Renovation Update
Capital Stewardship Team
If you have any questions please contact one of our team members. Bob Alsobrook, Team Leader, Bob Agee, Winfred Allen, Gerry Brittain, Rob DeLoach, Gil Fletcher, John Hale, Steve Babcock, Pastor Greg McFadden (ex officio), Roger Ziegler, Building Team Leader (ex officio)
Building Team
If you have any questions please contact one of our team members.
Roger Ziegler, Chairman, Barry Bunn, Jerry Culpepper, Debbie Simpson, Melissa Swingler, Kevin Hamilton, Bob Alsobrook, Capital Stewardship Team Leader (ex officio), Pastor Greg McFadden (ex officio)
July 4 Capital Stewardship Team Report and Proposal
On behalf of the Building Team and the Capital Stewardship Team, we want to thank you for your prayers, patience, and contributions, over the past three years, as our church acted upon God’s direction for improvements to the children’s wing. We continue to see His hands upon that ministry as we see amazing growth, in numbers yet more importantly in spiritual growth among our children and their families.
At the conclusion of this presentation, a fact sheet will be provided to you that summarizes this proposal. We request your continuing prayers and welcome your thoughts and questions as we continue in God’s call on our church to practice Great Commission ministry!
Contact information for the Capital Stewardship Team is also provided should you desire to ask questions or for clarity on any points prior to July 11th, when you will be asked to vote on the proposal.
On the screen, you will see the totals to date of the church’s fundraising campaign, your investment in the life of the church. And the needs as we move forward to totally fund the renovation.
- Amount pledged to date $2,051,456
- Cash received to date $1,507,851
- Bids submitted to complete work $2,815,000
- Construction loan requested up to $1,400,000 for one year (abundance of caution number)…actual, $1,300,000
- Term loan not to exceed $1,000,000 at the completion of construction
(prayerfully, little or no term financing as we, the church, continue to contribute toward the project…pledges outstanding to be paid, approx. $300,000+.
On April 25th, you authorized the Capital Stewardship Team to seek financing for the construction phase of the project while also seeking quotes and approval of loan funds for term financing if needed, as construction is completed. The church further authorized the teams to pursue part of Phase 1B to allow for the transition of our children’s programs during the renovation.
Today’s purpose is to provide some details about the process of seeking proposals as well as our recommendation for financing which seems to be in the church’s best interest.
Requests for Proposal were sent to seven banks, banks in Humboldt and two others with member relationships, and seven banks presented proposals for loans. All proposals were considered at one “sitting” with BancorpSouth selected by unanimous consent by the Capital Stewardship Team.
The terms of the proposal, for BancorpSouth are as follows:
- A 10 year fixed interest rate of 3.25% (one year during construction and nine years during the term period)
- Based on a 20 year amortization which provides the best payment and cash flow consideration for the church
- Construction loan payment based on interest only on the actual amount drawn at the end of each month
- Note: We would use the cash on hand, prior to any amounts drawn against the loan
- No bank based closing costs and minimal outside closing costs
- No prepayment penalty, if we pay the loan down or in full prior to the projected term
We present the acceptance of BancorpSouth’s loan proposal by resolution, and by unanimous consent of the Capital Stewardship Team.
As part of the bank’s request, we also ask that you approve a depository account at BancorpSouth for handling of all construction loan funds. And that you further authorize the consideration of other depository accounts at BancorpSouth if that proves to be the best stewardship practice for the church.
- If a $1,000,000 term loan, payments would be approx. $5274 per month
- If a $500,000 term loan, payments would be $2836 per month
- If a $250,000 term loan, payments would be $1418 per month
Again, thank you for your prayers, donations made and projected and your consideration of this proposal.
We will continue fundraising efforts throughout the renovation phase to minimize the amount converted to term financing once construction is complete. Again, our goal is that every Church at Sugar Creek member family has been or will be contacted that we may share detail and benefits projected and to request prayerful consideration of a donation to the project.
January 2021 – Capital Stewardship Team
Thank you for the prayers and gifts/pledges so many of you have given supporting the Church’s campaign to raise funds for renovating the facilities of our Preschool and Children’s Ministry programs. As you know from recent announcements, we have nearly $1.2 million in cash received for this project.
As we get close to our total target of $2 million total commitments, it is time for our Architect and General Contractor to obtain current and firm costs of our planned renovations. It has been more than two years since cost estimates of the project were first developed in 2018 so it is important to know how materials and labor prices may have changed since then.
Updated cost figures will be captured starting in January 2021 and then reported to the Church Family by late March/early April 2021. Once final costs are determined through a robust bidding process and the financial target of $2 million is reached, we pray that construction can begin in the second quarter of 2021. We need to raise approximately $500,000 in additional commitments to hit our $2 million target.
The Capital Stewardship Team writes now to ask for your continued support and prayers:
- Some members made three-year pledges being paid-out until mid-2021. If you made a pledge, we ask that you consider adding one or two more years of your current annual pledge payments continuing them into 2022 or 2023.
- If you did not pledge a gift but gave one or more outright cash contributions, please pray for the Lord’s guidance about making additional gifts. Keep in mind that contributions of cash or appreciated stock may provide tax benefits which your accountant/financial advisor can explain.
- If you can make a first-time gift, or increase your current pledge commitment, or make an additional outright gift, please let Katie Laughlin in Church Office by phoning her at 731.784.1883 or by emailing her at katiel@sugarcreek.church As always, this information will be held in strict confidence.
Again, we thank you for your continued prayers for this project and we know that its success will be achieved as the Lord wills. Feel free to contact any of us on the Team with questions or concerns. In the meantime, we wish you and your families a blessed and joyous New Year.
July 2020 – Capital Stewardship Team
The Capital Stewardship Team meets regularly and focuses aggressively on specific efforts to achieve our Church’s objective of raising the funds needed for renovations of our Pre-K and Children’s ministry facilities. Even during these difficult times, gifts in support of the project continue to be received.
The Team and other campaign volunteers are contacting fellow Church Members who have not yet made gift commitments. Please be assured that these contacts are being made with the priority of safeguarding everyone’s health.
Presently, $1.1 million+ has been gifted or pledged towards our goal of $2 million. Nearly $850,000 of the $1.1 million has been received in cash. Once we reach a total of $2 million in gifts and pledges and have $1 million in cash, we will begin our renovation work. Our hope is to be at this point by the end of year.
As Bro. Greg mentioned in several recent worship services, our Church Family continues to be generously supportive with its tithes and offerings. Our Church’s annual Ministry Plan budget needs are being met and we encourage all of us to keep this up. These unprecedented times amplify a multitude of needs throughout our Church and community.
Please know that your Capital Stewardship Team is firmly convicted that it is God’s plan for us to move forward with our renovation project once we reach our funding goals. Growing the Father’s kingdom through growth at Sugar Creek depends significantly on reaching people of all ages and especially more and more young people.
Please pray for our Church Family and ask the Lord to show how He wants you to support His plans for the Church at Sugar Creek. Our Team too will continue praying for the health and safety of you and your families. We look forward to talking with those we are still to visit. In the meantime, please contact any one of us on the Team if you have questions.
July 2020 – Building Team
The Building Team meetings have been on a holding pattern until the Funding goals are accomplished. As the funding gets closer, we will get back on track with Curtiss Doss as a group to discuss details such as flooring, sound, media, hallway theme finalizations, to name a few.
The following individuals, Curtiss Doss, Bro Greg, Bob Alsobrook, Kathleen George, Steve Babcock, and I, met on June 17, 2020, to give Curtis an update on our financial status. Curtiss provided a review of the final drawings for the renovation area along with the changes for the youth area (FLC) that will serve as a temporary location for the preschool, children, and CLC ministries. All renovation in the FLC area will tie into possible future renovations part B and C to the youth ministry/FLC areas.
Curtiss is very close to completing the final drawings after getting additional input from Kathleen regarding Children’s wing adjustments. Since our previous discussions and estimated costs that were proposed, the construction costs have had some possible increases. We as a Building Team will have to address these opportunities.
As we get closer to our financial goals, Curtiss will be meeting with Lashlee-Rich to begin the sub-contractor bids that will provide the most accurate building costs for Phase 1 Part A. The original estimates were approximately $2 million.
We continue to ask for your continued prayers to help guide us through this exciting time for our church while also navigating these unusual times.
November 4, 2019 – Capital Stewardship Team
What a blessing and privilege it is to be a part of this wonderful Worship and Celebration Service. On behalf of the Capital Stewardship Team, I am glad to bring you an update on efforts to secure the funding needed for our planned renovation projects.
First: a quick re-cap of our plan and financial objectives
Phase 1, Part A of our overall capital projects master plan is to renovate the facilities serving our Children’s Ministry Program and Pre-School first.
In mid-last year based on estimates and projections of our architect and the Building Team, the Church voted to set a fundraising goal of $2 million to fund Phase 1, Part A. The Church indicated that the total $2 million needed must be committed in gifts and pledges with at least $1 million of the $2 million received in cash before any renovation work could begin.
Second: where do we stand with our fundraising progress
I am pleased to report that in just a little more than a year since we started fundraising, more than 110 Church members and families have made commitments totaling nearly $950,000 of which more than $640,000 has been received in cash. Included in these figures, you will recall that our children’s ministry group, those pre-K through 5th-grade kids, also have been faithful and generous in supporting this campaign with their own gifts totaling nearly $3,000. Yes indeed, we still must get additional commitments of a little more than another $1 million as well as receive about $360,000 in cash.
Third: God’s Will, God’s Timing
The capital stewardship team and other volunteers continue to visit with individual families/members about making a first-time or additional gift-commitment
Our youth, with Christian’s assistance, will undertake efforts soon to participate personally and financially in our campaign.
In addition, within the next couple of weeks, you will have an opportunity to indicate confidentially your personal commitment or re-commitment to pray for our project’s success and support it financially.
The year 2020 is one we are approaching with much prayer, great hopefulness, and a bold confidence that God will enable us to reach our financial goals and get our renovation construction underway.
Please pray for your Capital Stewardship Team, your Building Team, and your Ministry Plan Stewardship Team as we all continue seeking God’s direction to achieve the vision for our future that He has put in front of The Church at Sugar Creek. Thank you!
January 13, 2019 – Building Team
Last Monday, Jan 7th, the Building Committee met with Curtiss Doss and Jim Atkins. Lashlee-Rich has assigned Jim the Project manager for our Pre-School and Children’s Wing Phase 1A.
The discussions were updating us on the process and where we are.
First, after we selected Lashlee-Rich, Curtiss met with them to review the basic drawings of the project.
Second, Lashlee-Rich has compiled their budget assessment of the cost of the project. Their estimates were compiled by getting input from their more established sub-contractors to give them estimates of all the areas of construction, such as Elevator, Heating & Air, Plumbing, Electrical, Masonry, etc.
Finally, our meeting last Monday was to review those Budget numbers and discuss individual cost estimates. Also, discussed the overall scope of the project. I am encouraged that the costs estimated by Curtiss which we have been dealing with, are being confirmed by Lashlee-Rich. When we get to the bidding process for each area of construction, those accepted bids will then provide the best and most accurate cost of the project.
Our next steps coming up are as follows:
Curtiss will make the “Final” drawings that will be ready for the Fire Marshall and will also be provided to sub-contractors for the bidding process. This should be completed by the first of February.
The Fire Marshall approval is usually a TWO 21-Day process. After the Fire Marshall approval is completed, we have a 6 month window to begin construction.
The bidding process is usually 30 to 45 day process to get bids in and evaluated by the committee. After accepting the bids we only have a 30 to 60 day window before we would have to re-bid.
So these two windows will have to be coordinated and timed out accordingly with our Fund Raising status.
If you have any questions, please see me or any one of the Building team members.
December 2, 2018 – Building Team
The Building Committee has not met since the church’s decision to approve Lashlee-Rich as the Construction Manager. However, Curtiss Doss, the Architect, and Lashlee-Rich have met and have been coordinating their efforts. Also, Lashlee-Rich has named Jim Atkins as the Project Manager.
I did attend the first meeting between Curtiss Doss and Lashlee-Rich which was reviewing the drawings of the final renovation needs of the church. That meeting was to get the two parties on the same page and to discuss any concerns regarding the renovations. After that meeting, Curtiss Doss completed the DDP drawings which includes all the construction details regarding internal wall renovations, Plumbing, Electrical, and Elevator shaft requirements, just to name a few. That has now been completed and provided to Lashlee-Rich.
Since we have been making our decisions on the costs estimates from the Architect, Lashlee-Rich will take these completed drawings and provide us with a more accurate cost evaluation. We are waiting to hear from Lashlee-Rich and Curtiss Doss to set up a meeting with the Building Committee before the Christmas Holidays to review those updates.
After this updated cost evaluation, the next step will be, Lashlee-Rich sending out construction bids for the various building sub-contractor specialties. Such as, Plumbing, Electrical, Flooring, Painting, etc. Those will consist of 3 bids for each area of expertise. The Building Committee will be closely involved in the selection of the final Sub-contractor bid in each area.
All of the work done and work to be accomplished will be coordinated with the fund raising and financial requirements agreed to and voted on by the church.
Thank You for your continued prayers.
December 2, 2018 – Capital Stewardship Team
On behalf of the Capital Stewardship Team, I thank you for allowing us to bring another update of our work since reporting to you last (in mid-October). Our Team’s work continues on several fronts focused on reaching our objective of seeing all Sugar Creek Members/Families personally by the end of this month. As you know, our goal for this effort is to raise in commitments $2 million, of which $1 million must be received in cash before beginning any of the renovation work described (or will be described) by Roger and the Building Team. I want to share a few brief summary points about the current work of the Capital Stewardship Team:
- We have more than 22 volunteer-solicitors taking assignments to see our fellow Church members personally to request their financial and prayerful support of our capital project. We certainly still need volunteers for this purpose. So, please see me if you feel like this is something you could help us with.
- Our volunteer-solicitors have just taken on nearly 200 assignments of Church Members/Families they have committed to visit soon. However, we have a number of members’ names to assign out which will be done in the coming several days.
- Many of you have been contacted recently by one of our volunteers and met about your participation in the Church’s capital project and campaign. We humbly ask you to respond to the request for support only in the way the Lord leads you to do so. It also may be a good time of year for responding with a cash gift to the campaign, as year-end contributions may have favorable tax consequences for you, the donor.
- If you have not been contacted yet, please know that you will be soon. We hope you will see the volunteer and be praying about how the Lord directs you to support the effort financially and prayerfully.
- And, if you are ready and eager to discuss your participation NOW, even before a volunteer contacts you, please tell me know and I can make sure we get with you quickly. You can see me after today’s service, or call me anytime.
- Finally, as you see in our bulletin and the video screens here in the sanctuary, as of this past Friday we have nearly $487,000 in pledges, of which more than $160,000 is in cash.
While we thank God to have the pledges and gifts received thus far, there is still a significant challenge ahead. Our Team is confident we can reach the fundraising targets in front of us, but only as the Lord enables us to do so. Please pray for His continued guidance in directing our work to realize the vision He has shown us.
Both Teams and our many volunteers ask you to pray mightily for us and the work that lies ahead.
October 14, 2018 – Capital Stewardship Team
It is my privilege again to bring you a brief update about the work of the Capital Stewardship Team. Since our time together on Celebration Sunday last month, our Team has worked on several fronts that are ongoing:
- We have engaged 16 volunteer-solicitors to visit with our fellow Church members personally to request their financial and prayerful support of our capital project. We are aggressively seeking out other volunteers for this purpose. Please see me if you feel like this is something you could help us with.
- Our 16 volunteer-solicitors have just taken on nearly 100 assignments of Church Members/Families they have committed to visit soon. However, we have nearly 200 more members to assign out which we must do in the next one to two weeks.
- There have been three separate information and training sessions to prepare our volunteer-solicitors for these visits, supplied with materials and details needed to respond to questions and ask for your support. Other sessions are being planned for the next couple of weeks.
- Some of you perhaps have been contacted recently by one of our volunteers requesting to meet and visit about your participation in the Church’s capital project and campaign. We hope you will see the volunteer and be praying about how the Lord directs you to support the effort financially and prayerfully.
- If you have not been contacted yet, please know that you will be soon. As you know, our objective is to visit with every Church Member/Family by the end of December of this year.
- And, if you are ready and eager to discuss your participation right away, even before a volunteer contacts you, please just let me know and I can make sure we get with you quickly.
- Finally, as you may have read in our Church website or heard in other ways, as of this past Friday we have more than $345,000+ in pledges, of which nearly $125,000 is already received in cash.
We are grateful that God has allowed us to get to this point in our fundraising campaign. And, while we are very pleased to have the pledges and gifts received thus far, there is still a significant challenge ahead. Our Team is confident we can reach the fundraising targets in front of us. But we all need to pray to the Lord for continued guidance, direction, energy, and focus to see us through to realizing the vision He has placed on our collective heart here at Sugar Creek.
We sincerely ask for you to keep the work of our Teams and volunteers in your prayers.
September 3, 2018 – Building Team
Since our last update, the building team met on August 6th and selected 10 General Contractors to send Letters of Interest. From those 10 contractors, we received 5 proposals and the other 5 declined or did not respond.
Wednesday evening, August 22nd, the team met and reviewed the 5 proposals that we received. The 5 contractor proposals included their past experience and jobs that they had each completed. Their proposals also included costs that were broken down into Pre-construction costs, Contractor fee, and General Condition/Overhead. 4 of the 5 proposed costs were all close in comparison. We were all in agreement with 3 contractors to offer invitations for interviews.
Monday August 27th the Building team interviewed the 3 chosen contractors to further evaluate the contractor that we would choose to do Phase 1A, Preschool and Children’s wing. The 3 General Contractors were Rhino Construction from Milan, Lashlee-Rich from Humboldt, and Brasfield Construction from Jackson.
Following the interviews, the team discussed each contractor and their presentations. The team unanimously selected Lashlee-Rich.
Team Members attending: Barry Bunn, Jerry Culpepper, Melissa Swingler, Debbie Simpson, Bob Benedict, and Roger Ziegler.
Thank You for your continued prayers.
August 5, 2018 – Building Team
• Curtiss Doss met with the Building Team on May 29th to get everyone up to date with the process.
• Mr. Doss met with our church and CLC staff on Monday July 16 to go over the program needs that need to be included in the new layout. Clarity in that meeting has led to his initial mapping out of needs that can carry us into the future.
• This past week he sent preliminary drawings that reflect those needs and a creative way of meeting those needs in the current space.
• At the same time, our decorating subcommittee is working on thematic design that will be added to bring the area to life.
• We have planned a full building team meeting for Aug 6. That meeting will consist of reviewing up to date drawings of plans for Phase 1A. There will also be 3 things for the team to discuss. Project status, contractor selection process, and project schedule as we move forward. Big focus will be developing a list of possible contractors to interview and setting up an interview process.
• After we select the 4-6 contractors that could build the project and we would want to build the project we provide them with the approved drawings. They will respond with a letter of interest and we will then begin an interview process with those that meet the qualifications.
• Our goal is to present to the church for final approval of the renovation design before September 16. If the church affirms the design, we will work concurrently with the fund raising effort so that when all fund raising criteria have been met, construction will begin.
July 22, 2018 – Capital Stewardship Team
Thank you for this time to update you briefly on the work of the Capital Stewardship Team since the report provided on June 25th:
Our Team has been meeting nearly weekly since mid-June, in addition to many phone calls and emails among our Team members in between meetings.
A primary objective of our recent work has been multi-fold in order to ensure several key points:
- We want church members currently informed about the capital/renovation plans contained in Phase 1, Part A which is focused on the PreSchool and Children’s Wing of the church.
- We want to ensure all church members are visited by the end of 2018 to discuss prayerfully how everyone can participate in the support of this phase of our overall capital/renovation projects.
- We want the materials, displays, rendering, and other information about this capital project that will soon be available to all church members to be current, clear, compelling and as complete as possible at this this stage of developing and designing the capital plans.
- And, most importantly, we want our team’s work and the our church’s attention on this capital project wrapped and bathed in prayer—we only want to be following the direction our Lord leads us.
So, with those thoughts in mind, let me close with just a few key points:
- This phase of our capital project and its campaign has been named “Focus on the Present – Shaping the Future.”
- As you have or may have heard, we will have a church-wide gathering on Sunday, September 16th that among other things will spotlight many details about the campaign and the capital project. More information about this day will be out to everyone shortly.
- Meeting with church members and households about your participation in supporting the capital project will begin in earnest September 17th and again will run through December 2018.
- In advance of meeting with church members, renderings, drawings and other information about the project will be available soon. These materials will be on the campus here, on the church website, and other places to be announced. We hope to have these materials available by the third or fourth week of August, if not sooner.
Again, thank you for letting me bring this update to you. Please continue to pray for the ongoing work of our Capital Stewardship and Building Teams, and all of our Teams focused on expanding the Kingdom of our Lord through His work here at The Church at Sugar Creek.
June 25, 2018 – Capital Stewardship Team
Our church officially contracted with Mr. Curtiss Doss to design and oversee the renovation of the preschool and children’s wing of our building. Our hope is to be able very soon to present to the church the preliminary sketches of what the work will look like. His team is working in earnest to move us forward. The building team will be meeting periodically with him as the design takes shape.
The capital/stewardship team as you heard on Sunday is advancing with the charge they were given by church vote June 3. They have established a building fund to receive designated funds to be used toward the renovation. They are meeting weekly to ensure that goals are met in a timely fashion. The cost estimate for the first part of phase 1 will be approximately $2,000,000. The team is working on a financial plan that includes having 100% of that amount pledged over 3 years and 50% of that amount in hand before construction begins.
The team has set September 17th as the official kick-off for the fund raising. There is much work to be done between now and then so continue to pray for God’s favor in this matter. This first campaign will be called “Focus on the Present – Shaping the Future!” Continue to pray about your involvement.
June 7, 2018 – Capital/Stewardship Team
The Building Team met with Mr. Curtiss Doss on Tuesday evening May 29thto get clarity on what will be included in the First Phase, part 1. It is understood that the focus will be on updating the Preschool and Children’s wing of our current facility. It will be necessary to include other parts of the building in this phase in terms of bringing the campus up to code. For example, a sprinkler system and elevators will be part of this first phase.
The church voted on June 3rdto proceed with contracting with Mr. Doss and establishing a building fund reservoir to begin receiving gifts and memorials that will be used in the renovation. The capital/Stewardship Team will go to work in earnest developing a plan that will be presented to the church in the coming weeks, detailing the fund raising effort and the stewardship of resources received.
May 22, 2018 – Capital Stewardship Team
Our team has met four times since given the charge to design a campaign to fund any renovation plans the church agrees to undertake. We have worked concurrently with the building team as they progress toward Phase 1, part A that was presented to the church on April 29.
We are ready to recommend to the church for consideration the following:
- That the church establishes a building fund immediately where designated gifts for renovation may be deposited as specified by donors.
- That the focus of our fund raising efforts be in line with part A of Phase I of the renovation plan related to the preschool and children’s wing of the building.
- That we formally contract with Mr. Curtiss Doss, President at McGehee Nicholson Burke Architects of Memphis TN to guide the design and work of the renovation.
- That we establish a goal of $2,000,000 to be raised through a comprehensive fund-raising campaign that includes $1 million cash in hand and an additional $1 million in pledges to be paid over the next 3 years.
We will formally present this 4 part recommendation to the church on May 27th and vote on June 3 at the end of the morning worship service.
Capital Stewardship Team:
Bob Alsobrook (team leader) (312) 371-8967 grobertalsobrook@gmail.com
Dr. Bob Agee (731) 695-9530 bobagee1@bellsouth.net
Winfred Allen (731) 420-4720 wallen@hickmanrealty.com
Bro. Steve Babcock (731) 618-1045 steveb@sugarcreek.church
Gerry Brittain (731) 225-9700 gerry.brittain@allergan.com
Rob DeLoach (731) 431-6926 robdeloach1@gmail.com
Gil Fletcher (731) 694-0730 giljudyf@gmail.com
John Hale (731) 694-0948 jchale9@gmail.com