Mission: Brownwood Jan 09 Report

Grace Pointe MBM Core Group Grows, Solidifies

The core group at Grace Pointe is beginning to grow, as we now have three families committed to the work. Their attendance accounted for 17 in attendance in our morning worship services on Jan. 25. The capacity for the Brownwood Apts. Phase II Community Room is 25, so we are nearing a point where we will have to move to a larger meeting place.

All three families are participating in the ministries at Grace Pointe by teaching in our mid-week youth programs, faithfully attending services and contributing financially to the work. We even have a regular visitor who is bringing friends of her own.

Things are really exciting right now at Grace Pointe MBM, as we are seeing rapid spiritual growth in our members and regular attenders, and see the potential for God to move in big ways in Brownwood.

Rocky Springs MBC Launches Building Fund for Grace Pointe

With the numeric growth, and the possibility of exceeding our capacity at the Brownwood Apts. Phase II Community Room within the next few months, the members of the mission are praying about what God would have us do next.

Our options include renting a nearby elementary school, one of the civic centers, a store front, or a vacated church building. There are currently two vacant church buildings for sale in Brownwood, one in Early (Brownwood’s suburb), and one that may soon hit the market.

While the mission is not in a financial position to rent its own facility at this moment, we are expecting that we will be able to within a few months. We also anticipate purchasing a facility within the next 18 months. With our new children’s ministries coming online, we would prefer to move into a permanent facility.

Therefore, we are asking our sister churches to come through once again for us through one-time love offerings or monthly support designated toward the Brownwood mission building fund. Please send all offerings to our sponsoring church.

Financial Report

SUPPORT RECEIVED
MBA of Texas $1,911
Muse MBC (Grapeland, TX) $200
White Rock MBC (Center, TX) $100
Salmon MBC (Elkhart, TX) $25
58th Ave MBC (Amarillo, TX) $102.30
Hickory Grove MBC (Newport, AR) $82.37
Memory Lane MBC (Palestine, TX) $50
Bassett Rd MBC (Palestine, TX) $75
Denson Springs MBC (Grapeland, TX) $50
Donna Prasatik $150
Quaker Ave MBC (Lubbock, TX) $100
Bethel MBC (Tatum, TX) $50
Rocky Springs MBC (Jacksonville, TX) $150
Wyndrock MBC (Abilene, TX) $40
East Side BC (Jacksonville, TX) $100
Nevill’s Chapel MBC (Mt. Pleasant, TX)$189.92
Hickory Grove MBC (Newport, AR) $70.83
Memorial MBC (Rusk, TX) $400
John Nickle (Rusk, TX) $25
Northcrest BC (Andrews, TX) $300

OFFERING:
Grace Pointe MBM $362

EXPENSES:
Salary $1,000
Housing $700
Health Insurance $211
Total to Missionary: $1,911

Postage $16.80
Supplies from Walmart $25.84
Outreach $59.92

LOOKING FORWARD

Grace Pointe MBM launched her AWANA program Feb. 3 with 15 in attendance. See how the program progresses in next month’s report, or log on to the Mission: Brownwood blog at www.lelandacker.blogspot.com.

Missionary Leland Acker and family will be in attendance at the Southwest Association Mission Rally at 58th Ave MBC in Amarillo in April.

Grace Pointe MBM will host the Southwest Mission Rally in July.

Mission: Brownwood will expand apartment ministries.

Meeting location on the horizon, maybe

Mission: Brownwood has located an old church building in a very high profile location in Brownwood, on a major highway, that may become available for rent for less than $1,000/month... much less.

The building would need some cleaning up, new carpet and new paint on the walls, but would make a great starting location should God open this door.

Meanwhile, core group building continues. Keep us in your prayers.

Twists and turns along the mission trail

After placing calls and talking with those in charge of facilities, renting a civic center may not be as viable of an option as I once thought. It seems that annual events would force us to yield the facilities at least once or twice per year, meaning that worship services would have to me moved or cancelled. In the early days of an upstart church, consistency is important, right behind the Spirit's empowerment.

So, Jessica and I are working another angle. We have applied for an apartment at a local apartment complex. As residents of this complex, the facilities there would be available to us... and we could more effectively minister to our neighbors. We're sending off the paperwork today.

This approach will save us thousands of dollars, allows us to launch sooner, and gives the new church a better opportunity to be self-supporting as it will not have as large of a financial burden.

Of 'course, nothing is certain until we are allowed to sign a lease-agreement, so please be in prayer about this.

Mission: Brownwood, moving forward

Over the past couple of weeks, Jessica and I have been scouting possible meeting places for the new church in Brownwood, TX. Our three most viable options include two civic centers and one existing church building. The civic centers can be rented for four hours at a time for approximately $250. So, if we rented one for Sunday mornings, the cost would run approximately $1,000-$1,300 per month. This includes an auditorium (with seating capacities from 175-350), three rooms (classrooms) and kitchen facilities (which will rarely be used.) Also included are sound systems, projectors and projection screens.

To rent a civic center for a one-week VBS would cost $1,250.

The third option is an existing church building, but it carries a steep purchase price. There will have to be special arrangements made if we are to go that route. I'm not in the mood to take out a six-figure loan before we even get a congregation together.

My grandfather-in-law is a Baptist missionary. He told me nothing was harder on a new church than to burden them with a large debt. He has started four churches, and has only been through one building program (the one he's currently finishing up in near Colorado Springs.)