q: What is a capital campaign?
It’s a three year effort by everyone who calls Heartland their church home. Each of us will be challenged to commit money ABOVE AND BEYOND our normal giving to help us move into a new and improved facility. We’re calling this campaign go.
q: What happened to the remodel plan?
We went in to the remodel plan with the intent to make one last push to maximize this facility. As we began the preliminary plans, it quickly became clear that a remodel would require a high cost for only incremental growth in return. And regardless of its effectiveness, a remodel would still leave us with limited-to-no seats, spots, and space. We also stepped back and considered all of the ways we’ve already maximized this building over the last ten years: adding a new auditorium, building a south parking lot, adding two shuttle lots, offering a Saturday night service, creating overflow options…just to name a few. So it quickly became clear that we had already maximized this facility and that our next go. should be to move.
q: How did we decide to move?
We are incredibly grateful for the near-miraculous way that God gave us this building back in 1990. But the old timers will tell you that, even then, there was a sense that the building at 8301 Lamar would not be our home forever. (In fact, roughly five years ago we formed a team that began to search the city for a new site, with the hopes of moving as early as 2004.) After months of prayer and discussion with our staff, with our spouses and with our elder teams, the Management Team unanimously voted that “in order to advance our mission, we need to move.” This was soon followed with unanimous approvals by the Advisory and Trustee teams.
q: What are we doing to find a new home?
Our Scope Team is actively searching for a location anywhere in the city that will enable us to fulfill our mission. While we must all hold loosely where that place ultimately is, we are focusing on the area from Shawnee Mission Parkway to College Blvd and I-35 to State Line. We’re checking out warehouses, shopping malls, and large retail stores that we can gut and retrofit as new.
q: Is this just about getting big?
Yes and no. No, because we’re not interested in growing big for big’s sake. In fact, as a result of go., we hope to plant more churches and send out more disciples than ever before. However, yes, we do hope to grow because (a) healthy things grow and (b) we feel a unique call to the 800,000 unchurched people in Kansas City who do not yet know Jesus.
q: How does go. also address the Big Rock goal of “family?”
go. will give us space for ministries that support families at all stages. In the new facility, we plan to have a state-of-the-art space for children and the ability to provide classes for parents on Sunday mornings (with childcare provided!). For our Middle School and High School ministries, we plan to design two separate and attractive areas that they can EACH call their own. And we dream of building a space for our Gathering Community (our college and post-college folks) that captures their unique culture and gives them ample room to grow.
q: How much are we growing now?
In every area - attendance, volunteers, children, small groups, giving, etc - we are experiencing a
sustained level of growth. For example, there has been an influx of 155 new givers to Heartland in
this year alone. This is unprecedented growth and reflects a 19% increase to our entire giving base from 2005.
q: How did we decide on the 90%/5%/5% allocation?
With the consent of the trustees, the Management Team unanimously voted on this allocation. Our primary need is to move, and doing so will enable all of our ministry areas to expand - including HEMI and our church planting efforts. We also decided that the remaining 10% was the appropriate amount to accomplish the needs/goals of the other projects. Lastly, it also represented for us a "tithe within a tithe" approach.
q: How will the go. gifts be spent?
All go. gifts received will be spent directly on the costs of go. as listed in the go. brochure and as voted upon n greater detail by our Management Team and as approved by our Trustees. All go. gifts received are non-transferable between any other Heartland accounts and must be spent on the stated intent of go.
q: How will we continue to grow before we move?
Since it will be another three years before we move, we are aggressively pursuing ways to grow now. Stay tuned for our 2007 Big Rocks, which will specifically address these plans!
q: How did we calculate the approximate $15 million cost?
While we won’t know exact costs until the right location has been identified, below is a snapshot estimate:
Purchase of the location: |
$3 Million |
Construction costs ($100 per sq ft times 100,000 sq ft): |
$10 Million |
Soft Costs (5%): |
$500,000 |
MISSION Projects: |
$750,000 |
MULTIPLY Project: |
$750,000 |
| = $15 Million |
q: Why not move to a facility that costs less?
Many churches have done this in the past…only to find that they were out of room before they even finished. We have decided against pursuing any "interim" or short-term steps on the basis that it would ultimately require two moves and three campaigns. Instead, we'd much prefer to move once and conduct two campaigns, if necessary.
q: How do you plan to account for the increased operating cost of a new and much larger facility?
Although we expect our new home to be at least twice the size of our current one, we anticipate only a 40% increase in operating costs. This is primarily due to how inefficient our 60-year old building is now (think boiler, single-paned windows and individual A/C units....). In addition, we anticipate that - by fully advancing our mission through increased seats, spots, and space - we will experience a proportionate amount of growth.
q: How can I find out more information about the West Africa Theological Seminary (WATS)?
You may check them out online at www.watsonline.org
q: Is WATS a 501(c)3, and do they meet our ECFA requirements?
Yes.
q: Is Mission Adelante, Inc a 501(C)3, and do they meet our ECFA requirements?
Yes.
q: How do I participate financially?
On Sunday, November 19th, we will ask you to sign a commitment card that states the amount you will contribute to go. over the next three years. For example, if you write $100, you have committed to giving $100 over the next three years. If you write $1 million, same deal.
q: How do I give my go. gifts?
You may fulfill your go. commitment in one lump sum, annually, through monthly gifts, weekly, or through some combination therein. You may give in the following ways:
* online through your bank
* via automatic withdrawal through Heartland
* via the Heartland website (coming soon!)
* by mail
* at the offering boxes at the auditorium
* through the go. Foundation
For additional information on giving via automatic withdrawal through Heartland or giving via the Heartland website, you may contact Patty Johnson at 913-341-5820 ext 103 or pattyj@heartlandchurch.org. And for additional info on giving of assets through the go. Foundation, please contact Steve Fisher at 913-341-5820 ext 114 or stevef@heartlandchurch.org.
q: What is the go. Foundation?
Though an estimated 90% of Americans’ wealth is in non-liquid assets (such as vehicles, inventory, business interests, real estate, collectibles, antiques, estate gifts and personal property), most churches receive less than 10% of their gifts from these assets – because most churches are not set up to accept non-cash gifts. We have established the go. Foundation, a component fund of the Servant Christian Community Foundation (SCCF), to allow us to receive such non-cash gifts and to help people explore various creative ways they can use their resources to help advance our mission of “building a church for the unchurched.” (For more information on the go. Foundation or on donating non-liquid assets, please contact Steve Fisher at 913-341-5820 ext 114 or stevef@heartlandchurch.org. And to learn more about the SCCF, you can visit their website: www.servantchristian.com.)
q: What are all the ways I can give?
You may give cash or by check, of course. But you can also give stocks or bonds, give from estates or trusts, or give in your will. We are also equipped to accept assets of many kinds – including vehicles, real estate, etc. (See “What is the go. Foundation?” above for details!) To get more information on creative ways you can give, please contact Steve Fisher at 913-341-5820 ext 114 or stevef@heartlandchurch.org.
q: What if I can't give much...is there any amount too small?
No. God requires that we are cheerful and sacrificial givers, and that looks extremely different for each one of us. We simply ask that you prayerfully consider what true and radical generosity looks like in your life and give accordingly.
q: Will all gifts be tax-deductible?
Yes. You will receive quarterly statements from Heartland for your records.
q: May I designate the amounts I'd like to go to each of the go projects?
No. go. is one designated fund and not three. All go. gifts will be designated as follows: 90% towards the move, 5% towards missions, and 5% towards multiply.
q: What if we're not able to purchase a location right away? What will Heartland do with the go. money received?
If we do not identify a location within the stated timeline, we will invest the go. money for the move in short-term bonds, as determined by our Trustee board.
q: Will I be recognized for my commitment or contribution?
No. There will be no "donors’ wall" or bronze-plated plaques on pews, so you need not worry. We, of course, will desire to say thanks to those who contribute, but we plan to do so in a variety of creative ways that will still protect your anonymity.
Still have questions? E-mail ‘em to us at go@Heartlandchurch.org, call ‘em in
to 913-341-5820 ext 346, or ask a real live
person at the go space in the Atrium!
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