grace,