Q: What is the Advance Campaign?
A: The Advance Campaign is a Capital Fundraising Campaign with the goal of raising $250,000 for a new permanent building for the Church at Cane Bay and funding for “The Nairobi Initiative”
Q: Why do we need to move, don’t we have plenty of room in the school?
A: Although we do have plenty of room at Cane Bay Elementary, and they have been gracious hosts, we have overstayed our welcome by 3 years. We need to give them their building back. It is also highly expensive to rent these facilities for the short amount of time we use them.
Q: Where will this building be located?
A: The Building will be located on Marketplace Drive immediately behind Publix, next to Palmetto Walk in Cane Bay.
Q: Will we own this new facility?
A: No. The Building will be constructed and owned by Grescon Inc., owned and operated by Billy Gressette. Billy is a Christian businessman and covenant partner of the Journey Church. We will sign a joint lease agreement with Coastal Kids Academy splitting the rent 50-50.
Q: Why are we not building our own building like normal churches?
A: We believe sharing and leasing a building is the best way for us to steward God’s money. If we were to purchase land (about $125k/acre) and build ourselves, our mortgage cost would be over $15,000 per month, which is 75% of our operating budget. We would also need to wait another 5 years and triple in size for any bank to take us seriously.
Q: Why are we paying $125,000 as a down payment on a building we will not own?
A: In order to move the project forward with Grescon, this was a necessary measure of good faith. We are sharing the land payment with Coastal Kids Academy, while Grescon is footing the 1.8 million dollar cost of building. The down payment is not lost because we do not own the building; the large upfront fee will be reflected in lowering our monthly lease payment.
Q: Will our rent be higher than it is now?
A: Yes, slightly. Our top estimated monthly lease payment will be about $6700. Currently, we pay $5000 for the school, offices and storage space. Three things to consider: First, church plants across the map grow in attendance and giving when they enter into a permanent space. (Our mother church, Journey, doubled in size within their first year of being in their building). Secondly, we are building in $24,000 into the campaign budget for “supplemental rent.” This is a safety net so our operating budget is not stressed with the extra rental expense. Finally, unlike the school we will have freedom to use this space as much as we’d like every weekend and every weeknight. Coastal Kids Academy will use it Monday – Friday, 6am – 6pm.
Q: Who is Coastal Kids Academy? (Possible Future title: “Cane Bay Kids Academy”)
A: They are a well-respected pre-school academy with two locations, Hanahan and North Charleston. The for-profit business is owned and operated by two former Educators. Each of their facilities is highly sought after and often has waiting lists because of their popularity among parents. www.coastalkidsacademy.com
Q: Is Coastal Kids Academy a Christian School?
A: Coastal Kids is not advertised or administered as a Christian school. However, the owners do attend a local church and have always been supportive of our beliefs and principles as a Christian Church. This presents an incredible opportunity for us to be on mission, as many of the families that will associate with CKA will be in close proximity to our Gospel presence.
Q: Will we still need to set-up and teardown on Sundays?
A: No. There will be some small things that will need to be done to change over from the weekly activities., but miniscule in comparison to our current task. Our portable equipment will be used again in our effort to start The Church at Devon Forest.
Q: Will the church be “hands on” with the building project?
A: Yes! We need your help in two ways: 1. We need connections with businesses and construction distributors that may give materials or services to our project. 2. Close to the finish we will be asking you to jump in on various projects like painting, landscaping, décor, etc. Every dollar we save on the project will help bring our lease payment down.
Q: How soon will we be able to move into the space?
A: We are working on architectural drawings now and after that we have a six-month waiting period for building permits. We will begin building in 2016 and Lord willing be in the building at the beginning of 2017.
Q: Is this simply another temporary space on our way to our “real building”?
A: No. We will view this as our permanent spot for many years to come. Part of our long-term vision is to have multiple churches linked together through a common Missional Community network. While Cane Bay Plantation will continue to grow, it is within our 5-year plan to plant another church similar to Cane Bay in the northern section of the community, which would one day have a separate facility.
Q: How does this effect our vision to plant "The Church at Devon Forest"?
A: We are cultivating the soil in Devon Forrest with a Missional Community that will soon multiply in 2016. It is not our intention to run two portable churches at one time. Our hope is use our current equipment to plant in Devon Forrest when the Cane Bay moves into the new building.
Q: How can we help?
A: Pray, Share, Pledge and Give. Let’s bathe this whole process in consistent prayer. Ask the Lord to give us righteous hearts and wise minds regarding the use of this new “tool” he has given us for the advancement of His mission. Share the vision with everyone! And ask the Lord what he’d like you to pledge to Advance and give generously.
Q: My family may move witin the next two years, should I commit to a pledge?
A: Yes, we would encourage you to do so. The wise man plants a tree even if he knows he may not sit under its shade. If you move away, we will thank the Lord for your time with us, send you out as a missionary from our church and release you from your commitment to the the Advance campaign.