I want to tell you a story where you know most of the facts already but told through the filter of the Experiencing God series we have begun in our church. I will be asking you to give money at the end.

Seven years ago Culpeper Baptist Church had interim pastors, a dwindling membership and approximately 30,000 square feet of aging facility that was going to need maintenance. Our Child Development Center had only a handful of children. It was a surprise to many that those leading the church felt led by God to build even more space, centering around the worship center we are in this morning and the additional meeting and classroom space above it for three floors. It was controversial, to say the least, but after prayer and wise counsel the decision was made to step out and borrow $2.4-million to get it done. It was a crisis of belief – i.e. We can’t do this But God Can – that required faith and action in order to see and enjoy God’s work – to actually Experience God.

Seven years later we have a dynamic pastor who has become an integral part of community leadership in Culpeper, five Churches are meeting in our now 40,000 square foot facility, enrollment at the Child Development Center is exploding. CDC’s success is becoming a revenue center for us, and this month 800 people from many, many, churches met here this month for a life-changing Experiencing God Weekend. More than 50 community organizations – most of them not associated with traditional church life – meet in our facility. And we are ahead of schedule in paying the mortgage off, with just a tiny bit over a million left to go!

I think the faith and action taken seven years ago has led us to truly experiencing God’s work in this community through this building.

Paul told us in Romans: “Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God. “ Many churches dream of being in the center of the community they live. We are living that dream.

We have a similar opportunity before us today, in miniature. I believe it is designed for all of us who attend CBC, but especially for those who have not yet had the joy of buying into what God is doing here. We are in a $75,000 matching-fund-raising campaign right now to pay for bathroom and HVAC renovations, which are key part of how God is using our building right now. We are well on our way, with $50,000 raised and four weeks to go.

We have about 250 people that attend on Sundays, and four Sundays left before our goal date of October 15^th. If every one of those people gives just $25 a week for the next four weeks, we will reach our goal. Of course that’s an average, and I’m sure you will be able to adjust that number based on your own personal circumstances.

But for those of you who are not yet givers, here’s a great opportunity to exercise your faith and join the wonderful legacy givers in this church who experience the joy that that God offers us through giving. This is a relationship with God that can change your life.

Thank you!  John Grano

 

The church’s portion of the renovation project is over $220,000, which covers asbestos abatement, HVAC replacement on  the 2nd floor and restored bathrooms behind the sanctuary and the fellowship hall.   The 2nd Floor renovation helps us to continue to take care of deferred maintenance projects. We have spent over $450,000 in the last 3 years on deferred maintenance–see the full list here.  This renovation also helps expand our mission and partnership with the CDC in helping families in our community. 

Your giving to this matching gift campaign will help us to continue to build momentum that will allow us to be debt free in 2022 and to have a handle on deferred maintenance issues throughout our buildings.  If you have questions, please contact a member of our Finance Committee (Chair—Lynn Gore, lynngore87@gmail.com, John Grano, Bob McCall, Treasurer Robert Kinzer or Assistant Treasurer Roger T. Clatterbuck), or Dan.