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 The Future Is Now . . . The Foundation for Growth
In 1976 a vision was born in the hearts and minds of the people of University Avenue Congregational Church. The vision? To expand the impact of their congregation by birthing a daughter church. The idea was presented at a meeting of the Conservative Congregational Christian Church in May of 1976, and in August of 1977, Ron Hamilton was selected to be the founding pastor of a new church plant. Woodbury Community Church held its first gathering on December 4, 1977 with seven people attending a service in the community room of the Howard Johnson’s Restaurant and Motor Lodge in Woodbury.
God had favor on that fledgling congregation. The church moved from the Howard Johnson’s to the Woodbury Community Center, a facility that the church would eventually purchase in 1983. WCC would eventually outgrow the old Community Center building. The 1990’s were designated as a “Decade of Commitment” in which the members committed to giving the church a more permanent location to expand its influence and ministry. In 1992, the church secured the option to purchase its present site, and a groundbreaking ceremony was held on Easter Sunday, 1994.The building was completed over the summer, with the first services in the new building being held in October, 1994. The building was eventually expanded to include a multi-purpose room and children’s classrooms. God has used this facility to assist us in our goal of making a difference in the lives of many people. Now, it is time for a new chapter in the story of Woodbury Community Church. God has grown the fledgling congregation of seven people to close to 200 worshippers. And, the building that was constructed 15 years ago is in need of repair.
IT'S ABOUT MORE THAN BUILDINGS
OVER THE NEXT THREE YEARS . . .
 We want to be a church that is making unprecedented efforts to reach those 18 and under with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Statistics show that the percentage of children attending church in America today is lower than at any point in U.S.history. We want to change that.
We want to be a church that is growing because our people take evangelism seriously. We desire to see a culture of inviting become a natural part of who we are. We believe that God desires to see people come to know Him. We want to be a part of that mission through inviting friends, neighbors, and family members to join us in worshipping the Lord. By faith, we are trusting that the Lord will allow us to grow into a community of 250 worshippers by the end of 2012. That means that we want to enhance the Sunday morning experience for visitors as well as regular attendees.
We want to get serious about spiritual growth through a variety of new discipleship opportunities. We will seek to expand small group opportunities, elective seminars, Sunday morning education classes, marriage and family enrichment classes, young adult ministry, and community outreach.
 We want to be a church that is known for being a good neighbor. We will take a look at the felt needs of our community, asking how we might address those needs in a thoughtful and biblical manner.
We want to increase our visibility to the community through targeted advertising efforts.
We want to be forward looking and create a team to explore what expansion of our present facility might look like so that we can best plan how to use our facility for maximum impact.
THE FOUNDATION FOR GROWTH
ADDRESSES THREE KEY AREAS
 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS: We want to make WCC more inviting to visitors so it reflects positively on what God has blessed this church with. We plan to repair the current parking lot, update the carpeting and chairs, put windows in classroom doors for security, increase storage, upgrade software to enhance the visual effects for services, install an informational monitor in the entry, and improve building signage.
STABALIZED GENERAL FUND GIVING: These have been tough economic years and as such, general fund giving has been below our general budget. The Foundation for Growth campaign seeks to stabilize general fund giving while at the same time raising funds for repairs. Faith Promise Commitments will be made towards both the capital improvements and the General Fund.
INCREASED STAFFING: By increasing our Office Manager’s hours five hours a week, and moving our youth pastor into a forty hour work week in June, we position ourselves for greater ministry presence to community, growth in youth ministry, which will hopefully translate into parent participation, a cleaner building for activities that take place during the week, and we take some of the workload off of our Senior Pastor.
PROJECT INFORMATION:
Term: 3 Years (January 2010-December 2012)
Existing Needs (Our Current General Operating Expenses over 3 Years): $1,035,000(Assuming 3% increases)
New Needs – Total of $125,000
Roof Repair: $35,000
Repair Parking Lot: $35,000
Carpet: $22,000
Other Projects (Storage, Windows, Signage, Chairs, Computer, Café, and Media Upgrades): $33,000
ANSWERING YOUR COMMITMENT QUESTIONS:
What is a Comprehensive Stewardship Campaign? A Comprehensive Stewardship Campaign is our way to raise money to secure our general fund giving while also raising money for major projects or purchases. This campaign, titled “Foundation for Growth,” will allow us to raise funds for the general budget and while also allowing us to raise funds for much needed capital improvement projects for Woodbury Community Church.
 What are you asking me to commit to? We are asking all regular attendees of Woodbury Community Church to pray about how you will support Woodbury Community Church on a regular basis and over a three year period for needed maintenance and repairs to our aging facility. Commitment cards were given out at our annual meeting, and are available for download right here on our church web site. We would like to have all of the commitment cards returned to the church office by Sunday, December 13, 2009.
When do we pay our commitments? We will use offering envelopes so that you can pay in a lump sum, in two annual installments or on a monthly or weekly basis. The first phase of this campaign runs through 2012.
Is my commitment a legal contract? No, your commitment is a statement of your intention to donate a specified amount to Woodbury Community Church.
What happens if I can’t fulfill my commitment because of job loss or illness? Should such circumstances arise, you can discontinue payments until conditions improve to where you are able to resume giving. All we ask is that you would inform the church treasurer of your need to cease payments.
Will the amount I commit be confidential? Yes, all commitments will be confidential. Only the church treasurer and church office manager will know the commitment amounts.
What if I can’t make a large commitment? All sacrificial gifts are equal in the eyes of the Lord. Sacrificial gifts are beyond your regular tithe.
What if I have more questions? Contact the church office at 651-739-1427.
From Our Pastor
 These are exciting days for Woodbury Community Church. Our church is experiencing growth, both numerically and spiritually. New people enter our doors almost every week. I look forward to a day in the next few years where our present facility will no longer be able to contain the number of worshippers who gather each week.
In the meantime, our church building is in some need of major repairs and some minor updates. The Future is Now: The Foundation for Growth Comprehensive Campaign is about positioning WCC for maximum impact in Woodbury and beyond for years to come. Help us build a foundation for growth so that we might reach more people with the life-changing message of Jesus Christ.
I realize that these have been trying economic times for many of you. Thank you for your continued and faithful giving to Woodbury Community Church. God is using your gifts in wonderful ways to make an impact in our community and our world. 2 Corinthians 9:7 says, “Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” That is why it is so important that you take the time to pray about your commitment to the Foundation for Growth. There is something so special about giving what it is that we believe God is calling us to give. God's leading can often times be surprising, but it is always worth following where He leads! I'm looking forward to seeing what God does through the Foundation For Growth Campaign, and looking forward to seeing how He provides.
In His Service,
Pastor Brian
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