The Ripple Effect @ CCC

Significant progress has been made in the first 2/3’s of the Ripple Effect program! We have:

• received over $5.5 million in sustained pledges in the poorest economy for decades,
• received approval for our master plan from the City of Chandler,
• painted the existing buildings,
• completed the theme design for upgrading the Children’s Ministry areas,
• opened the new outdoor baptistry in June 2009,
• opened the new expanded lobby in September 2009,
• completed the worship center remodeling before Christmas 2009,
• completed the design and development of the new Germann entrance and Student Center, and
• received over $3.4 million in cash.

This year we will:

• complete the Children’s Ministry area upgrades by Easter 2010,
• replace the Alma School monument sign by Easter 2010,
• break ground on the new Germann entrance and begin construction of the Student Center to be opened in 2011, and
• receive the balance of the committed funds.

Please continue to continually for us all to use these updated and new resources as a tool to lead people to Christ and help everyone find an ever-deepening relationship with Him! This is the true Ripple Effect!

It is just about Half Time for The Ripple Effect program!  Momentum is finally picking up and everyone’s hard work will become more visible going forward.  During the first half, we have:

• received $6.1 million in pledges,
• received approval for our master plan from the City of Chandler,
• painted the existing buildings,
• nearly completed a new outdoor baptistry (”just two more weeks!”),
• completed construction drawings for the remodeling of the lobby and worship center, 
• completed the theme design for upgrading the Children’s Ministry areas, 
• completed the design and development of the new Germann entrance and Student Center, and
• received $2.6 million in cash.

In the second half , we will:

• open the new outdoor baptistry in June 2009,
• open the new expanded lobby in Sept 2009,
• complete the worship center remodeling before Christmas 2009,
• complete the Children’s Ministry area upgrades before Christmas 2009,
• replace the Alma School monument sign before Christmas 2009,
• break ground on the new Germann entrance and the Student Center before Thanksgiving 2009,
• open the new Student Center next fall 2010, and
• receive the balance of the committed funds.

Please come to the Half Time event on Sunday, May 31st at 5pm to celebrate the success of the First Half!

Thanks CCC family!

I just can’t say it enough.  I feel like the Apostle Paul who wrote:  “We always pray for you, and we give thanks to God…, for we have heard that you trust in Christ Jesus and that you love all of God’s people.” Colossians 1:3-4 [New Living Translation]

Since the beginning of the year your faithfulness has been amazing.  Your attendance is strong, your financial stewardship shows your faith and your joy is contagious. This past weekend I asked you to “fast” either Sunday or Monday – asking God to bless the CCC Elders as we consider major decisions about how much and how soon we should move forward in our next building/remodeling plans.  Your giving to the Ripple Effect has been wonderfully consistent.  The comments from many have been supportive – but we want to move forward doing God’s will, not asking God to bless what we want to do.  To a man, our Elder’s felt your prayerful fasting. When the decision time came, there was a clear path that seemed opened before us.  Let me summarize our plans:

• We will move ahead with our full project construction plans.
• We will do a moderated remodeling of the present Worship Center.
• We will remodel and extend the foyer area including an indoor refreshment and media sales area.
• We will do significant remodeling of the Children’s Ministry Area.
• We will update our signage on Alma School Road.
• We will create an ingress/egress and connecting road from our existing parking lots to Germann Road.
• We will build-out one of the two building of the student center complex (the multi-purpose building including “gym-atorium”, café, activities area and outdoor patio).
• We will build the shell of the student center auditorium building to be finished at a later date or as funds are available.

Of course, all this is subject to continued income for the Ripple Effect building campaign and will be monitored on the basis of the economics.  We feel that this is how God is leading – but of course we are still listening to God’s direction. To accomplish this, we will need all of the $6.1 million pledged to the Ripple Effect and need to borrow between $1-2 million at the projects completion.  The Elders feel that this is still a very manageable debt load that will not hinder ministry.Again, thank you for your prayerful support – and ask that it continue.Pastor Roger

… and even more visible results expected in 2009!  The new master plan was approved by the City of Chandler, our remodel plans were submitted to the city for approval, the painting of the buildings was completed, and the Ripple Effect giving remained excellent in spite of the tough economic conditions (see chart). Currently, we are finalizing the remodel plans and schedule for the worship center, lobby, and Children’s areas.  The Design and Development of the new Student Center and Germann entrance is well underway expecting completion by April.  Constuction drawings will follow with ground breaking expected after city approval this fall.

After a thorough process through the City of Chandler and reviews by our neighbors, our rezoning and Preliminary Development Plan (PDP) application was unanimously approved by the City Council last night.  We now can continue the next steps to update construction plans and start the drawings for our adjacent property along Germann.