A very important survey for regular attendees ... 

There are times in the life of a church when difficult decisions need to be made. In our membership meeting on Sunday, our elders presented a detailed plan—we'll call it "Option A"—to allow our Stratford location to keep growing while building-planning continues. Our membership was in full agreement that more space is needed and soon! However, a new idea was introduced—we'll call it "Option B"—that the elders had yet to consider. 29% percent of the membership (12 out of 42 total) felt it wise to explore "Option B" further via a church-wide survey to probe interest of all attenders, so we decided to do that.
(For a full recording of the business meeting, listen below.)

"Option A"—relocate Stratford location to Elem. Gym/Cafeteria in one service, likely @ 10:00 am, until our building is complete. 

Downsides

  • Would "wear" on us over time, requiring an unprecedented level of unity & courage.
  • Would cost roughly $25,000 (one-time) in equipment/supplies/transportation.
  • Would cost to rent school facilities, likely per "session" (Edgar is $200/"session").
  • Would require the addition of a new & tough team to setup/teardown each week. In Edgar, we call them "The Apes."
  • Would give Stratford attendees one less service option than they have at present.
  • Would require that most volunteers serve longer on a given Sunday. 

UPSIDES

  • Would require most volunteers to serve less frequently.
  • By God's grace—and your generosity—we have the monetary resources, in-hand. 
  • The church/school partnership that took 3 years to foster in Edgar took 3 minutes in Stratford. The school has expressed a confident willingness, informally.
  • Stratford attendees would enjoy being together in one service.
  • Would foster relationships b/t our church and the school/community.
  • Would expose Stratford people to being "mobile," as are many "church plants."
  • Would potentially create positive "buzz" in Stratford ("They're out of room!?", etc.)
  • A school is a familiar location that invited guests would recognize.
  • Many purchased materials would also serve Stratford later, in a new building.
  • Temporarily-needed equipment could later be sold or donated (trailer, crates, etc.).
  • Venue would allow ample opportunity for continued growth.

SUMMARY

  • Option A's success depends heavily on a willingness to demonstrate grit for 2-3 yrs.

"Option B"—ask Stratford families to choose b/t an early service in Stratford (present location) & a 10:00 am service in Edgar, until our building is complete.

Downsides

  • Stratford families would remain separated into two services, now 14.2 miles apart. 
  • Eliminating the 10:30 am Stratford service would get rid of our most popular service.
  • Some Stratford volunteers would need to serve longer on a given Sunday, in Edgar.
  • Would require getting one's family up earlier or driving farther for many (Google maps: Edgar is approx. 18 minutes from Stratford) for 24-36 months.
  • Would perhaps create an "illusion" of growth in Edgar—disrupting its true & healthy struggle for self-sustainability—and perhaps leaving an unhealthy vacancy in Edgar once the Stratford building is complete & occupied.
  • Historically, the response to asking Stratford families to help in Edgar (Fall 2015) was neither underwhelming nor overwhelming, and Stratford has since filled up again. Would we be revisiting the Stratford space problem again, and soon?, etc.
  • 3rd Ave. will be torn up, beginning in June, for an undetermined period of time, limiting available parking at the early service.
  • It will be more difficult to grow the Stratford location if meeting in Edgar—growth of the Stratford congregation is necessary to afford to build.

UPSIDES

  • Would relieve Edgar volunteers, in particular, of more frequent volunteering.
  • Would save $25,000, plus the cost to rent facilities per "session" (in Stratford).
  • Would foster healthy relationships between Stratford & Edgar families.
  • Would physically reinforce idea of "1 church" in the "1 church in 2 locations" model.
  • Would expose Stratford people to being "mobile," as are many "church plants."
  • Would reduce volunteer frequency needed in both Stratford & Edgar.
  • Venue would allow ample opportunity for continued growth. 

summary

  • Option B's success depends heavily on a willingness to travel to Edgar for 2-3 yrs.

Remember, this survey is expressly for the purpose of gauging interest. We're not deciding anything at this point, just gathering information. Please think critically about what your family will realistically commit to for the sake of Christ's glorious Church. Both of these options involve serving more than being served, which Christ most beautifully illustrated by dying—brutally—for sinful humanity and rising victoriously for our salvation. 

We love you all. Thanks for participating by Friday, March 4.

Pastor Zach