Deep Roots New Growth Building Program Final Phase
The true meaning of life is to plant trees, under whose shade you do not expect to sit. ~Nelson Henderson
A Letter from Sharon and John Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, Last year, Oak Grove United Methodist Church proudly celebrated our 180th anniversary. As our neighborhood and the world have changed around us, Oak Grove has remained a relevant and vibrant church where all are inspired to live their faith through Jesus Christ. We honor the legacy of those who came before us, whose faith and sacrifices laid the groundwork for the Oak Grove we know and love. At the same time, we are a dynamic congregation. We embrace growth and allow our church to evolve in order to better serve both our members and the greater community. The initial phase of the Deep Roots, New Growth campaign focused on the needs of our youth and seniors and the results far exceeded our expectations. This final phase will meet the needs of our children and address critical repairs and improvements. We are honored to serve as co-chairs of this campaign and ask you to prayerfully consider supporting the future of our spiritual home. Together in Christ, Sharon Spears Campaign Co-Chair John Burgess Campaign Co-Chair
Embracing New Growth Oak Grove United Methodist Church is a growing congregation. For the last eight years, we have welcomed more than 100 new members a year. In 2016, we had our largest confirmation class in memory with more than 50 youth professing faith in Jesus Christ. As we continue to grow both physically and spiritually, we must ensure our church home remains a welcoming place of faith and community. The final phase of Deep Roots, New Growth will build upon the momentum and excitement of the initial phase to make additional critical renovations and improvements to our church. This new $5 million campaign will also focus on our congregation s youngest members as they discover what it means to be a disciple of Jesus Christ.
Highlights of the First Phase In 2012, the Church Council appointed a facilities task force to thoroughly examine our physical space. The task force reached unanimous agreement that we had outgrown the current confines of our buildings and that our historic church home was in desperate need of multiple repairs and upgrades. Thus, Oak Grove s Building Program and the Deep Roots, New Growth Campaign was born. The first three years of Deep Roots, New Growth was transformational and enhanced church life tremendously. Due to generous giving, we were able to complete the E by constructing the third wing of our building, create a bright, new library, and add new adult Sunday School classrooms. The Grand Hall has become a favored space for gatherings of all kinds. And for the first time in many years, our Youth Ministry has their own space, which has proven invaluable in our efforts to keep our teens and pre-teens engaged in church life.
Serving God s Children The initial phase of Deep Roots, New Growth addressed the most pressing needs of our congregation s adult and teenaged members. Now is the time to turn our focus to the needs of our beloved children. They are a key priority and a primary beneficiary of this final phase. We are privileged to help craft the spiritual foundation of our youngest members lives. Through the Children s Ministry, we are investing in the future of our church and the greater community and teaching our children to know and understand that they are a vital part of the Oak Grove family. Oak Grove has become part of what it means to grow up in this neighborhood. We are blessed to host so many young people through our Children s and Youth Ministries. Children are the present and future of our church. Glenn Ethridge
By completing the top level of our building, many of our ministries will gain much-needed space from Children s Ministry to Invitation, Discipleship, Music Ministry, and ministries that support worship. Completion of the top level is vital to ensuring adequate and updated spaces are available to ministries today and in years to come. The new spaces on the top level will allow us to free up space on the first floor for enhancing our Children s Ministry. By moving some of the administrative offices to the top floor, our youngest members will gain dedicated classrooms for Sunday School, choirs, and Vacation Bible School. With the Sunday School Assembly Room moved upstairs, the Parlor will be available for other functions, perhaps even weekly communion on Sunday mornings. We will renovate and refresh current children s classrooms, and our Chil- The Children s Ministry has been a dren s Ministry will also receive: blessing to our family. We believe our children are receiving a lifelong A child-friendly assembly room foundation of faith and service to An imaginative indoor play area our Lord. Our kids look forward to An expanded nursery for our youngest members attending and we love that they have A comfortable nursing mothers room a place to go that s just for them. Storage space for the Children s Ministry s resources and supplies Christie and Michael Lo Jesus said, Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 19:14
Preserving Our Heritage Many who visit our breathtaking sanctuary concede that they don t make them like this anymore. A historic building like ours requires substantial, ongoing upkeep and repairs. The final phase of Deep Roots, New Growth will enable us to accomplish many overdue maintenance projects and address critical facility needs. Sanctuary: Our beloved worship space will receive new carpeting and pew cushions. We will also dedicate more space to the Altar Guild and Acolytes, and improve the sacristy. Fellowship Hall: The Fellowship Hall, which endures heavy use each week during the contemporary worship service and Wednesday night dinners, will receive flooring repairs and a fresh coat of paint in addition to repairs completed on the roof. Restrooms: The restrooms in the education wing will receive much-needed renovations, including new fixtures, counters, dividers, and flooring. Facilities maintenance: Other critical needs that will be addressed include replacement of electrical breaker panels and the boiler used by sanctuary, replacement of the HVAC in Portico and office area, renovations to the Parlor, repairs to the column capitals, updates to landscaping, and remediation of drainage issues. Music Ministry: We will conduct vital maintenance and repairs to the church organ. The choir room and robing rooms will be updated, new space will be dedicated for handbell rehearsal, and storage spaces will be added for the children s and youth choirs robes.
Reflecting Our Welcoming Spirit At Oak Grove, we want our church home to feel as inviting and openhearted as our congregation. To this end, we will undertake a series of renovations to create inviting spaces that embody our welcoming spirit. Portico and reception area: We plan to install new glass entry doors within the portico, which will open automatically so that members and visitors with strollers or those using walkers can enter with ease. The former library space will be transitioned into a friendly reception area. With the move of administrative offices to the third floor, we will create a welcoming front desk space where staff and volunteers can greet and direct visitors. Beyond the lobby will be a staging area for events in the Grand Hall. Green space: Outside, we will create a new green space for our children to play, Scouts to meet, and members to enjoy fellowship. This new safe area, where the former Kid s Clubhouse stood, will be a great improvement from the asphalt lot our children and youth currently play on, and will offer an ideal spot for church picnics and other community gatherings.
A Long-Term Solution Through the Deep Roots, New Growth campaign, Oak Grove s Church Council and Building Committee have made every effort to consider all of the renovations and repairs needed to support current needs and impart a healthy facility to the next generation. By efficiently addressing all of our structural challenges and opportunities for growth in one holistic campaign, we are strengthening our church and our faith community for generations to follow. Deep Roots, New Growth will be a success if each of our members make a donation equal to or greater than their first phase contribution. By doing so, we anticipate ending the campaign with significantly lower residual debt than first anticipated and plan to create a capital fund for future maintenance needs and repairs. Please continue supporting Oak Grove, your spiritual home and a beacon of our community, through a generous gift. "We love Oak Grove UMC and it is our desire to help our church be a good steward of its space and its resources. This second campaign will allow the new members who have joined in the past few years come alongside the longer-term members to support the completion of the space and being debt-free as a church. The goal of being debt free as a church is so compelling and exciting we will be able to be better stewards with our church's resources for years to come. We hope others will join us as we finish the space, invite new people to join us in the space, and continue to grow closer to Christ and our neighbors as we serve others together. ~ Amy and Jonathan Merrill
Oak Grove United Methodist Church Capital Campaign Leadership John Burgess and Sharon Spears, Co-Chairs Madge Watson, Chair of Advance Gifts Committee Cathy Huffines, Chair of Building Committee Dale Smith, Executive Director Glenn Ethridge, Senior Pastor 2017 Church Council Members Sylvia Babu, Allison Berg, Bill Berg, Tom Branch, Rhiannon Brusco, Tony and Joye Callaway, Kim Cody, Judd Davis, Marsey Devoto, Meredith Dunn, Glenn Ethridge, Laura Hall, Hamilton Hardin, Cathy Huffines, Gil Kersh, Lukas Kersh, Andy Kroll, Tim Lott, Ann Marney, Joseph McBrayer, John McMillen, Hollie Meglio, Amy Morgan, Barbara Naish, Marc Reich, Angela and Dusty Schaffner, Ed Scruggs, Dale Smith, Randy Thrower, Fay Traynelis, James Trotti, Bob Unger, Brian Wagner, William Wallace, Madge Watson, Andy Webb, Joe Whipple, Shelli Wojohn Oak Grove United Methodist Church Building Committee Cathy Huffines, Chairperson Hugh Means, Vice-Chairperson Jack Hall Dale Smith Glenn Ethridge Ex-officio, Scot MacRae, Project Management Building Program Budget Overview Financial Standing as of May 2017 INCOME Beginning Balance $285,614 Campaign 1 $6,471,646 Campaign 2 $5,000,000 Operating Budget Contribution $600,340 Total Income $12,357,600 EXPENSES First Phase Cost $9,374,783 Second Phase Cost $3,302,582 Loan Interest $568,600 Total Expense $13,245,965 Residual Debt as of 12/31/2020* $(888,365) *Residual debt forecast will fluctuate based on income receivables, expenses, and amount and timing of loan draws and payments during building program.
Deep Roots New Growth Let your roots grow down into HIM, and let your lives be built on HIM. ~ Colossians 2:7 1722 Oak Grove Road Decatur, Georgia 30033 (404) 636-7558 www.ogumc.org