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What is "Laying the Foundation?"
What is the purpose of the campaign?
Why are we planning to get a building?
How much are we planning to raise?
What is the church asking me to do?
I am already giving, should I divert that giving to Laying the Foundation?
Who will know how much money I give?
Can I change my financial commitment?
Laying the Foundation is clearly a long-term plan. What are our short-term plans?
How will the building affect our other mission efforts?
Where will the building be?
Will we purchase an existing building or construct a new building?
How does a building tangibly complement our church ministry?
Are there other ways to give besides checks/cash?
If you have additional questions, please speak with your flock shepherd or send an e-mail to cbc-steering [at] googlegroups [dot] com.
What is "Laying the Foundation?"
Laying the Foundation is a three year endeavor to seek God's Will for our church. It is a stewardship campaign that will challenge us to make a faith-based financial commitment that will enable us to accomplish the purpose listed below.
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What is the purpose of the campaign?
To raise capital for a church building or land for a church building. Whether we will purchase a building or purchase land and construct a building will depend on the opportunities the Lord brings. We are open to both options. Currently, we do not have a specific building or piece of land identified.
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Why are we planning to get a building?
We are seeking a building not as an end in itself but because we believe that it will allow us to maximize our ministry of the gospel. A building brings various benefits, including facilities for ministry, 24/7 access, and room for future growth the Lord may bring. A church building is more conducive to a focus on missions and evangelism here at home because it provides a permanent location from which to reach out to the local community.
Again, a building is not our ultimate goal. A church building is merely a means to serve the Lord and to serve His people - the elect of this generation and the next.
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How much are we planning to raise?
$1.5 million. Our current annual budget is about $500,000. So, over 3 years, our goal is to raise a total of two times our current giving (i.e. we are seeking to raise an additional $500,000 above and beyond regular giving each year for three years).
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What is the church asking me to do?
We want you to pray. We want you to give proportionately, sacrificially, regularly, and cheerfully. After prayer, your giving will involve making purposeful lifestyle decisions. This is not a fundraiser where we ask that you give of your excess after making your lifestyle choices. Our prayer is that you would base your lifestyle on the amount you purpose to give.
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I am already giving, should I divert that giving to Laying the Foundation?
Laying the Foundation does not alter current financial commitments to our pastors, missions, and existing ministries. We will continue to incur expenses related to pastors' salaries and benefits, missionary support, facility rental charges, various Sunday mornings, retreats, etc. As a result, your regular faithful giving should not be diverted to Laying the Foundation.
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Who will know how much money I give?
Similar to your tithes and offering, the amount you pledge to give is kept confidential.
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Can I change my financial commitment?
There will be an annual re-commitment for Laying the Foundation. The body as a whole will be asked to evaluate and pray over their commitment each year. If anyone decides to change their commitment, we ask that you inform the finance ministry of the change.
We understand that the Lord may change circumstances in your life so that a re-evaluation is needed before the year is up (e.g. a new child, marriage, loss of a job, etc.). Your financial commitment to Laying the Foundation is ultimately between you and the Lord and should not be viewed as a contract. Biblical Christian giving is joyful and voluntarily, not under compulsion. Accordingly, your commitment can be changed.
However, we ask that you consider this question not only in terms of decreasing your commitment, but also increasing your commitment. As the Lord may bring about circumstances that decrease your ability to give, He may also increase your ability to give (e.g. a new job, a bonus, a raise, etc.). You may pay a car off, pay off a student loan or receive an increase in available funds through another means, which would allow you to give more.
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Laying the Foundation is clearly a long-term plan. What are our short-term plans?
Presently, we will continue to meet at Bell Intermediate. However, we are considering opportunities to lease out a new location that would provide better building access than Bell, including moving to the Evangelical Christian Credit Union in Brea.
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How will the building affect our other mission efforts?
In carrying out the Great Commission, we believe that a church should be faithful at home before sending its resources abroad. As a father must be faithful at home before serving in the church, a church should be faithful in its own local community before ministering across the globe. Obtaining a church building complements this local focus – a focus here on "Jerusalem."
We remain devoted to local missions through Orange County missions, CBF, and other ministries. In addition, we will continue to support international missions through Peter Smith's ministry in the Czech Republic and through ministry opportunities at Una Luz en las Montañas in Zorillo, Mexico.
Our existing operating budget, which includes expenses for our existing missions efforts, will tentatively continue as is. The funds for Laying the Foundation are above and beyond this existing budget.
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Where will the building be?
We are looking at the general area enclosed north of the 22 freeway, west of the 57 freeway, east of the 605 freeway, and south of Imperial Hwy.
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Will we purchase an existing building or construct a new building?
We are open to both options and are dependent on the opportunities the Lord may bring. In the geographical area given above, open land is scarce and affordable open land is even more scarce. New construction may be less likely as a result of these factors, but we have not outright eliminated it as a possibility.
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How does a building tangibly complement our church ministry?
Ministry is currently limited in some ways because we do not have regular access to a church building. Bell Intermediate is only available at certain times and upon request and approval from Garden Grove Unified School District. In addition, the church house has significant size and parking limitations. A building brings various benefits, including facilities for ministry, 24/7 access, and room for future growth the Lord may bring.
Beyond supporting ministry within our church, a church building is more conducive to a focus on missions here at home. With a building of our own, we gain a permanent location from which to reach out to the local community.
Furthermore, a building with greater access will allow for the elders, pastors, and shepherds to minister to the members of CBC more effectively. Our current ministries outside of Sundays exist predominantly in the homes of various leaders and members. Our prayer is that the building will bring more opportunities to edify and equip the saints of Cornerstone.
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Are there other ways to give besides checks/cash?
Other financial assets can be given in support of Laying the Foundation – including stocks, bonds, etc. Besides a tax deduction, such giving may carry other tax liability benefits. Please contact Eugene Kim regarding alternative giving.
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