In the Know Updates

Westbrook: In The Know Updates…
Communication is KEY! We want to do our best to keep you informed so that you will know how to pray and support your church. If you’re curious about something around here, jot your question down and pass it along to Pastor Mont. We’ll do our best to get you the answer. In the meantime here’s some things we want you to know about.

The Deal is Done!

With Praise and excitement to God we announce that the official closing of escrow took place this Wednesday at Chicago Title and Trust Co. and that the 14.3 acre parcel of land is now God’s. This process of acquiring additional land for the future expansion of Westbrook Ministries has been a dream from the inception of this church. The completion of the initial land purchase is the first step in this master planned relocation effort. As we celebrate God’s provision in this process we also want to express our gratitude to you, our church family, for your vision, financial support and prayers. We humbly ask for your continued faithfulness in these prayers and gifts as we continue to reach people with the Love of Christ. Thank you God and Westbrook!

Jan 14, 2007

Phase III Update
Thank you for your continual prayers for our Property acquisition process. In last Sundays In The Know Update we asked you to prayer for our scheduled closing on Wednesday, January 10. As we made final preparations to complete the transaction the Title Company informed both parties~ Westbrook and the seller (Mr. Gahlberg) of some additional needed documents. This necessitated a delay on the formal closing. However, our Elders met on Wednesday and prayerfully signed the final loan documents and will be completing the closing as soon as the date is determined. Thank you for your faithful prayers and faithful generous giving to make this next phase of the ministry of Westbrook a reality.

Jan 7, 2007

Phase III Update
Be certain to take some time on Wednesday, January 10, 2007 to offer a word of Praise and Prayer to our Lord. This is the day we are to close escrow on our new Veterans Parkway property. Over the last year and a half we have diligently communicated this entire process and in a matter of days our prayers will be answered. We are thrilled that God has led the process and has directed every step we have taken. The Elders and Pastors of Westbrook would like to thank each and every member of our family who has shared in the amazing journey. Even though our early days have been blessed here at Westbrook we believe that our best days of ministry are AHEAD of us. If you would like to be a part of this journey and join the Now is the Time family… see one of the Pastors today. Lastly, we always want to give you, our family, opportunities to be involved and to be informed. If you have any questions regarding this process please contact the leaders via email at Jen.Borland@westbrookchurch.org. We’ll excitedly share the news of God’s overwhelming blessings!

Dec 17, 2006

Phase III Update
The capital campaign is in the history books and the giving season of this effort has begun, but this is not the end~ The growth of Westbrook’s ministry continues. While we continue to reach out, our efforts to secure this piece of land is in it’s final stages. Initially the closing of escrow was scheduled to be in late December 06, however that date has been pushed back a few days to January 10, 2007. This adjustment has been made to allow for the Christmas holiday. However, it is a great thing for Westbrook as it allows us to accumulate additional funds which can be used to reduce the amount of loan that will be secured for this purchase. We encourage everyone who is playing a part in the Now is the Time campaign to be faithful in your giving over the next many weeks as every dollar that is given will be used accordingly. We’ll keep you posted on this process as you continue to join us in prayer for wisdom and direction.

Do you have questions? If you have any questions regarding this process please contact the leaders via email at Jen.Borland@westbrookchurch.org, or drop us a note at the Ministry Center. Be informed, stay informed and support your church!

Aug 5, 2006

Phase III Update
As has already been announced, things are progressing forward with the contract portion of our upcoming land purchase. Over the next many months all of the due diligence will be completed along with the gathering of surveys, document’s and details. As information becomes available regarding this phase we will pass it along to you. In addition, be watching for our upcoming fall Capital Stewardship Campaign. It’s right around the corner and you most certainly need to plan to be involved. What will be required? How will it work? What does this mean exactly? Don’t worry, we’re going to answer all of your questions and you’ll find this process to be a tremendous Faith journey for you. These are exciting days!

As we always share… we share it again. If you have any questions regarding this process please contact the leaders via email at Jen.Borland@westbrookchurch.org, or drop us a note at the Ministry Center. We want to give everyone in our church family an opportunity to share in this historic vision and life-changing plan for the ministry of Christ.


July 23, 2006

Phase III Update
The Contract Has Been Signed! With all praise to God and just an overwhelming bit of excitement, the pastors and elders of Westbrook would like to inform you that the contract on the previously mentioned property has been signed. The parcel is 14.3 acres and is being sold to Westbrook Christian Church for $2,400,000. An initial deposit of $25,000 has been released to the Chicago Title Company to be held in escrow during the due diligence phase of the contract. The anticipated closing on the property will be late December 2006. Please continue praying with us for God’s wisdom, leadership and blessing as this phase continues! Be sure to drive by this parcel as well. It’s south of Lily Cache Ln. on Veteran’s Pkwy… just across the street from the Tellab’s facility.

If you have any questions regarding this process please contact the leaders via email at Jen.Borland@westbrookchurch.org, or drop us a note at the Ministry Center. We want to give everyone in our church family an opportunity to share in this historic vision and life-changing plan for the ministry of Christ.


June 26, 2006

Phase III Update
The Elders, Pastors and Staff of Westbrook Church urge you to join us in prayer as the land acquisition phase continues. Over the last several days we have received the complete and final revised version of the land purchase contract and once signed a lengthy process of due diligence will begin. Have you visited the site? Are you familiar with the piece of land we are referring to? Plan to drive by. The 14.3 acre site is south of Lily Cache Ln. on Veterans Parkway just a mile or two south of our current facility. Simply drive south on Veterans Parkway and you will notice a street sign for Territorial Drive. The property is across the street on the west side of the road. The site has been excavated, groomed, layered with top soil and seeded awaiting our future facility. Check it out and be sure to take a moment to pray for God’s leadership over this plan and your involvement in making this dream become a reality. If you have any questions regarding this process please contact the leaders via email at Jen.Borland@westbrookchurch.org,or drop us a note at the Ministry Center. We want to give everyone in our church family an opportunity to share in this historic vision and life-changing plan for the ministry of Christ. Be informed, stay informed and support your church!


May 19, 2006

Please continue to join us in prayer in regard to the potential property acquisition. Have you driven down Veterans Parkway and checked the site out? It’s the clay pad that is being prepared on the west side of Veterans Parkway across the street from Territorial Drive. Upon the Lord’s leading the contract is to be signed and plans made to fund this phase of our growth and expansion plan through a capital campaign which will be held in the fall. Get ready for God to bless this church and your life like never before. We know it sounds a little scary and a little overwhelming but God is in the Lead. If we follow Him all things are possible!

If you have any questions regarding this process please contact the leaders via email at Jen.Borland@westbrookchurch.org, or drop us a note at the Ministry Center. We want to give everyone in our church family an opportunity to share in this historic vision and life-changing plan for the ministry of Christ. Be informed, stay informed and support your church!


May 7, 2006

Phase III Update
Over the last few weeks several things have transpired relative to our property acquisition plan. First of all, in the 3-19-06 In the Know Update we asked you to be praying for a meeting that our leaders were having with the land developer. This particular meeting was very favorable for Westbrook. In fact, as was announced, the developer graciously reduced the price by an additional one hundred thousand dollars, bringing the current purchase price of the 14.3 acre parcel to 2.4 million dollars. While this seems to be a very high price, it is quite frankly very good in relationship to the price of land in our area. Please join us in praying for God’s blessing in regard to the finances needed to complete this transaction.

Following this meeting, our partners at the Church Development Fund (CDF) began writing up a purchase and sales agreement. This agreement is currently being amended by the developer’s attorneys to meet Illinois statutes. Once it has been returned, the Elders will then seek the Lord’s guidance for a final time in prayer, and if it is the Lord’s will the process will continue in the signing of the sales agreement. How exciting to know that as the Lord leads, Westbrook might be very close to completing this important component of our Phase III plan.

If you have any questions regarding this process please contact the leaders via email at Jen.Borland@westbrookchurch.org, or drop us a note at the Ministry Center. We want to give everyone in our church family an opportunity to share in this historic vision and life-changing plan for the ministry of Christ


March 19, 2006

Phase III Update
The Pastors and Elders of Westbrook Christian Church ask you to join them in prayer as Pastor Mont and Pastor Amado will be meeting with the land developer of the anticipated parcel this Thursday, March 23. Potential site drawings have been completed as well as facility perspective drawings. Following this meeting, we are anticipating the process of purchase negotiations. If you have any questions regarding this process please contact the leaders via email at Jen.Borland@westbrookchurch.org, or drop us a note at the Ministry Center. We want to give everyone in our church family an opportunity to share in this historic vision.


March 5, 2006

Phase III Update
Are you still thinking about and praying about our Phase III plan at Westbrook? We sure hope you are. The planning process continues. Recently, our church architects submitted more defined drawings of a future facility that would meet our needs as well as provide room for future growth. It is our pray and plan that in the next several weeks we will be able to meet with the local land developer and begin negotiations on this 14 acre parcel that we have been talking about. The following step will be seeking city (mayoral) approval of this plan before proceeding. Do you have questions or thoughts about this process? Is so, please feel free to communicate them to us by jotting a note and mailing it to the church or by emailing the leadership at Jen.Borland@westbrookchurch.org. If you prefer talking face to face, stop Pastor Mont or any of the other staff members or Elders on Sunday’s. They will be happy to answer your questions or provide information if it is available.


January 15, 2006

Phase III Update
2006 promises to be an exciting year of growth and outreach. Already we are seeing many new faces each Sunday and the spirit of the Lord is vibrant within our ministry. As I shared on New Years 2006 Sunday, God has got some amazing things in store for us this year. We simply need to listen to Him and go where He sends us. On that new years Sunday I announced a potential relocation site for Phase III of Westbrook. Preliminary plans are still forming whereby we might receive final approval from the village officials. Following their green light we would then be able to begin negotiations with the property owner for a purchase. This past week lay leaders and staff of Westbrook met with our partners from the CDF and from the church architectural firm to begin estimating square footage needs and expected costs of a new facility. While the building of any new structure is years in the future this was a very important step in the process.

During my Vision message I encouraged you to drop me a note with questions about the process or suggestions that you might have. Several of you took me up on that and I greatly encourage the support as well as the suggestions. As we will regularly do, we challenge you to join this process as well with input. Please feel free to share your questions, input or comments today via email to our leaders at Jen.Borland@westbrookchurch.org.

In addition, this week we also met with several Capital Campaign consulting firms as we seek to formulate an all-church Capital Stewardship campaign. Following the Lord’s leading it seems clear to us that our first step into this adventure will be to hold this campaign to raise the necessary funds for the property purchase. Does this all seem a little overwhelming? With God leading us every step of the way, it doesn’t have to. Please join me in daily prayer about this process and we’ll keep communicating.

~ Pastor Mont


November 20, 2005

Phase III Update
If you’ve been around Westbrook for very long you know that we are a church with a Vision and Purpose. We want to impact our communities and those around us with the message and hope of Jesus Christ. Obviously God is blessing us as our church continues to expand. But please know~ in the midst of our exciting growth ,our focus remains the same. Reaching all people for Christ and building many congregations who worship in many ways to honor our ONE true God. Without a doubt a pressing need to accomplish this vision will be expanded facilities. That is why discussions are currently being held with a local land developer, Bolingbrook local officials and a church architect. In fact, the Elders and Pastors of Westbrook may have some property news to announce as early as Winter 2006. (God’s really in charge as to the timing of this!) As was written several weeks ago in the Novemeber 6, 2005 “Westbrook In The Know” article, the complete fulfillment of this next phase is still several years away, but we cannot start planning too early. Please begin thinking about how you can be involved. Please begin praying about how you and your family can share of your financial blessings to help Westbrook construct a larger center of Ministry. And be thinking of your questions and input now as this dream begins to take form. Please feel free to share your questions or comments today via email to our leaders at Jen.Borland@westbrookchurch.org

Strategic plan to date:

  • Secure land for Phase III relocation
  • Enter into Capital Stewardship Campaign to provide finances for land
  • Begin developing building plans / floor plans for Phase I of a relocation
  • Construction of Phase I of expanded Ministry Center
  • Follow up Capital Stewardship Campaign to provide finances for Phase I

Where is all this coming from? Is this a new plan? Not at all! In fact since the inception of Westbrook Church we knew that if God blessed our church with people growth, this would be a necessity. God has certainly blessed us with people growth and in only nine years since our launch we are seeing this need become a pressing need. We’ve said it many times before…. “strap on your seat belt and get ready for the ride of your lives”. When God is at the helm, your life will never be the same.

Off- Campus Parking
Have you ever had trouble finding a parking spot at Westbrook, especially at the 10:00 & 11:30 worship service times? Some are beginning to experience that. However, don’t lose heart. Over the last three months we have been in discussions with a local business to allow Westbrook to use their lot for overflow parking. A license agreement is forthcoming and plans are developing to make this happen. Here’s how it would work: If you happen to arrive a bit late for services and parking spots are filled, a newly formed parking team would either valet your vehicle to the off-campus lot or you can take it there yourself and be shuttled to Westbrook. The lot is just down the street 1.5 minutes away. No BIG Deal! If you are looking for a place to get plugged and would be willing to serve on this new team, please mark Parking Team on your InTouch card today. We’ll let you know when this off-campus lot becomes available.


November 6, 2005

Phase III Update
The planning continues. The PRAYERS continue! Hopefully you are joining with us. As Westbrook continues to reach more people and as our weekend attendance continues to increase so must our plans for the next phase of reaching people. Where are we at with Phase III? Here’s the latest. Over the last several months we have been in conversations with an architect that specializes in building churches. This particular group understands the needs of young, growing churches and has a passion to design facilities that are attractive to the un-churched yet are very functional for ministry. They have begun to provide us sketches of facilities that might meet our current needs yet allow for evangelism and growth in the years ahead. In addition, the leaders at Westbrook have been in consultation with a local land developer on a piece of property on the west side of Bolingbrook allowing Westbrook to relocate and construct a larger center of Ministry for this community and the surrounding ones.
So what’s the next step? As the Lord leads, we see the next steps being multi-tiered. Our first step will be securing property. To accomplish this Westbrook will enter into a capital stewardship phase to raise the funds for this purchase. This is being planned for mid 2006. Following the completion of this phase we will then be prepared to construct phase I of a new building. We are realistically looking at this all taking place over the next 3-4 years. While we would love to have the space NOW… parking spots are hard to find on some Sunday’s and the place feels kid of crowded, we’ll have to trust God’s perfect timing. In the meantime… we still have room to grow, more people can be saved and more lives changed. Pray! Plan to be involved and supportive and let’s see together what God can do!

Emergency Safety Plan
While we never anticipate a problem or emergency at Westbrook during our weekend services we want to be prepared if some issue should arise. Over the next month we are going to be outlining our emergency safety plans for a Sunday Service. Please know that our plans involve providing the safest exits from our facility in case of fire and other problems. For instance; in the case of a fire, all KA children’s classes will be quickly exited out of the facility and moved to the large green-space at the south end of the parking lot. Parents in the Adult services will be exited out the east and west fire doors in the auditorium where you can be find your children in the south lawn as well. Parents will not be able to enter into the KA doors as your children will probably be out before you will be. All staff, security personnel and Guest Services team members will be briefed on these procedures in the next many weeks as will our entire church family. Be watching for more information.


July 31, 2005

Phase III Update
Just this past week, Pastor Mont had a meeting with representatives from the Church Development Fund relative to our future land acquisition and Phase III process. What came out of this early meeting was the need for some conceptual ideas for a future facility and a conceptual site plan for the parcel of land that is being considered. While this seems exciting, the fact remains that we are still looking into the future for a transition. God could move up our time-table but it appears that we are looking at 3-4 years in the future for any facility transition to take place. Though we may be a ways off, advance planning and processing is a necessity to make this dream become a reality when God wills. In the next several days to months we will be seeking a formal church building firm who specializes in these types of facilities and begin working with them for these very early exterior drawings. We’ll keep you posted. Please pray for God to give us wisdom, clarity and to make a way when their seems to be no way!


July 10, 2005

Phase III Update
Just a few months ago we shared in this little column, our need for you to join us in prayer about God’s plans for Westbrook Church. Growth is exciting, but growth must be planned. As we announced, God was seemingly directing a probe into a future land acquisition here in our city that would allow Westbrook to continue reaching out to the lost people in Bolingbrook and this area. We want you to know that this search continues and in fact preliminary meetings are being held as prayers are being lifted up to God for wisdom and clarity. The parcels of land that we are probing into are on the west side of Bolingbrook and will allow for exciting ministry for many years to come. We promised to keep you posted and we will do that even if it’s just an update of the search, and our prayers. This is such an exciting time in the life of Westbrook and we want you to share it with us! Be sure to be faithful in your involvement, giving and evangelism as God uses this place to do His will.

Velocity Service
Since October of 2003, Westbrook has been holding a fourth service at 5:30 PM. Some of you have attended that service, when morning responsibilities kept you from church. However the bulk of the people who attend our 5:30 service are our students. This service is led in Worship by our Student Band, Pastor Rick (our Student Pastor) does the majority of the speaking and quite honestly it’s a little louder and a little darker room. We don’t apologize for that as this service has been greatly impacting our younger generation. Parents of Students!~ Please make every effort to allow you teen to attend this service. Don’t just look at it as “another service”, look at it as a way to connect your kid to Christ in ways that will alter their life for all eternity!

Mosaic Ministry
Keep praying for God to prepare the path for our Hispanic congregation which will be started on September 18, 2005. Our most pressing Prayer Request is for a Worship Leader. Worship is such an integral part of all of our services. Please join us in this prayer.

Awana
Have you heard of Awana? (a super midweek ministry for children) It’s coming to Westbrook this Fall! Watch the weekly program over the next many weeks for how you can get your kids involved.


May 9, 2005

Excitement of Growth
With all praise to God we want to highlight and give honor to God for the recent growth of Westbrook Christian Church. Since February of this year our attendance and offering has spiked. Have you noticed the exciting things that God is doing around here! By your faithful stewardship we have been meeting and/or exceeding our weekly budget need on a regular basis. Continue to be faithful so that God’s work can be accomplished and so that He can bless your life. You are inviting your friends, many new people are visiting Westbrook and many lives are being touched and changed. Who knows…. It just might mean that we need to start thinking about Phase III (a larger Ministry Center on a new and larger piece of land) sooner than we thought. Please join the Elders, Staff and Leaders in prayer as we praise God for His hand of growth, and as we seek His wisdom for future ministry and future facilities!


April 10, 2005

Phase III Update
If you’ve been around Westbrook for any length of time you have witnessed the amazing growth of our church. From just Pastor Mont’s family to a small launch team, Westbrook was formed a little over 8 years ago. With God’s anointing this church has grown and has begun making a great impact in our city and region. While we have been greatly blessed with our property on Lily Cache Ln, we have always known that our growth would most likely take us to another parcel of land in Bolingbrook. How would this happen? When would this happen? It has always been up to God to lead us through this process. While we are still a ways off from this transition, we ask you to join our Elders in prayer concerning Phase III. Over the last 7 years we have been praying about pieces of land in our community and just recently began probing deeper into the possibility of acquiring a parcel that could meet the needs of our growing church. We’ll for sure keep you informed and updated about this process, but we want you to know that God seems to be pushing us to inquire further . As with staff additions, we want to be step in step with God along this path. Please join us in asking God to give us wisdom and clarity of His will for Westbrook church. Please ask God to “make a way” ~ sometimes in this process we wonder if there is ever a way!