WHEN WE WILL START BUILDING THIS NEW FACILITY?

ONCE COMMITMENTS ARE RECEIVED, WE WILL ENTER INTO A SEASON OF MAKING FINAL AD- JUSTMENTS TO THE BUILDING’S DESIGN AND OVERALL FUNCTIONALITY. AFTER THIS, CONSTRUC- TION DOCUMENTS MUST BE PREPARED AND SENT OUT TO SUBCONTRACTORS TO BID ON THE JOB. THIS WILL ALLOW US TO BREAK GROUND ON OUR NEW FACILITY SOMETIME LATE SUMMER 2011.

HOW LONG WILL CONSTRUCTION TAKE?

THE BEST ESTIMATES THAT WE HAVE AVAILABLE TO US SHOW THAT THIS WILL BE AN 18-MONTH PROJECT CONCLUDING SOMETIME FIRST OF THE YEAR 2013.

HOW MUCH WILL IT COST?

THE OVERALL COST OF CONSTRUCTION WILL BE $14 MILLION. THIS WILL INCLUDE 52,000 SQUARE FEET OF NEW CONSTRUCTION, OVER 17,000 SQUARE FEET OF RENOVATED SPACE, AND EX- PANSION OF OUR CURRENT PARKING LOT BY MORE THAN 75%. THE $14 MILLION ALSO EN- COMPASSES THE $400,000 THAT THE CHURCH OWES ON THE RECENTLY PURCHASED WEST CAMPUS. THIS LOAN WILL BE ROLLED INTO THE OVERALL COST TO CONSTRUCT AND RENOVATE OUR FACILITIES.

WHAT IS THE CHURCH'S POSITION ON DEBT?

THE BIBLE DOES NOT SAY DEBT IS A SIN, BUT IT DOES GIVE CLEAR WARNINGS OF THE LENDER BECOMING A SLAVE TO THE BORROWER. AT MID-CITIES WE ARE COMMITTED TO HEEDING THE BIBLE’S WARNING. WE BELIEVE THERE IS WISE AND UNWISE DEBT. SIMILAR TO A FAMILY WHO HAS GROWN PAST ITS CURRENT CAPACITY AND SEEKS REASONABLE DEBT FOR A HOUSE THAT WILL MEET THEIR NEEDS, MID-CITIES’ FAMILY HAS GROWN AND IS IN NEED OF NEW FACILITIES TO HOUSE OUR CHILDREN. WE ARE TRUSTING IN GOD’S PROVISION EVERY STEP OF THE WAY, BUT WE ANTICIPATE A LEVEL OF LONG TERM DEBT THAT IS REASONABLE FOR A CHURCH OUR SIZE TO SERVICE, AND WITH GOD’S HELP PAY OFF PREMATURELY.

HOW CAN MY FAMILY AND I GET INVOLVED?

THE JOURNEY THAT GOD HAS US ON WILL REQUIRE THAT WE ALL PRAYERFULLY SEEK HIM FOR WISDOM, GUIDANCE, AND PROVISION EVERY STEP OF THE WAY. WE WOULD ASK THAT YOU JOIN US IN FAITHFULLY GETTING BEFORE THE LORD AND ASKING HIM HOW YOU AND YOUR FAMILY CAN PARTICIPATE FINANCIALLY IN THE TRUST JOURNEY. THE NEXT STEP IS EASY: JUST OBEY WHATEVER HE SAYS. IF WE ALL DO THIS, WE WILL SURELY BE EXACTLY WHERE THE LORD WANTS US TO BE.

WHAT ABOUT MY REGULAR TITHES AND OFFERINGS?

YOUR FINANCIAL COMMITMENT TO THE TRUST JOURNEY SHOULD BE AN AMOUNT THAT THE LORD LAYS ON YOU AND YOUR FAMILY’S HEART OVER AND ABOVE YOUR REGULAR TITHES AND OFFER- INGS. WE MUST MAINTAIN OUR LEVEL OF GIVING TO THE OPERATING BUDGET SO THAT DAY TO DAY CHURCH OPERATIONS REMAIN UNAFFECTED.

HOW WILL I KNOW HOW MUCH TO GIVE?

THE BIBLE SAYS, “ALL MUST GIVE AS THEY ARE ABLE, ACCORDING TO THE BLESSINGS GIVEN TO THEM BY THE LORD OUR GOD” (DEUTERONOMY 16:17). PRAY DAILY FOR THE LORD TO GIVE YOU GUIDANCE AND FAITH REGARDING YOUR INVOLVEMENT IN THE TRUST JOURNEY. THROUGH PRAYER AND PERSONAL REFLECTION, YOU WILL KNOW WHAT TO GIVE.