KC Church Plant: Viva la mortgage!
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ariell...@gmail.com
May 27, 2009, 2:38:25 PM5/27/09
to Crossroads Church Partners, ariel...@gmail.com
As you may know, we're on the brink of buying a three-story building
on the edge of downtown Kansas City. If you'd told us we'd be
purchasing a place like this a year ago—this kind of space, in this
location—we wouldn't have believed you. But ever since we connected
with the owners last fall, and discovered they were Christians and
willing to sell at a greatly reduced rate, God has overcome one
obstacle after another.
Now, as crazy as this move is in some ways, we're ready to go: 1827
Washington will be a great staging area for ministry as well as a home
for the Vanderhorst family. We've been getting legal counsel,
negotiating, and creating buying scenarios for over six months, so
actually reaching this moment is quite a milestone.
As we prepare to close on this property, we wanted to take the time to
revisit our vision for it, and thank you for your prayers and
involvement.
Ever since we set foot in 1827 Washington—literally a minute from the
heart of downtown—we've been strongly aware of how strategic it could
be for the Crossroads church plant. Real estate is at a huge premium
in downtown Kansas City, so while many people think of a "church
building" as something with a chapel and a steeple, we knew that
scenario wouldn't be an option for Crossroads anytime in the
foreseeable future.
Instead, our initial strategy is to live downtown, launch service
projects downtown, and hold small and medium-size group meetings in a
multi-use space that would allow us to be stakeholders in the
neighborhood and build church community. (Page 6 in our Prospectus
describes this.)
Downtown residents, especially in the Crossroads Art District, have a
strong sense of community, so it's essential that we do life shoulder
to shoulder with them, which is also what we see happening in the New
Testament (Acts 2). When we launch public services later this year,
we've been invited by a local gallery to use their large event space—
at no cost.
The need to put down roots in downtown KC guided our plans for the
building we're about to acquire. Legally, the building will be a
residence for the Vanderhorst family, since the costs of getting a
commercial loan kept us from purchasing in Crossroads' name, as we'd
originally planned. However, that won't hold up our vision.
Our plans are to radically remodel the first floor, opening it up to
accommodate 50-60 people. A retrofitted floor plan and updated
interior will make this a space we can use for meetings, a church
office, hospitality, and a staging area for downtown ministry. In
addition, we'll lease out the third floor to make this project cost-
effective as well as strategic. We're excited because one of our first
tenants will be a team member who will use her apartment for
ministry.
We're more than ready to finally get "on the ground" downtown and
start building connections with our neighbors. We also realize that
this mixture of home/ministry space could be perplexing if you're used
to thinking about "church buildings" in more traditional terms.
Therefore, we hope this letter will serve both as a reminder to
celebrate the doors God has opened and a summary to clarify our plans
for this ministry-center/home and how we pray God will use it.
As we move forward, don't hesitate to contact us. We're lining up
construction professionals and volunteer teams to help us remodel.
Donations toward material costs are also welcome (see note below).
As a guy who loves basketball, I can't help but think of this project
as "drafting on potential." In other words, we're getting a great deal
(like drafting KU great and NBA all-star Paul Pierce as a #10 pick)
and investing in a place with a ton of upside—but it will take some
sweat equity and teamwork to get there.
Thanks for partnering with us and praying for us,
Ariel (AJ), Lindsay & the Crossroads Church team
Donation Note
If you'd like to make a tax-deductible donation toward the
construction costs of retrofitting 1827 Washington, make your check
payable to "Fellowship of Grace" with "Crossroads Church" in the memo
line (important).
Checks can be mailed to Fellowship of Grace, 2205 NW 81st St, Kansas
City, MO 64151, or directed to AJ or Lindsay.
In addition, get in touch if you're interested in volunteering time or
expertise as we begin moving forward with our action plan for
remodeling. (ariell...@gmail.com)
http://CrossroadsChurchKC.com
on the edge of downtown Kansas City. If you'd told us we'd be
purchasing a place like this a year ago—this kind of space, in this
location—we wouldn't have believed you. But ever since we connected
with the owners last fall, and discovered they were Christians and
willing to sell at a greatly reduced rate, God has overcome one
obstacle after another.
Now, as crazy as this move is in some ways, we're ready to go: 1827
Washington will be a great staging area for ministry as well as a home
for the Vanderhorst family. We've been getting legal counsel,
negotiating, and creating buying scenarios for over six months, so
actually reaching this moment is quite a milestone.
As we prepare to close on this property, we wanted to take the time to
revisit our vision for it, and thank you for your prayers and
involvement.
Ever since we set foot in 1827 Washington—literally a minute from the
heart of downtown—we've been strongly aware of how strategic it could
be for the Crossroads church plant. Real estate is at a huge premium
in downtown Kansas City, so while many people think of a "church
building" as something with a chapel and a steeple, we knew that
scenario wouldn't be an option for Crossroads anytime in the
foreseeable future.
Instead, our initial strategy is to live downtown, launch service
projects downtown, and hold small and medium-size group meetings in a
multi-use space that would allow us to be stakeholders in the
neighborhood and build church community. (Page 6 in our Prospectus
describes this.)
Downtown residents, especially in the Crossroads Art District, have a
strong sense of community, so it's essential that we do life shoulder
to shoulder with them, which is also what we see happening in the New
Testament (Acts 2). When we launch public services later this year,
we've been invited by a local gallery to use their large event space—
at no cost.
The need to put down roots in downtown KC guided our plans for the
building we're about to acquire. Legally, the building will be a
residence for the Vanderhorst family, since the costs of getting a
commercial loan kept us from purchasing in Crossroads' name, as we'd
originally planned. However, that won't hold up our vision.
Our plans are to radically remodel the first floor, opening it up to
accommodate 50-60 people. A retrofitted floor plan and updated
interior will make this a space we can use for meetings, a church
office, hospitality, and a staging area for downtown ministry. In
addition, we'll lease out the third floor to make this project cost-
effective as well as strategic. We're excited because one of our first
tenants will be a team member who will use her apartment for
ministry.
We're more than ready to finally get "on the ground" downtown and
start building connections with our neighbors. We also realize that
this mixture of home/ministry space could be perplexing if you're used
to thinking about "church buildings" in more traditional terms.
Therefore, we hope this letter will serve both as a reminder to
celebrate the doors God has opened and a summary to clarify our plans
for this ministry-center/home and how we pray God will use it.
As we move forward, don't hesitate to contact us. We're lining up
construction professionals and volunteer teams to help us remodel.
Donations toward material costs are also welcome (see note below).
As a guy who loves basketball, I can't help but think of this project
as "drafting on potential." In other words, we're getting a great deal
(like drafting KU great and NBA all-star Paul Pierce as a #10 pick)
and investing in a place with a ton of upside—but it will take some
sweat equity and teamwork to get there.
Thanks for partnering with us and praying for us,
Ariel (AJ), Lindsay & the Crossroads Church team
Donation Note
If you'd like to make a tax-deductible donation toward the
construction costs of retrofitting 1827 Washington, make your check
payable to "Fellowship of Grace" with "Crossroads Church" in the memo
line (important).
Checks can be mailed to Fellowship of Grace, 2205 NW 81st St, Kansas
City, MO 64151, or directed to AJ or Lindsay.
In addition, get in touch if you're interested in volunteering time or
expertise as we begin moving forward with our action plan for
remodeling. (ariell...@gmail.com)
http://CrossroadsChurchKC.com
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