Areas of Focus
Since our last major capital campaign and building project, a growing list of facility concerns have grown to a critical level. Our historic sanctuary is unsafe for those with mobility issues, and lacks nearby access to a restroom. There is no main gathering point for those entering and exiting the sanctuary. The HVAC system in our Main Education Building is rusted and in need of replacement. The expense to maintain these issues and the liability of major failure have simply become too high to ignore any longer.
FACILITIES FOR ALL
First United Methodist Church has a long history of compassionate care, inspiring worship, and committed growth in discipleship. Continuing in our 175 year tradition, this congregation remains dedicated to sharing the historic Wesleyan understandings of grace from our loving God.
Our campaign, scheduled for May 2025, will help us meet many needs for our present and future. The current spirit and energy of the congregation is high. This is the right time to work together and prepare a safe and welcoming ministry campus to share with our future generations. As you consider our hard work ahead, please begin to pray about these needs as you ask, “God, what do you want to do through me?”
At the same time, there is energy and excitement around the growth of our congregation. One area of new growth is young families with children. These parents need easier access to a nursery. As we continue to add chairs in the contemporary service, we desire to update the MCMC gym to look more like a worship space. Our Sunday morning Children’s Worship needs dedicated space, and we hope to build a multi-purpose Prayer Chapel to assist with Sunday morning needs as well as smaller funerals and weddings. Church leadership named a building committee in November of 2023. Over the past year, they have worked to organize this growing list of needs and opportunities so that our facilities can be accessible for all. They received feedback from staff, engaged an architect and project management firm, and are currently in the process of completing a master plan of possible options for our ministry campus.
These preliminary cost estimates include construction costs as well as professional services, other soft costs, and several conservative contingencies. These figures also include $350,000 to finish out white Annex building at some point in the future.