On December 4, 2022, during our Sunday worship services, I shared the Board of Elders' decision to pause our construction and renovation plans. Given the rising interest rates, significant increases in construction costs, and ongoing economic uncertainty, we believed that it was not the right time to move forward with the project. 

When we first began the project in 2019, we anticipated a total construction cost between $1.75–$2 million. The scope included:

• A new 6,410 sq ft sanctuary to seat 502 people,

• A 2,100 sq ft office wing and meeting room

• A new main entrance

• Renovating our existing sanctuary into a commons area

• Expanding and reimagining our children’s ministry spaces

• A larger parking lot

• And new furniture, fixtures, and equipment

Like many churches, we paused the project in April 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. By the time we revisited plans in 2021, construction costs had more than doubled, with new estimates reaching $4.8 million.

We worked closely with our key partners, Powers-Goolsby Architects, Modeco, and Marksmen General Contractors, to revise the project scope and reduce the budget to $2.75 million, which we achieved in September 2022. However, by November, rising costs pushed the estimate back up to $3.4 million. Given the potential for further increases during construction and the risk of placing a heavy financial burden on our congregation, we felt it was prudent to pause the project once again.

Reassessing in 2024

In June 2024, as our church experienced renewed growth, we felt lead to revisit the building project. Following a series of meetings with our architect, civil engineer, and a construction consultant, and after much prayer, we made the decision to move forward with a phased approach.

Phase One includes:

• Construction of our new sanctuary

• Demolition of the current sanctuary to create a new lobby / commons area

• Connecting the two buildings together

• Expansion of our parking lot

In September 2024, we signed agreements with our architect and civil engineer to complete construction documents and begin the permitting process with the city.

If funding is available, we will look to begin Phase Two, which includes: 

• A new main entrance

• A new office wing and meeting spaces

• Additional classrooms

Where We Are Now

It’s clear that we are reaching the limits of our current facility. Since our recent Men's & Women's Encounters, Sunday attendance has steadily grown, consistently exceeding 400, peaking at over 650 on Easter, and nearing 500 on several recent Sundays.

With two services, our sanctuary regularly exceeds 75% capacity during the second service. This is a common threshold at which churches are encouraged to either expand their meeting space or add another service. We are actively monitoring these trends and remain open to adjusting service times or even launching a third service to ensure room for growth as we move toward constructing our new sanctuary.

Construction Documents

Modeco, our civil engineer, has finalized the civil plans and is ready to submit them for city permitting. Powers-Goolsby Architect is currently 80% complete with the construction drawings. After concluding our agreement with Marksmen, we began conversations with two highly recommended church-focused general contractors, along with a third reputable local firm experienced in church construction.

We’re finalizing a pre-construction agreement with one of these firms, who will guide us through the permitting process and help us manage the construction cost to stay within budget.

Financial Snapshot

To date, we’ve raised and set aside $898,518 through savings, with $154,000 already invested into the project. We've placed $525,000 from our building savings account in a high-yield CD with Frost Bank, generating $25,000 in interest last year and strengthening our cash reserves as we prepare for construction. Current interest rates for commercial construction loans range from 7% to 7.5%, resulting in estimated monthly payments of $18,000-$24,000 depending on the loan amount. Most lenders are willing to finance up to three times a borrower’s annual income. We currently qualify for $2.75 million but with projected giving nearing $1 million this year, we may qualify for up to $3 million in funding.
 

Interior Refresh and Renovation Planning

While we wait for permitting, we recognize that our existing facility could use a refresh. This weekend, during our Father’s Day services, we’ll be joined by Aaron Blair and his team at Conifer Co., who specializes in church interiors and spatial design. They'll help us develop a phased renovation plan for our Fellowship Hall, Kids ministry spaces, bathrooms, hallways, and exterior aesthetics. We hope to enlist volunteers from within our congregation to assist with what we can do ourselves while outsourcing the more technical work.

Let's Build Together

Despite the challenges and delays, we have much to celebrate. The Lord is growing His church - new families are joining, new leaders are emerging, disciples are being made, and lives are being changed. While we may not have been actively constructing a building, the Lord has been faithfully building His people. We continue to stand on the promise Jesus declared in Matthew 16:18, that He is building His Church, and the gates of hell will not prevail against it.

Our building is a long-term investment, and we are committed to designing our expansion and planning our renovation in a way that meets our current needs while anticipating future ones. We remain dedicated to the growth, health, and future of Harvest City while keeping our vision of bringing all people into the life, family, and purpose of God at the forefront and staying focused on our mission of church planting. As Elders, we will continue to steward and administer the resources God entrusts to us with faithfulness, wisdom, and care.

From the beginning, we launched this building campaign with the phrase, "Let's Build Together." That hasn’t changed. We are moving forward in faith, stewarding wisely, planning diligently, and trusting that what the Lord has started, He will bring to completion (Philippians 1:6).

Thank you for your prayers, patience and faithful support. Please continue to pray for clarity, provision, and favor with the city.

And by faith… Let’s Build Together!