ST. MARK'S BETHANY
Capital Campaign
Join us in our Journey
God has brought us to a great place. While many churches built large facilities and are now burdened with oversized spaces, St. Mark's wisely maximized our building's use, remained debt-free, and now has a facility perfectly suited for current and future ministry needs. With disaffiliation concerns behind us, it's time to invest in updates that reflect the pride we have in our church and, most importantly, glorify God.
Refreshing Our Space: Creating a Welcoming Atmosphere
Plans are underway to refresh and modernize our facility, ensuring that St. Mark's radiates warmth and hospitality. We believe that our building is the perfect size for our congregation, and now is the time to make it feel even more like home. These updates will not only enhance our first impression with guests, but it will also provide a more welcoming environment for everyone who walks through our doors.
Embracing Growth: A Home for All
St. Mark's is experiencing wonderful growth, and we are excited about what the future holds. Our church is a welcoming home for all, and we are committed to ensuring it remains so for generations to come.
We invite you to prayerfully consider your role in supporting the St. Mark's Capital Campaign.
Together, we can continue to make St. Mark's a great place to call home!
After receiving approval from the Administrative Council and Finance Committee, our Trustees compiled a list of potential projects, refined through congregation feedback. The first two projects are the most urgent and costly, and we are working with a church renovation architect to determine details.
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Barnett Hall and Gym Revitalization: Improve utilization and flow by reconfiguring the layout, upgrading facilities, and creating spaces for multiple uses. We will have a wonderful and attractive multi-purpose space for large gatherings that is easily accessible to all. Cost is TBD pending ongoing work with the architect.
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Renovating Bathrooms Off Main Sanctuary: Restroom improvements are essential for hospitality, as they enhance functionality, safety, and appearance, ensuring a welcoming environment for both guests and members. Est: TBD
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Lobby & Entrance: Redesigning and redecorating the lobby will enhance our community-building space, making it more welcoming and functional for greeting guests and meeting friends while improving traffic flow and hospitality amenities. Est: $70,000
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Church Van: Purchasing a new van or shuttle bus is essential for ensuring the safety and reliability of our transportation, which supports a wide range of church activities and ministries, and provides comfortable and accessible travel for all groups. Adding a garage will also ensure that our crucial ministry vehicles are safe from weather and theft. Est: $75,000
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Sanctuary Refurbishments: The sanctuary, as the heart of our church, must reflect the beauty and honor due to God. Replacing the worn carpets with new flooring will address safety concerns, while installing LED stage lighting and adding a camera will enhance both online and in-person worship experiences, crucial for attracting and engaging visitors. Est: $45,000
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Children's Area: Our children’s area is bustling with activity, and maintaining a positive first impression on young families is vital. To keep the space clean, safe, and functional, we need to replace the floors, install two Dutch doors, add permanent countertops and cabinets, improve the playground, update marker boards, and refresh the paint throughout the area. Est: $60,000
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Parking Lot: The parking lot is the first experience visitors have on our campus, and it’s crucial that it is easy to navigate, well-marked, and safe, especially for our elderly members. To improve this, we will resurface and restripe the parking areas and update our handicapped spaces to ensure accessibility and safety. Est: $50,000
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Facility and Accessibility Improvements: As we upgrade various areas of the church, additional details will need attention, such as new tables and chairs throughout the building, an automatic handicapped-accessible exterior door, and shelving for new storage areas. We also plan to install exterior security cameras for protection and may need additional furniture in several spaces. Est: $60,000
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Roof: Ensuring the building’s structural integrity is critical, as aesthetic improvements mean little if the roof leaks. We need to replace the roof over rooms 17, 18, and 19 to prevent further damage. Est: $85,000
We invite you to prayerfully consider your role in supporting these projects as part of the St. Mark's Capital Campaign. Together, we can make these vital improvements and continue to make St. Mark's a welcoming and accessible home for all.
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
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What is a Capital Campaign?
A Capital Campaign funds major improvements to keep our facilities welcoming and functional without taking on debt.
How Were These Projects Chosen?
Our Trustees had previously developed a list of necessary and high priority projects. That list was further refined and expanded through talking with the church staff and various ministry groups within the church.
What is the Cost of Doing Nothing?
Every project we have identified requires immediate attention, and if not addressed now, will cost us significantly more in the future. It is not a matter of 'if' things need to be addressed, but only a matter of 'how' and 'when.' The other cost of doing nothing is missing the ministry opportunities God is placing before us. Our facility limits many of our current ministries while also restricting the development of new ones.
What If We Don't Raise Enough?
St. Mark’s will not take on long-term debt. We will only spend what we raise. Since we will receive funds over the course of three years, it is possible that we may borrow short-term against pledged amounts to complete major projects in a timely and cost-effective manner, though we hope this won't be necessary. Regardless, St. Mark’s is committed to concluding the campaign debt-free.
Can Children's Day Out Contribute to Children's Projects?
Our Children’s Day Out (CDO) program already supports improvements and maintenance in the children’s area and will continue to do so. However, CDO does not have sufficient funds to make significant additional contributions to the campaign.
How the Decision Was Made?
The decision to pursue a capital campaign was a lengthy and careful process. After months of prayer, discussion, and discernment, the Council decided in April 2024 to move forward with a capital campaign. Read the full statement here.
How Will the Priority of the Projects Be Determined?
The priority of the projects will be decided by the Administrative Council and Trustees, based on feedback from the congregation and the amount of money that is available.
What is the Timing of These Projects?
We will begin the projects as soon as possible, while also doing our best not to disrupt the church's ongoing ministries. This will likely require staging the projects so that only one area of the church is worked on at a time.
Will We Delay Projects Until All Funds Are Raised?
No. Given the pressing needs of this capital campaign and the reality of inflation, we will begin tackling projects as the money becomes available to facilitate the ministry and keep costs down.
Full FAQ List
This is a large project, and we understand there will be many questions! You can find more FAQs here, and we'll update them as new questions come up.