Our mission and vision are inseparably linked to the great commission given to us by Jesus in Matthew 28. The way we say it here is “we exist to make Christ-like disciples who transform their world.” This vision becomes a reality as we are faithful to build bridges of friendship and invest our lives in people who are not yet followers of Jesus. Everywhere we go and in all we do we strive to love people like Jesus, share our faith when we have opportunity, and help people grow and mature in their faith so they can discover and live out their God given purpose.

We are calling this strategic initiative “one”. This name was chosen primarily because it helps us all stay united and focused in on what matters most to our father in heaven. We see so clearly in scripture how even one person matters so much to God. Often times Jesus went out of his way to love, minister, heal, and invite into a relationship with himself the very ones most people had forgotten. Every-one matters greatly to God and to us!

Everything we do here at JCNaz is focused on the mission God has given us of making Christ-like disciples, both here locally and around the world. Although this initiative will help us make some important updates and changes to our physical facility, this is ultimately not about remodeling a building. This is about positioning ourselves to share the good news of Jesus with even more people and see more children’s, teen’s and adult’s lives changed, both now and for all eternity.

Beyond the lasting impact on children, youth, and families here at JCNaz, this initiative will help us practically express God’s transforming love in practical ways locally, nationally, and globally. How so? The leadership team is absolutely committed to leading us to maintain an outward focus on others, even as we’re making a significant investment in our ministry here. As a result, we have committed to tithe (give a gift of 10%) on the total funds raised in this initiative. Your generosity will enable us to make a big impact for God’s kingdom in the following areas:

1. Washington elementary for a special project they are starting to help low-income families

2. Partnering with kids against hunger to pack meals for those living in poverty right here in the United States and

3. Cross-cultural mission experiences – a portion of this tithe will be used to fund scholarships for those in our church family desiring to go on a mission trip but financially can’t afford to go.

We are planning to renovate approximately 15,000 square feet on what is currently the last remaining unfinished portion of our building. Until now, this space has been a catch all for storage has largely been unused due to the deteriorated state of this portion of our building. We believe this plan will help us use this space much more effectively so young families with children will impacted for Jesus. This newly remodeled space will become a truly dedicated, fully secure children’s ministry area with a new safe and secure check-in foyer, new large worship space, customized small group space, a more adequate space for our growing infant and toddler ministry, and an in-door playground.

In addition, our youth ministry (the nest) will move to the current children’s ministry area on the south end of our building. This will be a great blessing to them and not only provide a much-needed updated space, but also a larger space for worship, events, outreach and to enjoy the latest popular activities and games teens loves so much.

This plan will also help our small group ministry gain much needed space so that adults of all ages can experience authentic relationships with others and grow in their knowledge of God’s word. We have a vision of every single person who calls our church their home to be consistently connected to a small group. The truth is, if everyone who calls this their church home wanted to be a part of a small group we would not have room in our current facilities. By relocating children to their own ministry space, this will open-up many rooms that can be used for small group gatherings.

The elected leadership team and pastoral staff has been praying about the “next steps” for our facility for many years now. We were excited about the possibilities but were very committed to wait on the Lord for clear direction and confidence in any decisions made. In the summer of 2019, we formed a partnership with brown church development. When the pandemic started in March of 2020, we chose to pause and eventually end our partnership with this company and started seeking the Lord again for guidance and clarity for the future. As we continued to pray and wait on the Lord, we were introduced to a man of God named Daryl Cripe who has a ministry called Amplio, which helps churches strategize and develop practical steps to move forward in their mission. It was in an initial meeting with Daryl that each leader made a personal commitment to having a “one” and build a relationship with them for the purpose of pointing them to Christ. As we began to share with Daryl our dreams and plans, he suggested we reach out to Risepointe, a church architecture and design firm. We have been delighted in this new partnership with this company who has much experience working specifically with churches and is committed to not only helping us create great spaces, but most of all seeing people come to meet and know Jesus!

Our leadership team, pastors and outside ministry partners have collectively invested countless hours in prayer, planning and meetings to get us where we are today.

Our church architecture and design company (Risepointe) has estimated a total project cost of $1,500,000. We will invite everyone who calls JCNaz their church home to make a financial commitment above their regular giving in order to help bring this vision to reality. These total commitments will be given over a period of three years. Our goal for this initiative is to raise $750,000. Our elected church leadership team recommends that we fund the remainder of the project by taking out a loan with the goal of repaying it as quickly as possible. The more we are able to raise during the three-year initiative the less we will need to take out as a loan.

Our leadership team and those who oversee our finances have set a boundary that we are not allowed to acquire any debt greater than three times our annual budget raised. This enables us to maintain financial margin while funding plans such as this without hurting current ministry and outreach. Last year income collected for all purposes came to $698,616.00. Using this figure, we would be allowed by our by-laws to take out a maximum loan of approximately two million dollars. The amount we are projecting will need financing for is considerably under this amount.

Remembering the history of our church and how God has led us in the past is also helpful in making the decision to take on debt. In 2007, when the congregation stepped out in faith and purchased our current facilities, they funded this project through funds already saved plus taking out a loan for approximately $1.5 million dollars. God blessed this step of faith and brought resources that the church at that time would never have dreamed or imagined, enabling the church to pay off the debt much sooner than expected, but expand and accelerate the ministry plans for this facility. Today, by God’s grace we have even more people who call JCNaz their church home and we even more financially healthy. We are confident in our church’s commitment to the mission and God’s continued faithfulness.

While we are not unaware of the current challenges and issues impacting us on a local and global level and the added concern this creates for individuals and families, we also believe the Lord is leading us in this endeavor. While we want to exercise good, Godly wisdom, we never want to operate as a church out of what we can do easily or safely on our own. Every time God asked someone to do something significant in the bible, it required the courage to take a risk and take God at his word even when they couldn’t see and didn’t understand. Throughout the entire 95-year history of our church, God has led us to make moves that didn’t seem to make sense in the natural, but each time the church responded in obedience, the Lord has shown himself faithful.

Yes! Gifts in-kind are a great way for people to generously contribute to this project. While cash gifts are still the most common way to make a commitment to this initiative, we understand that someone may have non-liquid assets or services they wish to donate. Common examples of gifts in-kind are gifts of grain, cattle, vehicles, equipment, property, collections, stocks/bonds, etc. The church will receive your gift and then give you a donation receipt for the fair market value of the gift.

We are incredibly blessed with an abundance of space in which to do ministry. The goal of this project is not necessarily to gain more space, but to restructure ministry space to most effectively meet current and future ministry needs. In addition, with this strategy three important ministries in our church will benefit greatly (children, youth, and small groups/discipleship). This approach allows us to build a true master plan for future growth needs. It’s been approximately 15 years since we’ve done any major remodeling and a having a fresh, updated ministry area will not only be more effective, but also much more inviting and welcoming to new guests as well as current attenders.

We are asking each and every person who calls this their church home to make two important investments. First, we’re asking each person to identify at least one “one”. This is someone you can build a relationship with the goal of showing Jesus’ love to them in authentic and practical ways. We encourage you to write this person or persons names down on commitment Sunday. We encourage you to pray consistently for your “one”, spend time with them, and patiently and purposefully invest in their life. It’s so exciting to think about all the people over the next few years that may come to know Jesus and have their lives changed because we took this commitment personally.

Secondly, we are asking everyone to help bring to reality the vision of reaching and connecting more children, youth, and families to Jesus by making a prayerful investment in this vision. The first step in making this financial commitment is prayer. Simply ask the Lord what amount, over the next three years, he is leading you to give and then trust him to provide. We’re asking people to consider giving their gift to this initiative over and above their regular giving so that current ministries and outreach that impact so many lives each week will continue strong.

Here are a few questions to help you evaluate your financial faith commitment:

• Does this amount really require me to trust God? 2 Corinthians 9:6-8

• Does this amount show that I value my hope of eternal reward more than material things on earth? 1 Timothy 6:19

• Does this amount represent a genuine sacrifice? 2 Samuel 24:24

• Does this amount express the level of thanksgiving I have for how Christ and his church has blessed my life and my family? Psalm 54:6

The one initiative is all about God’s vision for his church. We believe the local church is still the hope of the world and is one of the most compelling missions to give towards and we would really love for you to make JCNaz your church home. There’s definitely a place for you here. This is a perfect time for you jump on board make an investment in something bigger and beyond yourself.

Prayer starts it all. Nothing prepares our heart to respond to God like seeking his heart through prayer. The longer you pray not only, “God show me what to give, but how to give,” the more ways God will show you.

• All giving in the bible was proportional because God has given us different amounts of resources. God is interested in our hearts, not our amounts.

• It is about seeking a commitment decision that is pleasing to God.

• God will grant us a peace that “passes all understanding” through the knowledge that we have made a prayerful and proportional commitment that is pleasing to him.

• If you’ll sincerely go through these four p’s, you’ll be able to arrive at a specific amount to give. The amount will almost always be larger than the first number that popped into your mind since it will be a step of faith.

You may have questions that aren’t answered here, or perhaps you simply desire more details. If so, we encourage you to reach out to our one initiative team who can help answer any questions you may have. Please contact the church at jcnaz@jcnaz.org or at 785-762-4402 with your specific question or request and we can direct you to the appropriate leader.