The New Chapter
Introduction
Everyone has a story. Individuals have stories, couples have stories, families have stories, and churches have stories. Everyone has a story. First Baptist has a story that began in 1821. Over a span of 189 years, the story includes nearly two dozen pastoral leaders, five locations, raising up several missionaries and pastors, and several incredible life-changing mission ventures. First Baptist has sponsored local and national outreach. We even have stories of tragedy like the collapse of the second floor fellowship hall during a strawberry festival celebration that killed and injured several people .
Now here we are in 2010, completing a 20-year chapter at this location in Jamesville, New York. It is time to write a new chapter in the story of First Baptist. New chapters often begin with the introduction of new characters, plots, additional information, directions or a change in the story line. This new chapter we are about to write is designed to change, improve and impact the future direction of First Baptist Church. It is said in space travel that the long-range effect of changing a spaceship’s trajectory by one degree alters the final destination by thousands of miles. We are about to impact the trajectory of First Baptist Church.
Building Up… Phase 1
First impressions are lasting impressions. The First Baptist Center for Ministry is showing its wear after 20 years of standing in the seasons of the Syracuse weather. The exterior of the building is discoloring, stains from the rain, mold, dents and deterioration from frost and freezing means that the building just does not look cared for. A person passing by may naturally assume that if the people inside the church building don’t care about the outside of their building, then maybe that is a reflection of how they care for the people inside their building. Likewise, the exterior sign reflects its age and weathering. The parking lot is showing its wear as well. Recently, I overheard someone saying we will need to start mowing the parking lot soon. There are cracks and breaks in the asphalt that need to be repaired and protected for present and future use.
Building Up… Phase 2
The interior of the building has a place in the new chapter also. This is a time in world history where there is a shift taking place to be more conscious, aware and responsible with the resources of our planet. We are all being challenged to be good stewards today in ways that we did not even know about 20 years ago. The new “green” approach to energy use has caused the leadership to review our current stewardship of energy. The new chapter includes a plan of a thorough energy audit, which would include insulation, building and sanctuary lighting, and heating and air conditioning. The plan includes a complete evaluation leading to possible additional insulation and use of roof space for solar panels. The heating and air conditioning systems are 20 years old and in need of updating to far more efficient systems that have a positive impact on the environment and long-term reduced maintenance expenses and budget implications.
Reaching Out …Phase 3
In 1978, Jane and I bought our first new car together. We had an option to purchase an economy car with air conditioning. We chose the economy car without the air conditioning. I remember where we were a few months later on Route 81 south in Pennsylvania, stuck in traffic with a one-year-old in the back seat and the temperature was over 100 degrees. We said then if we had it to do over again …
Twenty years after completing the construction phase of First Baptist Church if we had the chance to do a few things over they would today include new electronic signage usable by the community and those groups in partnership with First Baptist, a wireless sound and projection system and a community pavilion or playground . There are several additional projects related to the campus that we hope over the years the congregation will volunteer to assist with that will call for limited or no financial resources.
Results
· Renewed spirit of pride in the First Baptist Center for Ministry campus
· Renewed image of First Baptist to the wider community
· Increased community visibility
· Increased community outreach
· Ongoing communication to the public
· Increased numbers of community people on the campus
· Reduced utility costs
· Increased congregational involvement in stewardship
· Improved space for church programming
Your Participation*
Do you recall the parable Jesus told about the Master who entrusted resources to three of his servants? (Matthew 25:14-30) One of the messages of that parable was to show that the Master (God) entrusts to his servants (us) resources that we are responsible for until the Master returns and asks for an accounting. First Baptist Church is a Center for Ministry. It belongs to the Master. This is not the Pastor’s church. It is not the Trustees Church, or the Church of the leadership. It is the Church of our Master, Jesus Christ. It has been entrusted to us, each of us. There are several things that you can do to be a part of this new chapter right now. The most pressing and the most important are immediate. They are the following….
1. Read this New Chapter description over again and give it serious thought.
2. Write down any questions you may have about any of the mentioned Phases of “Building Up” and “Reaching Out”.
3. Pray for God to soak us with His blessing on this Chapter that lives might be touched and the future direction of Mission and Ministry at First Baptist might be infused with great spirit and inspiration.
4. Attend the quarterly business meeting in the sanctuary on Sunday, August 15 th . We will have spirit-filled worship between 10am and 11:00am. Immediately following worship, everyone who is able will be asked to remain in the sanctuary and be a part of the discussion. There will be a question and answer period. There will be extended childcare with a lunch-like snack for the children.
5. Study the recommendation from the Executive Committee that will be sent to you next week.
Prayerfully and with Great Enthusiasm,
The Executive Committee
Ronald Denby (Moderator), Donna Guinta (Deacon MT & Finance Committee), Lyle Halbert (Trustee MT), Joanna Masingila (Mission MT), Linda Lopez & Paulette Purdy (CEMT), Don Bregande (Human Resource MT), Pastor Scott Kavanagh (ex-officio)
