During our recent Quarterly Business Meeting, Nelson Melton provided church members with an important update from the Construction & Renovation Committee. That report gave our congregation an overview of actual costs of the project and the recommended sequence of construction events as we continue our fundraising efforts. The committee members are very appreciative of the support received throughout this process of planning and fundraising for the monumental tasks before us.
Since that update, the Committee decided to address directly the reality that the construction and renovation costs are significantly higher than originally estimated(based upon additional plan requirements primarily to meet code requirements, asbestos abatement, and higher current market construction cost of materials and subcontractor pricing). The Committee agreed to work with our architects and general contractor in a team effort to ensure that we are making wise choices in how we utilize the money you have generously given to this effort and will give in the future. We believe that one of our most important roles in representing you is to be good stewards of the funds entrusted for creating a physical structure that meets the needs of our spiritual ministries.
Therefore, the Committee has agreed to move forward over the next four to six weeks with our lead architect to complete a professional program evaluation of the use of our existing space. In this way we make certain that we are utilizing all of our available areas in the most efficient and effective ways. This ensures that we as a Committee are more certain about the direction we are taking for the future of Tabernacle in meeting our needs as they change with our ongoing growth. Even though you will not see construction begin in January 2016, we believe that you will see change begin in early 2016. A presentation will be made in the January church business meeting that will provide you with more details.
We will also move forward with the removal of the asbestos from the row houses, as well as with patching the Williams Building roof. Further discussions with the roofing company indicate that we do not need a new roof for this winter, saving a significant amount of money as we finalize our sequence of construction events.
We are encouraged in scripture to “run with patience the race before us”. This is exactly the manner in which the Construction and Renovation Committee is working. Every day Tabernacle Baptist Church takes patient and planned steps toward our God-Sized Vision. Your gracious giving makes this possible. We rely upon your continued support as we pursue a God-Sized Vision for our church and our future. If you or someone you know would like to know more about how you might participate or different ways that you might become a donor, please do not hesitate to call one of our Construction & Renovation Committee members (Nelson Melton, Bill Welstead, Kathy McGraw, Jim McMurray, or Donna Soyars).
