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|  "A Time to Build" Building a Future for Our Community
Please Read this First IS54 THE CENTRE Building a Future for our Community October 2005 Dear Friend of Abundant Life Church We are writing to you to let you know that the excavation and site preparation for IS54 THE CENTRE is completed and now it is time for us to begin the building phase of our Community and Worship facility at 36 Sutherland Road. As a person who has either attended Abundant Life in the past, has done the Word of Life Bible study or who has been associated with us in some way, we wanted to inform you of our plans and to give you the opportunity to support this ministry if God leads you in this way. The Lord has wonderfully provided up till now and we expect that He will continue to meet every need as we press on to see the vision for IS54 THE CENTRE fulfilled. We invite you to visit the IS54 THE CENTRE pages on the Abundant Life Website. By selecting the "A Time to Build" link you will find posted there:
May the Lord abundantly bless you. Pastors Mike & Janne Cullen and the Leadership Team of Abundant Life Community Church IS54 THE CENTRE Building a Future for our Community The Lord has always desired to live with His people and therefore has chosen various dwelling places where He would reveal Himself. With the Israelites under the Old Covenant, it was firstly Moses Tabernacle, which was constructed during their wilderness journey from Egypt to Canaan. God's divine glory surrounded the Ark of the Covenant in the Most Holy Place inside the Tabernacle (tent). The glory was also seen above the tent as a cloud during the day and a fire during the night. After the Israelites had settled in Canaan and during the reign of King David, David housed the Ark of the Covenant (representing God's presence) in a simple tent known as David's Tabernacle. The major difference between the two Tabernacles was accessibility to God's presence. In David's Tabernacle, people could come freely before the Ark with music, singing, dancing, clapping and exuberant praise with much rejoicing, whereas in Moses' Tabernacle access to God's presence was limited to one man, the High Priest. After King David had served the purpose of God in his generation, he prepared the way for his son Solomon to build a magnificent temple, which was to be the final dwelling place for the Ark of the Covenant. When Jesus Christ lived on earth around 2000 years ago, He was the living presence of God, the true "Ark of the Covenant", "Emmanuel" which means "God with us". Jesus came to remove the Old Covenant and to bring in the New Covenant. Under the New Covenant, which came into effect through the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ, God has now chosen to dwell "in" His people not just "with" His people. His church is now the living, vibrant dwelling place of God, made up of people from every nation of the world. We at Abundant Life Community Church are a small part of this vast family of God's people. Our church began in Tauranga in 1982 with a small group of people who desired to experience the overflowing life of Christ (as demonstrated by the openness to God's presence in David's Tabernacle - which tabernacle represents the true church of Jesus Christ today). We met for 15 years in the local Senior Citizens' Club before God opened the way for us to establish our own centre here at 36 Sutherland Road in 1997. We adapted an existing building as an auditorium, built an office block and turned the property into park-like surroundings. However, it was always in our hearts to build a purpose-built centre that would fulfill our original God-given mandate from Isaiah 54:2-3 ". . . to lengthen our cords and strengthen our stakes for we shall expand to the right and to the left . . . ". Hence the planning and site preparation that has been going on over the past 4-5 years to prepare for IS54 THE CENTRE, a 600 seat auditorium, office block, café, lecture rooms and accompanying facilities. This Centre will not only serve our needs but will be a facility that our local community will enjoy as well as we "Build a future for our Community". Our mission and vision of Abundant Life Community Church is summed up in the phrase "Transformed People, Transforming our Community" and is fulfilled as we "Heal, Teach, Restore and Release" people into the super-abundant life of Jesus Christ. Our purpose is to be a caring, loving church ministering in the power of the Holy Spirit to the people of our community. Our desire is to evangelise and to serve our community with the many talents and abilities that the Lord has given us. Church, it is now time for us to take the next step of ownership of this vision. IS54 THE CENTRE is an integral part of the vision God has given us and now we partner with God and each other to see the financial provision released for this project. During the month of October we will be sharing on God's principles of "Building a Great Life" that will lead up to a special offering for IS54 THE CENTRE to be taken on Sunday October 30th. We will celebrate God's awesome provision with a Banquet lunch on that day. IS54 THE CENTRE - "Building a future for our Community" is an opportunity for each of us to grow spiritually and through giving to be a part of that group of people who build a worship and ministry centre for the Kingdom of God and for His glory here, at 36 Sutherland Road. Please pray asking God to show you the response He desires you to make. With abundant blessings Mike & Janne Cullen Senior Pastors Abundant Life Community Church IS54 THE CENTRE
Building a Future for our Community ABUNDANT LIFE COMMUNITY CHURCH "Transformed People Transforming our Community" Our Purpose is to: "Heal, Teach, Restore, Release" people into the abundance of life in Jesus Christ. IS54 THE CENTRE Building a Future for our Community
IS54 THE CENTRE Building a Future for our Community In the centre pages of this booklet are the plans and profile of the IS54 THE CENTRE development at 36 Sutherland Road. As you can see, the building is a large, modern design, multi-purpose facility that will both suit our requirements as a church family plus enable community groups to use the premises. The building will comprise:
IS54 THE CENTRE Building a Future for our Community We are yet to do a full quantity survey to establish final costing's but estimates to complete the three necessary stages are given below: Stage One Lay the foundations for the building. Stage Two Proceed with building to the close-in stage. Stage Three Completely finish and outfit the building, and complete the car parks and landscaping of the grounds. We have called these three stages:
IS54 THE CENTRE Building a Future for our Community The Challenge Goal We will thank God when we receive $250,000. This will enable us to lay the building foundations. The Victory Goal We will thank God when we receive $1,000,000. This will enable us to close in the building. The Miracle Goal We will thank God when we receive $2,000,000. This will enable us to complete IS54 THE CENTRE. IS54 THE CENTRE Building a Future for our Community "EQUAL SACRIFICE . . . NOT EQUAL GIFTS" To 'sacrifice' means to willingly give the best for a greater purpose. While we all cannot give the same amount, we all can sacrifice somehow. This way everyone can have a part. For some, a sacrificial gift given over three years may be $1,000. For others, a sacrifice may be closer to $100,000. God will impress a specific amount on your heart if you sincerely ask Him to speak to you. "OVER & ABOVE GIVING" Our IS54 THE CENTRE giving needs to be in addition to our regular tithing and giving, otherwise our ministries will suffer.
IS54 THE CENTRE
Building a Future for our Community A Cash Offering And A 36 Month Commitment IS54 THE CENTRE Building a Future for our Community IS54 THE CENTRE Building a Future for our Community We Will Remember The Theme: 'Equal Sacrifice . . . Not Equal Gifts' "Now Jesus sat opposite the treasury and saw how the people put money into the treasury. And many who were rich put in much. Then one poor widow came and threw in two mites, which make a quadrans. So He called His disciples to Himself and said to them, "Assuredly, I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all those who have given to the treasury; for they all put in out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all that she had, her whole livelihood." Mark 12:41-44
We Will Show That Everyone Can Give Something It is a myth that some people cannot give anything. There are many ways to give if one is willing to give. Even those with little cash can make a commitment to give. We Will Ask People To Make A Sacrifice To become like Christ is to learn to sacrifice. Certainly the Body of Christ is worth sacrificing for. We Will Give Thanks For What The Lord Is Doing In This Place IS54 THE CENTRE Building a Future for our Community We Will Not Pressure Anyone To Give This programme is designed to encourage individuals and families to seek God's will as to how they can contribute. "Each one should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." 2 Corinthians 9:7 We Will Not Become Bogged Down In "Fundraising" The purpose of any church is growth of the Kingdom of God, through the growth in the maturity of its members and the evangelisation of its community. An advantage in this programme is that it enables the church family to keep its focus on the core activities of the church. This is a giving campaign, designed for a one off cash offering and a 36 month commitment. IS54 THE CENTRE Building a Future for our Community As you begin praying about your commitment, please keep in mind that our theme is 'Equal Sacrifice . . . Not Equal Gifts'. Obviously, God has not given everyone the ability to give the same amount of money. However, God does call us to make the same quality of commitment. As you pray and consider what your commitment will be, remember, this programme involves both a cash gift, and whatever amount God leads you to commit to give over the next 36 months. Most of us can give far more than we initially think by giving it over a three year period. There are two basic approaches to giving:
SUGGESTED STEPS FOR DETERMINING GOD'S WILL
Regarding our cash gift: Regarding our 36 month commitment:
IS54 THE CENTRE Building a Future for our Community Each of us can give far more than we think by giving it over a three year period. Here are some examples:
IS54 THE CENTRE Building a Future for our Community The IS54 THE CENTRE - Building a Future for our Community project is centered around a cash gift and a three year giving commitment. This does not limit other ways in which people may be able to contribute to the building programme, such as Interest Free Loans, and Time and Labour during the time of building. However, we cannot start building until we have sufficient cash in hand, and consequently further ways of giving will be looked at once the IS54 THE CENTRE - Building a Future for our Community programme has been completed and we know what cash we have available. There are Community Charities that will contribute to the cost of building community facilities. They can contribute to specific parts of the building or outfitting of the project. Again, we need sufficient cash in hand in order to make an application to these groups (for which funding is not guaranteed). IS54 THE CENTRE Building a Future for our Community
IS54 THE CENTRE Building a Future for our Community
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