The Be the Blessing campaign is about how we better position ourselves to be a blessing both to our spiritual community and the neighborhood around us. It includes initiatives of service and relationship building, and building of additional space for our growing congregation.
The campaign is a two-year fund-raising campaign running through 2019 focused on addressing the requirements for the first phase of a multi-phase building project. The campaign goal is $2M.
Q. What is the vision of the elders for this church?
The vision of the elders is that we be a blessing to our spiritual community and to the surrounding neighborhood, acknowledging that we already are and that we want to be even more so. As such, we will foster and encourage programs that establish relationships that demonstrate God’s love for our community and neighborhood.
Part of this vision is that our congregation will grow spiritually and numerically to better utilize the great blessings, gifts and resources God has granted us.
An enhanced building facility will allow us to do more than we can today. Our “master plan” for our property includes adding parking behind the existing building, adding new buildings for classrooms, fellowship, and offices on the existing upper parking lot, and making adjustments in the existing building to facilitate primarily our Children’s programs.
Q. How much will the project cost?
The project consists of several components that will have a natural progression or phases:
- Phase 1 $2M – New parking, handicap access, site drainage, access roads, and retaining walls around and behind the existing building. Modifications to the existing building to accommodate entrance from the new parking area.
- Phase 2 $2.5M – New two-level buildings in front of the existing building featuring new office, classroom, kitchen, and fellowship areas. The main entrance of the existing building will be modified to facilitate entrance/exit from the new buildings.
- Phase 3 $1.5M – Modifications to the existing building to add restrooms, add structured children check-in/out, and to extend the existing playground.
The project has a total anticipated cost of $6M in 2017 dollars. Of course, the actual cost will be dependent on how long it takes to complete all phases.
Q. Who is the architect?
The architect for the entire project is Paul Beigh, a Christian living in Newbury Park. He has provided architectural services for a number of churches in and out of the Conejo Valley.
Q. When will construction start? How long will it take to build the new building?
There are several steps to complete the entire project. Using the three phases of the project, we anticipate the first phase (parking & handicap access) to be completed around the end of 2019. We anticipate a follow-on campaign around the year 2020 to address the requirements for the second phase. A campaign for a third phase of construction will follow the second phase.
We anticipate the timing for the first phase to be as follows:
Q. How much space will we gain?
Q. Do we plan to borrow money?
We plan to start hard construction as soon as we obtain city approval, anticipated in late 2018. If we don’t have enough funds from our campaign to start and see us through construction, we’ll need to borrow money or delay construction. The elders will be pulling together a construction funding team in early 2018 to look at this and determine options.
Q. Will focusing on raising money for the building program mean we may de-emphasize or drop some of our current ministries?
On the contrary, we plan to build up existing ministries and start new ministries that are in support of the Be The Blessing vision. However, we will closely monitor our financial status to keep our ministries in line with it.
Q. Will there be a dedicated youth room?
Yes, there will be dedicated spaces for our Youth programs.
Q. Will there be any spaces (indoor or outdoor) for sports/activities/etc.?
Yes, there will be large lawn areas between the existing building and the new back parking lot. In addition, the back parking lot can be used for some sports requiring a hard surface, like basketball.
Q. Will the baptistry change?
The baptistry area and front “paw” rooms will remain essentially unchanged.
Q. Is the “gathering room” big enough to house a Spanish speaking congregation?
Yes, there will be multiple spaces that would accommodate any number of new programs, such as a Spanish speaking congregation.
Q. How many parking spaces will we have?
We currently have 68 parking spaces. The first phase of the project will add 71 spaces in the back of the building, for a total of 139. The second phase of the project will add new classroom, offices, and fellowship areas in the current upper parking lot, consuming 24 spaces, leaving us with 115 spaces.
Q. What kind of appliances will be in the kitchen? How will food be delivered to and from the kitchen.
Decisions regarding kitchen appliances will be deferred until we get into planning for phase 2 of the project.
Food can be delivered on carts from the front or back parking areas, across handicap ramps, and up an elevator in the front entrance area.
Q. Can we make adjustments to the architectural plans? For example, can we move the kitchen?
Interior design elements, such as placement of walls and rooms within the structures, can be modified until construction plans for those phases are submitted and approved by the city, no earlier than 2020.
Plans for the entire project (“Master Plan”), including elements of all phases, will soon be submitted to the city for formal review and approval. If granted, that approval will support the essential components of the entire project, including where and how much parking will be provided, and the essential shape and placement of new buildings. Once approved, we will not be able to easily adjust those essential components.
Q. Will the congregation be asked to contribute ideas to the final building plans and remodeling of our current facility?
Yes, we welcome and honor any input and ideas about the design of those components which will be built out in phases 2 and 3 of the larger project. Please speak to any minister or elder, and send ideas in writing to office@conejochurch.org.
Q. What changes to the existing building are anticipated in Phase 3?
Essential changes anticipated include:
- The current overflow rooms will be integrated into the main auditorium. The front and side walls will be removed from these rooms.
- Four new restroom areas will be added (two for adults, two for children).
- The existing foyer will be narrowed.
- Children’s classrooms will be enlarged slightly.
- The nursery will be moved further toward the neighboring condos.
- The children’s classroom area will be tightly secured with a pass-through check-in station.
- The existing play yard will be extended and be incorporated into a wrap-around plaza surrounding the existing building.