Continuing Our Journey

Questions & Answers for the Little River UMC Capital Campaign "Continuing Our Journey"

Q: What is purpose of this capital campaign?
A: This capital campaign is designed to help us pay for two major projects: the purchase of 1.75 acres of land adjacent to and north of our existing building and the construction of a Family Life Center.

The land became available for purchase when a 2.76 acre parcel was subdivided. Over one acre will be used for an auto parts store and parking spaces. The seller has agreed to remove both of the old homes on the land being offered to the church. This will greatly improve LRUMC's visibility from Highway 17.

Pending Congregation approval, the proposed Family Life Center (FLC) will house a large multipurpose room with a stage; a modern well-equipped kitchen; several class and meeting rooms for infants and children; a lobby area for informal gatherings; a shared space office; restrooms; and, storage areas as described below.

* The multipurpose room is the focus of the FLC. It will allow for large fellowship gatherings and meetings up to 400 persons; adequate space for Worship Alive; a permanent stage for concerts and small drama productions; built-in movie/video projectors and screens; and, recreation space for a wide variety of activities ranging from adult exercise programs to children's game space. For meals, space will be available for 300 diners at round tables. Large storage rooms will be easily accessible for tables, chairs and recreation equipment.

* The adjacent kitchen will be large enough to prepare and serve 300 dinners, and will be laid out so that meals can be prepared without interrupting the dinner guests or their activities. Attached will be large storage spaces for dishes, pots, pans, supplies and food products.

* The lobby area buffers the main entrance from the multipurpose room, and several doors from the lobby into the multipurpose room should ease congestion. The entrance connects to a covered walkway that leads to the existing church building.

* All classrooms will have a large window in the door, sink and counter space in room, and be pre-wired for voice/data and TV. Classrooms will be for infants and pre-schooler, 1st - 2nd grader's, 3rd - 5th grader's, middle school, and high school rooms.

* A youth activity room for both middle and high school students located between the middle school and high school classrooms may be used for informal teen meetings or as a lounge/activity area with games such as ping-pong, etc.

* The Shared Office will be used by Parents Morning Out and the Sunday School Superintendent.

* Restrooms: Two restrooms for men and two for women.

Q: Why do we need more land and a new Family Life Center?
A: Our current building is no longer adequate to meet our needs as our activity list grows and membership increases. We want to add Sunday school classes, but have no place to put them. We want to have pot-luck suppers, but can no longer seat the people who would like to attend. Luncheons cannot be scheduled on Monday, Wednesday or Friday because the Parents Morning Out program needs space in the Fellowship Hall. The Narthex is congested between three church services, storage closets are overflowing, and the bell choirs have no place to call home, and these space problems are just the tip of the iceberg! If we expect to keep growing and reaching out to newcomers and those who have no church home, we must have the space to accommodate them.

A number of new housing developments on Mineola Avenue are expected to yield over 1,000 homes in the next few years. In addition, the town of Little River has requests to build 7,000 new homes. Many more communities are also underway just to the north of us on Highway 17. Such explosive area growth surely means that that we have to be prepared for more families who want to join our community of faith.

The Family Life Center meets our need for larger areas for fellowship gatherings and dinners, community events, and for Sunday school classes and meeting rooms. In addition, our growing Parents Morning Out program is in need of more space.

When the Church Conference voted to purchase the additional 1.76 acres, it recognized we would not be able to control the use of the land or have an opportunity to purchase it in the future if someone else bought it. Additionally, the land will allow us to locate the Family Life Center adjacent to our existing building. This property will also give us another option for future Sanctuary expansion.

Little River United Methodist Church's mission is to provide a loving atmosphere for all persons to find Jesus Christ as savior; and, to provide a space for spiritual growth through worship, discussion, fellowship, and interactive education. In order to fulfill our mission, we need more space for classrooms, outreach, ministry and fellowship.

Q: Whose vision is behind the capital campaign?
A: The Building Committee surveyed our staff and congregation and prepared a Family Life Center wish list. Then it looked at four different area Family Life Centers that have been built recently. The FLC description here is the outcome of their studies and planning.

The Building Committee also believes that purchase of the land along Highway 17 will significantly enhance the usability and friendliness of the new Family Life Center by permitting its construction immediately adjacent to our existing church building. Our congregation also agreed to these benefits and voted by a wide margin to purchase the land.

Q: Where is the new land and where will the Family Life Center be located?
A: The new land is next to the northern church boundary. This enables us to site the Family Life Center much closer to our present building than had an earlier land use plan. Such proximity should greatly increase its utility and promote a close, family-like setting for our expanded church activities.

Q: When does the capital campaign start?
In March and April, we will embark on a journey. As a church family and as individuals, we will learn more about what it means to be on a walk of faith exploring God's will for each of us, and practicing great stewardship in His name.

Be sure to mark April 21st on your calendar. That Saturday we will have a church wide event to celebrate the steps we have taken on our journey and to collect your campaign pledges.

Depending on the pledges received in May, the Building Committee will determine how quickly we can begin FLC design, planning, and construction. If, with God's help, we meet the financial challenge, we could have the new Center as early as the middle of 2008.

Q: How Can I Help Continue Our Journey?
A: Please plan to journey with us and listen to God's call upon your heart. No one
can tell you what you should commit to this 3-year campaign. Only God knows the sacrifice that He expects of you.

Today our church has a need. It will take sacrifice from each of us to meet this need, but we can do it with God's help. Previous sacrifices have enabled us to worship together here today. Please pray for our church and help to ensure its future.

We are on a journey to follow God's direction and His will. This is God's church and it is our mission for the community. Won't you help us to Continue Our Journey?