A Letter from Pastor Scott Farmer
Dear CPC,
Hearts are opening and lives are being touched amid financial belt tightening and economic uncertainty in the world today. We give praise to God for His blessings and for your faithfulness, receiving $7 million dollars in pledges towards our target of $15 million. We are grateful to receive sacrificial gifts each week for IMAGINE, totaling over $1.7 Million to date. Such ongoing generosity demonstrates continued support by many for the Imagine Capital Campaign. Thank you.
IMAGINE is about serving people today and building for tomorrow. CPC is helping people at a time when many are hurting and struggling through financial, relational and health issues, when faith is challenged and hope appears dim. It is encouraging and a blessing to discover many who have a passionate desire to grow deeper into Christian community and authentic, honest, biblical spirituality. Pre-cepts, ALPHA, Going Deeper, Bible Study Fellowship and Focused Living are some of CPC’s ministries which encourage a personal quest for deeper spiritual involvement.
We also serve hundreds weekly through Job Con-nections, bringing people together from all over the Bay Area to network and emotionally support each other. These ministries are all bursting in attendance and room to accommodate growth has now become a challenge
We are also serving beyond the walls of CPC through our Mission Ministry. We most definitely see God at Work through The City Impact team, partnering with forty other congregations from northern California. Building this Christian school will give students a safe place to learn and to be introduced to Christ. We appreciate many of our members who actively live their faith and reach out to others at home, at work, in our community and overseas.
Through all this wonderful news of growth in attendance and outreach, CPC has been struggling with a budget shortfall. Recently, the Session and Pastoral Staff have had to make very difficult decisions as we continue to experience a gap between our budget, receivables and expenses. Decisions have been made to lay off staff members and combine CPC@T with the Saturday night service in order to narrow the budget gap. We may have to continue reductions in order to meet the needs of our budget shortfall. Yet, in the midst of our financial challenges a decision has also been made to continue with plans for IMAGINE. Although the budget shortfall could be argued as one reason to put IMAGINE on hold, there are compelling reasons to move ahead.
- We are looking forward and planning for the future.
- We are satisfying the growing needs of our ministries. Consistent growth in attendance at most all of our venues, requires meeting rooms and parking spaces. Our struggle to accommodate ministry attendance is felt on our campus every day and we expect growth to continue. This is a great problem to have and we are thankful that God is calling many to His church and kingdom.
- The current depressed economy provides an opportunity for us to stretch every IMAGINE dollar because construction costs are far more competitive. Moving forward with IMAGINE provides employment opportunities to our community at a time when local construction companies need work.
- We have already seen God at work in the process of gaining approval for our facilities plan and receiving funding to complete Phase One. Those of you familiar with the difficulty of securing such approvals from government and neighborhood groups recognize that God IS at work.
All these reasons encourage us to walk through the doors that God has opened, grateful for His faithfulness as we move forward with IMAGINE.
We remain committed to the overall vision of IMAGINE and believe that God will continue to lead us as we pursue the completion of the facilities plan over the next several years. The Oversight Committee has been working with the project team, staff and the Session to consider all options. While we are still working on the final plans, we have determined it best that the project be completed through the following three phases: |
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Phase One - A major first step forward.
- Fund the Missions component over a three year period
- Complete all site improvements required by the Town of Danville
- Construct 74 new parking spaces across West El Pintado Rd.
- Move the existing play area closer to buildings to avoid traffic conflicts
- Repave and provide additional lighting for the main parking lot
- Restore the Chapel to provide seating for 160 persons
- Complete improvements to the Sanctuary Annex which will enable it to be used as a separate room that will seat up to 140 people
- Complete worship and Sanctuary improvements in 2010, subject to confirmation of funding
- Construction to commence in spring 2009 with expected completion in fall 2009
- Click here to go to Site Plans.
Phase One is the top left plan
- Update May 22, 2009
Phase Two- Expected commencement in 3 to 4 years as capital is available.
- New 18,000 sq. ft. Ministry Center to support Student Ministries, Children’s Ministries and other ministries
Phase Three- Expected commencement as capital is available.
- Fellowship Hall/Pavilion, Lobby and Plaza improvements
Phased planning will require an additional campaign to raise necessary funds which may take another 3-5 years to complete.
I pray you experience the same sense of excitement and encouragement I feel, seeing the first phase lay ground work for future phases. Phase One will provide essential relief, helping us to continue to offer opportunities for people to know Christ and to grow deeper in their faith.
“Imagine” . . .
- A fully restored chapel with 160 seats and the Annex with its 140 seats welcoming those eager to experience the love of Christ.
- 74 new parking spaces serving weekday programs, welcoming Mothers Together, Focused Living, Prime Time, Precepts etc.
- Children benefiting from the improved play area safely positioned next to the school building.
- Lives touched by the three mission projects (City Impact, Macedonian Outreach and Children of Grace) puts Gods love in action.
- Parking lot lighting giving our campus improved security during evening events.
Malachi 3:10 10 “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.” Scripture reminds us that as we remain faithful to God, He will supply our needs so we can continue to serve people today and build for tomorrow. This is especially important to remember during troubled times with many uncertainties. God’s promises are always…He never changes.
Paul’s letter to the Romans also offers wise council for times such as these. Romans 9:12, 13 ”Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality.”
Thank you for your faithfulness!
Prayerfully,
Scott Farmer |
