The FUTURE NOW Building Project/Initiative will bless our congregation with a complete plan to move Friendship Baptist Church into the future:

• A new state-of-the-art Fellowship Hall/Multipurpose building which will also make us self-sufficient relative to hosting large gatherings instead of a hotel
• Renovation of the existing Multipurpose Building to accommodate cutting-edge and state-of-the-art Children’s Ministry Space  
• Self-sufficient Campus Parking

This will complete the vision of our first pastor and position Friendship for the future. The FUTURE IS NOW.  

While the entirety of this project is essential and exciting, perhaps the most critical aspect is preparing for our future in terms of providing a cutting-edge and state-of-the-art Children’s Ministry Space. This aspect of the project will enhance our future by providing a dedicated space for our children, who will be our future members and leaders.
This project has been many years in the making, and we are grateful to God for His timing and provision.

BUILD NEW FELLOWSHIP HALL/MP BUILDING
The new fellowship hall/multi-purpose building will be built on the existing slab where the Youth Activity Center was planned to be built. We would utilize 80% of the slab for indoor space while allowing 20% of the slab for outdoor covered dining, including a grill plaza to supplement dining in the main hall. This building would be a one-story rather than a two-story one, as a gym would not be a part of the plan. Also included would be an outdoor sports court and playground. Doing this will allow us to provide the space we need for gathering while housing all existing ministries and eliminating the need for an elevator. Further, the one-story building reduces the overall costs of the project.
More specifically, this state-of-the-art building will accommodate 300 people at round tables and the appropriate food preparation facilities, provide space for all of our ministries, and accommodate permanent space for the Food Pantry Ministry. An additional benefit of moving the Food Pantry Ministry into the new building will allow for more parking adjacent to the sanctuary.
The timetable for this project is eight months from city approval/start of construction. We would start in June 2023 and complete the project in February 2024. The estimated cost is $2,000,000 to $2,500,000.
Financing: Our church reserves will have $3,500,000 by the end of 2022. We would use $2,500,000 of those reserves to complete Phase I of the plan.   That would leave us with $1,000,000 in reserve, which is consistent with our banking/lending covenant.  

RENOVATE MPB FOR  NEW CHILDREN'S CENTER
The plan is to gut and renovate the existing Multipurpose Building and make it fully functional, including spaces that are attractive for children (fifth grade and below) and their families. This part of the project is in Phase II, so we will always have a space to operate within while construction is completed in Phase I. In addition, the building will be upgraded to include an overhead sprinkler system, an abundance of glass for outdoor visibility, and an outdoor protected play area for the children. This will not be a multi-use building but a building dedicated to the children’s ministry.
Our Guiding Scripture for this is:
 
Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them,
for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.”
Matthew 19:14 ESV

Inspiring spaces are essential in the current environment if we will attract and keep young families.

• Estimated Cost of Phase II: $850K to $1M

• The timetable for this phase is four months from city approval, with the plan to start construction after the New Fellowship Facility is completed (May 2024)

CONSTRUCT SELF-SUFFICIENT PARKING
For years we have been dependent on leased parking in the lower parking lot adjacent to the sanctuary to supplement our parking on church-owned land. This is the case while we own land east of the proposed multi-purpose building. We are now working to determine the number of parking spaces necessary to accommodate our proposed campus. This is a key to our future, as ample parking is necessary to make our campus sustainable and easily accessible while planning for growth.

Our current lease on the lower parking lot expires in March of 2026 which will give us ample time to finalize our parking needs in the current environment while planning for any needs we may have. In addition, when the lease expires, it will reduce our facility expenses by $200,000 / year with a minimum escalation clause of 4% / year. These savings will allow us to build and supplement our current parking up to a two-story parking structure, if needed, to complete our parking needs.