Overall

Q: What are we doing?

Q: How much does this plan cost, what does it include, and when does it start?

Q: How did we get here?

Q: Why is this initiative important?

Q: What do you need from me?
 

Leadership

Q: As senior pastor, what is Neil Tomba's role in this initiative?

Q: Who is on the Facilities Planning Committee?

Q: How is Northwest involving lay leaders within the church?

Q: What commitments have church leaders made?

Financial Matters

Q: What is the projected cost of the Master Plan? 

Q: Where are we going to get the money?

Q: Is Northwest considering debt?

Q: How long is the pledge period?

Q: What happens if pledges are not fulfilled?

Q: When can I start giving?

Q: How will the implementation of the first phase of the master plan impact our annual operating budget?

Construction

Q: Where will our children meet during construction?

Q: Are we "going green" with this new building?

Overall

Q: What are we doing?

A: The Elder Board informed the body in July 2009 of the need to improve the amount of space, circulation accessibility, functionality and security within our children and student facilities. They asked the body to join them in praying about addressing these needs. One year later, after receiving financial commitments exceeding $4.2 million, Northwest is in the process of renovating the existing nursery, preschool, and theatre buildings, relocating the library to the Christian Life Center, and demolishing three other buildings (i.e. junior high building, library building, and the old classroom building). The renovation and demolition is expected to be complete by October 2010. This initial scope of work fully supports the facilities master plan and sets the stage for the next phase of work which includes the construction of a 20,000 square foot, two-story children's building in March 2012.
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Q: How much does this plan cost, what does it include, and when does it start?

A: The first phase of construction will cost approximately $1.3 million. The work will begin June 1, 2010, and we expect it to continue through September 30, 2010.
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Q: How did we get here?

A: The Elder Board and Facility Planning Committee began investigating the current and future needs of our campus in January 2008. Specifically,

• The Elder Board formed a Facility Planning Committee to investigate the current and future needs of our campus.
• The Committee conducted a space utilization assessment to evaluate how we use our campus. The most significant findings confirmed limited space and significant congestion in our nursery and pre-school buildings.
• Concurrently, we engaged a nationally known children's ministry consultant to assess our children and student ministries; she made several recommendations to improve leadership, curriculum, and facilities within these ministries – many of which have been implemented.
• Then, we asked an architectural firm to recommend solutions utilizing exclusively our existing facilities to address the specific needs in children and student ministries. While potentially effective, the proposed solution was expensive and did not accommodate the long-term needs of Northwest's children and student ministries.
• With our short-term needs and a long-term perspective in mind, the Elder Board officially engaged an architectural firm to develop a facility master plan for our campus while proposing immediate solutions for our children and student facilities.
• The entire body was asked to join the Elder Board in prayer in July 2009, when the scope and cost of the first phase of the master plan was communicated.
• Neil Tomba, our senior pastor, began praying for the individual members of our body – that they would engage, pray, and give toward connecting with future generations – in September 2009.
• The entire body prayed corporately each day as we walked through the Connect with Future Generations Prayer Guide in October 2009.
• Throughout this process, leadership has followed closely the instruction of Colossians 4:2: "Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful." As such, the Facilities Planning Committee developed a revised plan to improve our children and student ministry facilities that corresponds to the $4.2 million in cash and pledges committed to Connect with Future Generations, as compared to the original $12 million plan.

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Q: Why is this initiative important?

A: First, and quite simply, we have real physical needs (i.e. space, circulation, accessibility, functionality, and security) that require real solutions.

Second, and more importantly, we know that one of our greatest opportunities to expand the Kingdom is through outreach to children and students. Because God continues to lead more and more young families and children to Northwest, we have a unique opportunity today to reach out to these families, as well as those who are coming. Our commitment to children and students is not changing; it is continuing. We want to create an environment where children, students and parents come to know Jesus and grow in Him while preparing a pathway for future generations.
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Q: What do you need from me?

A: Pray that God would reveal to you the role He would like for you to play in this faith initiative and that He would utilize it to draw the body of Northwest closer to Him. Our ultimate prayer is that you will engage, pray and give toward Connect with Future Generations.

If you feel led to give to Connect with Future Generations, please write Future Generations Fund on your check's memo line. You can also choose to give online through the Facilities/Give page, selecting "Pledge Drive" and then "Connect with Future Generations" from the drop-down list.
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Leadership

Q: As senior pastor, what is Neil Tomba's role in this initiative?

A: Neil Tomba's responsibility is to shepherd the congregation of Northwest Bible Church and provide the vision for its operational initiatives. Neil is steadfastly supportive of Northwest's legacy to connect with future generations, and he is supporting this particular project through prayer and vision casting. He has delegated the overall management of the project to the Facilities Planning Committee and Executive Pastor Brandt Wright.
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Q: Who is on the Facilities Planning Committee?

A: We are blessed to have a talented group of people serving on our Facilities Planning Committee. Doug Williams, an elder, serves as chairman and the remaining members include Dick Blaylock, Colin Graidage, Emily Fenlaw, Kevin Newton, Kelley Kackley, and Dan Thor. Any member of this committee will be happy to address any questions you may have.
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Q: How is Northwest involving lay leaders within the church?

A: Approximately 150 of our small group, equipping class, and classic Bible class leaders attended special training sessions to prepare them to lead their groups and classes in a meaningful dialogue about stewardship in September/October 2009.

The entire body was invited to learn more about the Connect with Future Generations initiative by attending one of the many Facilities Forums held in August/September 2009 and February 2010.

The lay members continue to create ways to participate. For example, the singles ministry organized a Garage Sale, with the proceeds going to Connect with Future Generations, the weekend of May 8-9, 2010. Our 2010 Mother's Day service continued to reinforce Northwest's focus on connecting with future generations through a guest speaker and baby dedication.
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Q: What commitments have church leaders made?

A: All leaders (i.e. elders, deacons, staff, lay leaders, etc.) have committed to pray for this faith initiative and will continue to do so. Using the example of David as he constructed the temple, Neil Tomba, our senior pastor, and our elders are determining what their financial commitments will be, giving first from their own resources before asking the body to do so.

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Financial Matters

Q: What is the projected cost of the Master Plan?

A: The master plan consists of five phases that will span many years: the children's building; the narthex; the parking garage; the chapel and adult education buildings; and renovation of the existing worship center. The projected total cost of all five phases is $29 million in today's dollars. Please note that the phases of this master plan will be embarked upon based on functional needs and financial resources. It is our intention to have a long-term view while addressing immediate needs.
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Q: Where are we going to get the money?

A: The money will come directly from the generosity of the Northwest church body and its friends.
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Q: Is Northwest considering debt?

A: We will build based upon the cash and pledges received. We will wait to begin construction until approximately one-third of the construction cost is available in cash. We will have no long-term debt.
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Q: How long is the pledge period?

A: Pledges can be made over a three-year period, beginning in November 2009 and ending in November 2012.
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Q: What happens if pledges are not fulfilled?

A: We will limit the impact of uncollected pledges by starting and continuing construction as cash becomes available, phasing the construction in a way that will not jeopardize any ministries. Thus far, pledges have been honored on schedule.
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Q: When can I start giving?

A: Cash gifts will be accepted beginning October 1, 2009. You are encouraged to write a check for the amount you intend to give. Please designate FUTURE GENERATIONS FUND in the memo line on your check. If you prefer, you may hand-deliver or mail your donation to our Minister of Administration, Jerry Pattillo.
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Q: How will the plan to improve our children and student ministry facilities impact our annual operating budget?

A: As we replace 30-40 year old buildings with modern facilities equipped with more efficient systems, annual operating costs are not expected to increase.
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Construction 

Q: Where will our children meet during construction?

A: We will adequately prepare for the transition period during demolition and construction via portable buildings and existing space. We will communicate these changes via our website and the children's check-in kiosk.
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Q: Are we "going green" with this new building?

A: As stewards of all God's resources, we will make environmentally friendly decisions as often as possible.
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