I’ve been on a sort of mission over the last month. I set
out to visit as many Life Groups as possible within a month. My visit to a
group tonight will, I think, mark number 15. What a great experience this has
been for me. Having been at BridgePointe a little over a year, I’m still the
“new kid” on the block”. This was a touch point that allowed me to put some
names to some faces, thank folks for joining a small group, answer questions,
have fun, and get to know the core of BridgePointe more personally.
It’s clear to me that we have a strong, vibrant core that
knows what we are about as a church and believes it to be more than just being spectators, but partners. We are seeing people take tangible steps in drawing closer to God. We also are having fresh encounters with guests coming to
BridgePointe. I met so many people who are new to BridgePointe within the last
3-4 months. I thank God for the 900 people who we were privileged reach out to
this last Easter. The last 3 Inside BridgePointe events have hosted at least 20
people each and the one planned this May will prove to be the same. We have had
to move to Tuscany’s largest room to fit the growing numbers.
But just as importantly, I also heard the concerns of the core of our church. My “take away” consensus
from my Life Group tour was 2 fold:
·
The mobile state of our church is hurting us and
will result in weakening our ability to grow. Get us out this situation …
yesterday!
·
Whatever the solutions are, don’t go into debt.
Be wise with money.
I hear you loud and clear. The Advisors and the Pointe Team
commissioned to lead us forward hear you as well. The leadership at
BridgePointe sees the mobile factor as our greatest targeted need. Assuming
that a facility meets our minimal space needs, we are desiring a more permanent
facility solution that:
· - Requires minimal expense to move in so as to not
go into debt. Or, the minimal build out fees would be paid for by the lessor or
included in the least payment in a reasonable way.
· - Preferably saves us lease costs, but will not
exceed what we already pay.
· - Allows us to move in relatively quick.
The good news is that the school is not raising the costs
this next year. But this should not and will not provoke any hesitation in
keeping to the goal at hand in getting out of our current situation as soon as
a possible. We have floated several exploratory proposals to companies already
and this week we did a walk through of a 20,000 sq. foot warehouse building in
the same complex next to the Foundry.
To move forward in unity and to accept sacrifices we will all
have to make, we must join together and value the need to get out of our mobile
state as our first priority. I hear you loud and clear. But we will need to
weigh all the efforts and sacrifices in light of positioning ourselves to get out
of our mobile situation. If I read our church right, we are ready to
courageously make such a move!
