“The New Normal” Have you ever heard this phrase? Have you ever used it? This phrase is beginning to be heard a lot in the church as a whole. The normal rules of ministry, the normal patterns of growth, and even the normal routines of growing Christians have adjusted over the years. In addition, due to the dismal economic climate that we live in, even normal cycles of giving and stewardship have changed. Yet, while we are having to adjust to “a new normal”, the urgent need for people to connect with Christ and engage with His body, the church, has not. The mission of the church is just as significant today as it ever has been. The focus of the church is just as key as ever. While we adjust to living in this “new normal”, may we never adjust our work for Christ.

Our work for Christ is the focus of this brief update. While it has been a few months since we have talked about the beyond campaign, the primary goals of this effort continue. Not only do these goals continue, they even flourish. Let me fill you in on a few items:

• The focus of beyond was to help us get ready to move beyond our current location and it seems that for the last several years we have been living and working in the “in between space”. The beyond campaign is about getting to the next place in Westbrook’s journey and your faithful gifts are making that happen. Since our giving period began in December of 2010, we have been using your gifts to meet our current debt obligations and paying down the indebtedness on our Veteran’s Parkway property. Thank you for your generous and faithful stewardship.
• In addition, we are pleased to announce a strategic change in Financial Ministry partners. Over the last 12 years Westbrook has worked exclusively with the Church Development Fund for the funding of our facilities. This year after several months of negotiations, our leaders have made the decision to come on board with a different financial ministry called the Solomon Foundation. This company which operates in a manner very similar to CDF has issued us a very favorable rate of interest on the re-financing of our current loan. This has allowed us to not only reduce our current interest rate but also has dropped our monthly mortgage payment.
• A stated goal in this process has been to have a purchase contract on our current Lily Cache site prior to beginning construction on the Veteran’s Parkway property. This seems the most responsible thing to do during these economic times-unless of course the Lord changes our plans. We are always listening to His call. To date, we continue to have negotiating conversations with a potential buyer. The price that has been set forth on our Lily Cache property is roughly $2,000,000. An appraisal was completed this week and we are awaiting the results of this appraisal.

As we continue to do ministry in this “in between” land, we do so with a continual sense of urgency and calling. We are not looking at this time as a negative, but rather as a positive. God is allowing us to use this time to hone our ministry systems, to develop reproducing leaders and to prepare our ministry for His next level. So as we adjust to this “new normal” may we do so with great anticipation. Now is the time for our faith to come alive in greater ways than ever before. Please continue to join me in praying for Westbrook Church and working enthusiastically for the time when the Lord will lead us BEYOND!

Hello, my name is Walter Bennett and I would like to introduce you to my wife Carol and our son Brian. We have been attending Westbrook for 8 years now and have not only grown as individuals, but as a family and many of you at Westbrook have been an integral part of our journey.

When we were asked to be the Follow Up Directors of the beyond campaign, honestly I was a bit hesitant given the economic times we are living in. I know many of you have no doubt felt that same concern. I also felt inadequate to handle such a responsibility for God. Carol on the other hand was all over it with her never ending enthusiasm for knowing GOD can and will make a way despite what the World around us says.

Honestly her excitement and reassurance to me that God will equip us with whatever we lack to carry out his work made it an easy decision. So, here we are and I have to say that God has shown me personally that he has called all of us to a higher purpose and to go BEYOND what we can see and TRUST in his abundance to provide what we need to further his Kingdom.

If you have not already joined us on this journey, it’s not too late to be a part of this awesome adventure. All you need to do is pray and ask God how he would use you in helping us go BEYOND and pray until you have peace about what God is asking of you. Next walk in obedience to what he has asked of you and contact us for any questions you may have or for further details on how to make a difference.

We look forward to continuing our life’s journey with our Westbrook Family and being open to God’s direction not only in our own lives but the lives of others.

As information is communicated regarding the beyond campaign and the new facility, we want to share the related numbers as accurately as possible. While the final costs of several of the major components are still unknown (precise numbers will not be confirmed until construction begins), the tables below reflect the costs we are estimating and are asking God to provide. Several scenarios are included to help us get a view of the related costs. The property on Veterans Parkway is 14.3 acres surrounded by wetlands, and we have streamlined our new building plans down from 43,000 square feet to approximately 33,000 square feet, with two large venues and one smaller children’s venue.

Option 1 Scenario
33,000 square foot facility
@ $144/square foot cost to build
= $4,752,000
+ $2,000,000 (debt carryover after current facility sale)
= $6,752,000
+ $200,000 for furniture, fixtures, and equipment
= $6,952,000 total project costs

Option 2 Scenario
33,000 square foot facility
@ $138/square foot cost to build
= $4,554,000
+ $2,000,000 (debt carryover after current facility sale)
= $6,554,000
+ $200,000 for furniture, fixtures, and equipment
= $6,754,000 total project costs

Option 3 Scenario
33,000 square foot facility
@ $125/square foot cost to build
= $4,125,000
+ $2,000,000 (debt carryover after current facility sale)
= $6,125,000
+ $125,000 for furniture, fixtures, and equipment
= $6,250,000 total project costs

Option 4 Scenario
33,000 square foot facility
@ $120/square foot cost to build
= $3,960,000
+ $2,000,000 (debt carryover after current facility sale)
= $5,960,000
+ $290,000 for furniture, fixtures, and equipment
= $6,250,000 total project costs

Variables that are still unknown:

1. Building costs per square foot: Costs are very favorable to us now, but they could go up the longer we delay.
2. Sale price of current facility: Proceeds from the sale of the Lily Cache facility will directly reduce our debt; however, it is impossible to project when this will happen and what the final sale price will be. We’re committed to keeping you updated as this component of the process develops.
3. Interest rates on a loan: Like the building costs, this is also very favorable to us right now.
4. Amount we raise in this campaign: If we raised enough, we’d have no debt! The success of the campaign directly impacts Westbrook’s future financials.
5. Future growth after removing barriers in a new facility: While this is still an unknown, historical averages can provide an indication that growth could be substantial (as much as 20% per year).

What we do believe:

1. Barriers at our current Lily Cache facility severely limit our effectiveness to reach our mission field.
2. God is calling us to go beyond where we’ve ever been. This means some of us will be outside our comfort zones.
3. This whole effort is a faith journey – which means we don’t have all the answers.
4. God specializes in things that are beyond our control and complete understanding. While it is imperative to “count the cost,” we also strongly believe that it is imperative that we proceed in faith and trust as we carry out His work.

As a teacher, I always hoped that my students would go “above and beyond” what they thought they were capable of doing. Many times,students have asked me if they could do more than what was assigned. Go figure. That is what we want from all our children…taking the next step past their comfort zone.

That is how I see our new beyond campaign. We are taking the next step beyond our comfort zone to make Westbrook better. We are doing more to make room for more people at service. We are doing more to have more classrooms for the children in Kingdom Avenue. We are doing more to have multiple diverse services under one roof, and we are doing more to make sure that the large number of people who don’t know Christ get acquainted with Him.

I met Mont at a Thanksgiving Eve service about two months after Westbrook was planted. I have been attending Westbrook since then – two months short of 14 years. Services were held in the library of Oak ViewSchool, and the children met in designated classrooms. It wasn’t perfect, but it made a world of difference in my life. I have seen physical changes to our current building result in spiritual changes in many lives…mine being one of them.

I realize that it’s not the structure that made those changes, but I also know that it didn’t hurt to enlarge the existing building to make way so that all the other things could fall into place.

Ephesians 2:21-22 says, “In Him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in Him, you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by His spirit.”

“He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me, scatters.” (Luke 11:23

By taking this journey together, we are being joined collectively for the greater good. It will be OUR building where the Word of God is spoken and practiced. It will be OUR building where the weak can become strong, and it will be OUR building in which we will be able to praise God for making everything possible.

I am extremely excited to see beyond become a reality – a building, built together, with all that we desire it to be. It WILL make a difference. It WILL change lives.

Sandy Swinkunas - Beyond Co-Chair

Throughout the beyond campaign, you will never be told how much is the “right” amount for you to give. We believe that this is a personal decision for each family, and there is no “one size fits all” formula. All that you will be asked to do is to pray – pray for God’s guidance, ask Him what He would have you do, and then be willing to obey to His call.

However, in these tough economic times, it sometimes helps to think about what different commitment amounts may mean, in terms of your daily life. The examples provided here are intended to help you visualize what this might mean for you and your family.

• Giving up Starbucks once a week:  $5/week x 52 weeks x 3 years = $780
• When your car is paid off, waiting to buy a new car and giving your “car payment”:  $300/month x 12 months x 3 years = $10,800

Perhaps there is something you can give up for a period of time, such as bringing your lunch to work instead of eating out, and instead committing that money to the campaign. Or perhaps there is a purchase you can delay, such as a new car or new furniture. Or maybe there are plans you can scale back, such as a home remodeling project or a family vacation. The approach to sacrificial giving for this campaign will be different for each of you.

The table at the bottom of this page shows the levels of giving needed to produce a total of $1,500,000 over a three-year period. As with the examples shown here, this is merely to show what the giving profile might look like for the beyond campaign if every Westbrook family commits to going beyond. Your commitment might be more or less than the amounts listed below, or it might be in between two amounts. Do not feel pressured to give a certain amount; instead allow God to guide you towards good stewardship, choosing Skipping dinner out once a commitment amount month: $50/month x 12 months x 3 years = $1,800 that fits your unique circumstances.

Levels of giving to produce $1,500,000 (based on a 3-year giving period)

Recently, your Westbrook staff met with Larson Darby Group, the architectural firm handling our building project, to review and streamline the plans a bit more. The artist’s rendering shown on the bottom provides a bird’s eye view of the front of the new ministry center. Watch for new plans, drawings, and an improvement update in the next month or so.

Beyond is a word that represents a time in the future or place on the other side of something else; farther than we can see and touch. No other word in English seems to more succinctly describe the unforeseen future than beyond. Beyond also suggests a long and distant journey. Those who know me well, including myself, will tell you that speaking about the future, as in vision and planning, is, well beyond my expertise. And the word journey, that’s when I have to get up to change the channel when I can’t find the clicker.

I try not to dwell in the past, but I am comfortable talking about some milestones in my family’s life. My wife Daisy and I currently live in Bolingbrook with our children, Hannah and Matthew, along with our oldest son Brandon who is currently fulfilling his internship requirement serving as a youth minister in New Albany, Indiana. Daisy and I were raised as believers in Christ and had been going to a Christian church that was steeped in tradition. God brought us to Westbrook Church over ten years ago where we immediately became involved in serving and participating in small groups. My family found and developed friendships – friends who have prayed with us and for us in our times of need.

One of the most important aspects of Westbrook is its influence on our children; teaching our kids who God is, and eventually challenging them to live like Christ daily. I watched, as Brandon became a man after God’s heart, mentored by another young man, Rick Marcum. Hannah, although like most girls faced with the daily pressures and influences of high school, is well grounded as she continues to help lead in youth worship and a small group. Matthew hangs around with Pastor Mont’s youngest son, so who knows what they’re up to.

To say that Westbrook Church is a part of our life would be an understatement. My family supports Westbrook Church’s beyond mission for the benefit of the families that will someday call Westbrook their home. It has been said time and time again that our kids are our future. The importance of the future of our children can sometimes become abstract. As I get older, and as I am about to vote again in the coming election, I can’t help but take note of how many candidates are younger than me. I wonder what influenced them to think they can lead us beyond. – Rando and Daisy Simeon Beyond Campaign Co-Chairs

It’s time to go beyond! Westbrook Christian Church exists to reach people for Christ and develop them to full devotion to Christ, challenging them in turn to reach more people. This cyclical event, played out in the life of each and every believer, can only happen by trusting in God to make a way for this to happen in each person’s life. Life brings about hardship, turmoil, and pain; Westbrook Church stands at the ready to assist each and every person at each and every turn of their life.

Why we’re here
At Westbrook, there are people from all walks of life beginning a Christ walk. It is rewarding to see people following Christ with their whole life and whole heart…learning to walk, talk, and live like Christ would want them to live. Finding their lives changed by the God who makes a way when there seems to be no way.

What makes Westbrook unique as we journey with Jesus is that we are finding community in a multi-ethnic setting. It may not seem like a big deal because of the community that we live in; but in the church at large, it is a very big deal. People of every color and from every cultural background are rubbing shoulders with each other on this same path. Unfortunately, our efforts are being challenged at every turn because of one thing – space! As you can no doubt agree… space to park, space to sit, and space to learn is at a premium nearly every Sunday. Therefore, the staff and leaders at Westbrook are sensing the need to follow God beyond in building a new and larger center of Ministry and Worship.

Following Jesus to a place we’ve never been
Is a new church facility really an urgent and necessary project given our country’s current economic situation. Frankly, “past due” might be a better choice of words. Over the last four years, our growth has been in a holding pattern due to facility constraints. While overall attendance has continued to increase every year, the percentage of growth has diminished in the last three years, and we believe the underlying cause is lack of space. Although the issue is not really seen during our early service, we regularly exceed the 80% capacity rule in our second and third services.

The new facility project on our Veterans Parkway property will increase our Worship and Children’s Ministry space, providing ample room to begin fulfilling our vision of multiple ethnic congregations meeting at the same time. Children can be ministered to together, and our lobby will be a true refection of what heaven will look like…people of every color and nation worshiping together as one (“on earth as it is in heaven.”) A new facility will not cause souls to be won and people to know Christ more fully, but it can be a tool for Westbrook to use for the glory of God. It can bring people into contact with Christ, whereby Christ can redeem them for all eternity.

The ‘spirit’ of Westbrook is still very vibrant, and there seems to be a great sense of oneness in our church community. So as we journey down this faith path, we pray that any barriers will be removed, such as:

• Parking lot challenges
• Children’s space needs
• Prime worship times filled almost to capacity

A shared sacrifice
To be honest, the people who will benefit from this project are people we don’t even know yet. They are children who are yet to be born, families who are yet to be introduced to Westbrook, but whose lives will be transformed by the redeeming power of Christ. We have never met them or their families; but when the excitement of a new facility is upon us, and when our very own people invite them to experience Christ at Westbrook, their lives will forever be changed by the grace of Jesus.

This project allows us to fulfill our mission in a greater way than is possible at our current site. Our dream is to be a church with multiple ethnic congregations under one roof…kids, and students, and community all taking place together. Because of the economy and other factors, we believe it is good stewardship to have an initial building of approximately 35,000 square feet, which results in a projected cost of $6.25 million for this relocation effort.

The facility relocation would take place immediately; however, it appears reasonable to have a purchase contract on our current Lily Cache site. It also seems clear that a capital campaign needs to be in place and executed, thereby encouraging our Westbrook family to share in this journey. Without these two items in place, we would have to take a step back and seek God’s leadership. While God may lead us through this relocation without the sale of our Lily Cache site, He will have to perform what our vision statement declares: Making a way when there seems to be NO way!