August 2026 Building Campaign Update: Laying Firm Foundations for Our Future
Dear Christ Church Family,
As we move through the late summer season, our Building Team continues to gather, pray, and work diligently behind the scenes. God is moving in our congregation, and we are humbled by your ongoing commitment, generosity, and prayers as we prepare our church home for future generations of ministry.
Below is our monthly update detailing our financial progress, key decisions made at our August meeting, and how you can join us in prayer in the coming weeks.
⚡ Don’t Have Time to Read the Whole Email? Here’s the Summary:
Generosity in Action: We have received over $205,000 in actual giving toward our $2.04M total pledged amount, plus over $4,600 in earned interest!
Smarter Strategy for Growth: We decided to pursue full property rezoning rather than temporary permits—saving money long-term and removing administrative hurdles for future expansions.
A Collaborative Construction Method: We unanimously selected a Design-Build approach, bringing our architect and builder into partnership from day one. This keeps costs predictable and ensures safety during an occupied renovation.
Targeted RFQ Next: We are preparing an invitation-only Request for Qualifications (RFQ) to select a trusted, experienced Design-Build team.
1. Celebrating Your Generosity: Financial Update
We are deeply grateful for your faithful stewardship and sacrificial giving. Your pledges are already translating into real progress as we build cash reserves and prepare for the road ahead.
Here is a look at where our campaign finances stand as of August 11, 2026:
| Financial Metric | Amount |
|---|---|
| Total Campaign Pledges | $2,041,556.00 |
| Actual Contributions Received | $205,513.73 |
| Interest Earned to Date | $4,627.16 |
| Total To Date | $210,140.89 |
2. Progress & Key Updates from August
During our August meeting, the Building Team wrestled with big-picture logistical and strategic decisions. Our goal is not just to build quickly, but to build wisely.
A Strategic Decision on Zoning
When looking at our full campus, we discovered our property is currently split across older zoning designations. Rather than paying for temporary Conditional Use Permits (CUPs) and waivers—which would cost more in the long run and require repeating the process every time we expand—we decided to pursue a full property rezoning to a classification tailored specifically for church use.
What this means for us: It eliminates red tape, protects our property rights, saves money, and makes future ministry expansions (like expanding our PDO or adding educational space) far easier for the leaders who come after us.
Choosing the Right Delivery Model: Design-Build
In construction, there are two primary ways to construct a facility that we have been looking at:
Design-Bid-Build: An architect designs the plans alone, and then general contractors bid on the price.
Design-Build: The architect, builder, and engineers work together as one unified team from the very beginning.
After an in-depth, healthy discussion, the committee unanimously voted to adopt the Design-Build approach. Having our builder at the design table from day one ensures maximum safety, accurate real-time budgeting, fewer costly change orders, and better protection for our church body while work is underway.
Site Feasibility & Sister Church Visits
Water & Infrastructure: Recent municipal testing confirmed that our campus water pressure is exceptional (1,250 gallons per minute), fully supporting our fire protection and sprinkler requirements.
Learning from Others: Members of our team recently visited several regional sister churches (including Plum Springs and Cumberland Trace). These visits offered invaluable insights regarding sanctuary orientation, future expansion entryways, and the importance of integrating sound, lighting, and media technology early in the design phase.
3. Next Steps & Roadmap
Here is what is on the horizon for the Building Team over the next month:
Lead Team Approval: Presenting the formal rezoning motion to our Lead Team for approval before submitting our application to the City-County Planning Commission.
City-County Planning Application: Scheduling a pre-application conference to initiate the formal public rezoning process.
Issuing the RFQ: Finalizing our invitation-only Request for Qualifications (RFQ) to invite pre-screened, reputable Design-Build architecture and construction firms to present their proposals.
4. How You Can Partner: Call to Prayer
We know that "Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain" (Psalm 127:1). Please join us in praying specifically for the following areas this month:
Wisdom for City Approvals: Pray for a smooth and favorable rezoning process with the City-County Planning Commission and good relationships with our neighboring property owners.
Discernment in Team Selection: Pray for clear guidance as we evaluate architectural and construction partners through the RFQ process, asking God to lead us to the right team who shares our vision and values.
Safety & Unity: Pray for ongoing unity within our committee and congregation, and for God’s hand of protection over our church family, children, and staff as we prepare for an occupied renovation site.
5. Closing & Contact Info
Our next regular Building Team meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, September 8, 2026, at 5:30 PM.
Want to stay up to date on all things related to our campaign? All historical updates, architectural sketches, and financial reports are available anytime on our church website:
👉 Visit www.christchurchbg.org and click "Building Project Hub" at the top of any page.
If you have questions, feedback, or suggestions, please feel free to reach out to our Project Co-Chairs, our Building Team Chair or the church office:
Betsy Kullman & Mike Gardner, Project Co-Chairs
Preston Withers, Building Team Chair
Church Office Phone: 270-842-4343
With gratitude for your partnership,
The Building Committee Team
Christ Church