Beauty for Ashes: 300 Building Update

Can you believe it’s only been nine months since we lost part of our campus to the fire? In fact, many of us can probably still close our eyes and see the smoke and flames we witnessed on television, or perhaps even in person, consuming the part of our 300 Building that housed New Covenant’s Youth Ministry and components of the Chinese Church. We may even be able to remember the prayers we prayed that day for our church, our youth, and the Chinese Church.

Much of the prayers and encouragement our youth were to hear in the following days and weeks were of God’s love, His grace and mercy, but mostly of His promise in Isaiah 61, “I shall give you beauty for ashes …” Though the north wings were to be a complete loss, through God’s grace and the work of our community’s dedicated firefighters, part of the building (the sanctuary) was left standing, and through later inspection even found to be structurally sound.

A few months after the fire, while church leadership was (and still is) continuing to negotiate with insurance, through the processes of the United Methodist Church, a Building Committee was formed to discuss any future use of the remaining structure. After finding the building to be structurally sound for remodel, the Building Committee approached the Youth Team with the question of whether or not a remodel to the remaining structure would accommodate Youth ministries now, and into the future. The Youth Team met, gathered some ideas and decided that yes, the right remodel to the remaining structure would afford a wonderful space for Youth ministries.

Having gathered many thoughts and ideas from our Youth Team and insightful recommendations from the Building Committee, Studio Architecture had been charged with the duty of bringing to us some conceptual drawings. The three main aspects of the remodel were to be Worship, Gathering, and Discipleship. Studio first submitted four concepts, which expanded to six, and now have been narrowed to two – both of which focus on the three areas of Worship, Gathering, and Discipleship in different ways.

In the next couple of weeks, based on the thoughts and ideas from youth, youth leaders, and the Building Committee, a final concept will be agreed upon where more processes of the United Methodist Church will then be put into motion, as they pertain to buildings and structures. It is the hope of the church to have a plan and concept to submit to the congregation for vote and approval by late-January / early-February of next year. If this timeline remains firm, Studio Architecture envisions an occupancy date for our youth, no later than sometime very early in 2010.

Many hours have been put into this process and many more are still to come. We now have two incredible concepts to consider – either of which would give our youth a wonderful facility for ministry. Yes, it has been difficult for our youth to be displaced during this time. But even more now God’s promises are true that in our weakness He will be our strength … that He will be our Keeper and Sustainer … and as Isaiah 61 so beautifully proclaims, He shall give us beauty for ashes … Please continue to pray for this building and remodel process and for our youth.