S u g a r G r o v e C h u r c h

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s u g a r g r o v e c h u r c h . c o m

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From Our Pastor

Floorplans

Next Steps

Ministry Benefits

Chart of Gifts

FAQs

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Contents

Our Story5

When I look over the last six years here at Sugar Grove Church I am reminded of three words. God is faithful! I Corinthians 1:9 says: ”God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful.” God has shown Himself faithful time and time again in my own life. He has also shown it to SGC in its 165 year old history. We celebrate God’s faithfulness and we continue to witness it as He is our supplier and provider by:

• Healing broken lives• Drawing people to cross over from spiritual death to spiritual life• Calling many to take the next step of baptism• Bringing new people of all ages to our fellowship• Bringing together a gifted team of volunteers who every week put it all on the line• Partnering with people around the world who are having a global impact for Christ• Impacting hundreds of lives of children, students, and adults with the life-changing news of Jesus Christ

Yes, God has been faithful to our fellowship. Certainly, there have been times of great challenge and blind faith; yet, through it all He’s proven Himself faithful as we’ve waited upon Him.

We are facing another defining moment in the life of Sugar Grove Church. It is a moment that will require us to reach, seek, dream, pray, sacrifice, and surrender beyond the normal call of duty. As we do, I firmly believe Ephesians 3:20-21 will be manifested in our church. It says: ”Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amen.” It is a moment that will require us to take a giant step of faith and watch God ”do it again.” As you review the material in this packet, I ask you to pray and seek God’s direction for your commitment. Go a step beyond what you think you can do and ask Him what He wants to do through you. Yes, He’s done it before and He’ll do it again! For His Glory!

Pastor Rick Gering

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Our Story

T h e m i s s i o n s t a t e m e n t i s s o m e w h a t n e w : ” R e a c h U p . R e a c h I n . R e a c h B e y o n d . ” Y e t t h o s e w o r d s a m a z i n g l y e c h o t h e l o n g h i s t o r y o f t h e c h u r c h i t s e l f . T h e p e o p l e o f S u g a r G r o v e h a v e b e e n r e a c h i n g u p t o G o d b e f o r e t h e r e w a s e v e n a b u i l d i n g . W e h a v e r e a c h e d i n t o g r o w i n G o d ’ s g r a c e . A n d a s w e g r e w , w e h a v e l e a r n e d t o r e a c h o u t t o o u r c o m m u n i t y w i t h t h e l o v e o f J e s u s C h r i s t .

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T h e S u g a r G r o v e s t o r y b e g a n i n 1 8 4 8 w h e n f a i t h f u l f a m i l i e s g a t h e r e d i n a h o m e a t t h e c o r n e r o f C R 1 7 a n d C R 2 0 . T h e y m e t f o r a t i m e i n t h e o l d M e t z g e r s c h o o l h o u s e b e f o r e b u i l d i n g t h e o r i g i n a l c h u r c h i n 1 8 6 9 . T h e s c h o o l h o u s e w a s l a t e r r e n o v a t e d i n t o a p a r s o n a g e .

A t o r n a d o d a m a g e d t h e b u i l d i n g i n 1 9 4 3 b u t n o t t h e c h u r c h s p i r i t . T h e c o n g r e g a t i o n b r a v e d t h a t n a t u r a l d i s a s t e r a n d t h e c h a l l e n g e s o f W o r l d W a r I I t o r e b u i l d ! W h e n p r o s p e r i t y r e t u r n e d a f t e r t h e w a r , t h e p e o p l e o f S u g a r G r o v e r e s p o n d e d b y e x p a n d i n g t o t h e S o u t h ( 1 9 5 1 ) a n d t o t h e N o r t h ( 1 9 5 7 ) .

A s p i r i t u a l s t o r m h i t i n 1 9 6 1 w h e n E U B l e a d e r s p r e s s e d t h e d e n o m i n a t i o n t o a d o p t B i b l i c a l l y u n s o u n d t e a c h i n g . S u g a r G r o v e s a i d ” n o . ” T h e b u i l d i n g r e m a i n e d p a d l o c k e d w h i l e t h e c h u r c h m e t a t J e f f e r s o n S c h o o l f o r t w o y e a r s . G o d r e m a i n e d f a i t h f u l a n d i n 1 9 6 3 , S u g a r G r o v e r e p u r c h a s e d t h e p r o p e r t y .

Sugar Grove Church: 165 years and still reaching up!

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W e h a v e b e e n g r o w i n g e v e r s i n c e . A n e w f a c i l i t y , i n c l u d i n g t h e p r e s e n t s a n c t u a r y , w a s c o n s t r u c t e d i n 1 9 7 6 . T h e S o u t h a d d i t i o n , a m u l t i - p u r p o s e r o o m , t h e s e n i o r h i g h y o u t h r o o m a n d t h e j u n i o r h i g h y o u t h r o o m f o l l o w e d o v e r t h e n e x t 2 5 y e a r s .

A n e c o n o m i c s t o r m h i t t h e n a t i o n i n 2 0 0 8 , y e t t h e p e o p l e o f S u g a r G r o v e c o n t i n u e d t o r e a c h i n , r a i s i n g m o r e t h a n $ 1 m i l l i o n i n t h e ” F a i t h f o r O u r F u t u r e ” c a m p a i g n . I t b r o u g h t m u c h n e e d e d r e n o v a t i o n s t o t h e f a c i l i t y , a n e l e v a t o r , b e t t e r t r a f f i c f l o w a n d , m o s t i m p o r t a n t l y , s e t t h e s t a g e f o r w h a t G o d w a s a b o u t t o d o .

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* our cafe services average a weekly attendance of over 500

CafeService

W h a t h a s H e d o n e ? I n t h e p a s t f i v e y e a r s , a v e r a g e a t t e n d a n c e h a s r i s e n f r o m 4 2 4 t o 8 7 5 . T h e c h i l d r e n ’ s m i n i s t r y h a s g r o w n f r o m 7 7 t o 1 4 7 a n d t h e y o u t h m i n i s t r y h a s e x p l o d e d f r o m 4 0 t o a n a m a z i n g 1 4 0 ! T h e m o s t i m p o r t a n t n u m b e r o f a l l : 2 1 6 b a p t i s m s !

” S u g a r G r o v e h a s s o m e t h i n g s p e c i a l t h a t c a n n o t b e m a n u f a c t u r e d , ” m a r v e l s S e n i o r P a s t o r R i c k G e r i n g . ” I t i s g e n u i n e , a u t h e n t i c a n d r e a l . I t i s s o m e t h i n g p e o p l e d e s p e r a t e l y n e e d : f r i e n d s , a c c e p t a n c e , l o v e a n d , m o s t o f a l l , t h e G o o d N e w s o f C h r i s t ! ”

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1 ) C r e a t e s m o r e o p p o r t u n i t y t o c o m m u n i c a t e t h e G o s p e l o f J e s u s C h r i s t .

2 ) H e l p s u s b e t t e r f u l f i l l o u r m i s s i o n t o m a k e d i s c i p l e s .

3 ) A l l o w s f o r l a r g e r w o r s h i p v e n u e . 1 0 0 % i n c r e a s e i n S u n d a y m o r n i n g w o r s h i p c a p a c i t y .

4 ) A l l o w s S G C t o r e a c h m o r e f a m i l i e s w i t h c h i l d r e n b y i n c r e a s i n g c h i l d r e n ’ s s p a c e 5 0 % , i n c l u d i n g d o u b l i n g t h e n u r s e r y s u i t e a n d m o r e p r o g r a m s p a c e f o r o l d e r c h i l d r e n .

5 ) A l l o w s m o r e s p a c e f o r o u r g r o w i n g s t u d e n t m i n i s t r y b y a d d i n g a d e d i c a t e d y o u t h a r e a f o r s m a l l g r o u p / s o c i a l t i m e s .

6 ) I n c r e a s e s a d u l t e d u c a t i o n s p a c e b y 3 0 % . 7 ) C o n s o l i d a t e s a d m i n i s t r a t i v e a r e a w i t h a d d i t i o n a l g r o w t h s p a c e .

8 ) I n c r e a s e s p a r k i n g s p a c e s b y 2 0 0 . 9 ) I n c r e a s e s s p a c e f o r b a n q u e t s a n d m e e t i n g s

1 0 ) I n c r e a s e s b o t h i n s i d e a n d o u t s i d e s t o r a g e s p a c e .

MinistryBenefits

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Sugar Grove Church exists to help people reach up, reach in, and reach out.

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* 4 new classrooms* added storage* new administrative offices* youth mezzanine* staircase connecting youth mezzanine to the youth room* added restrooms

UpperLevel

Upper LevelFloorplan

LowerLevel

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* new worship center* expanded south entrance* commons area w/ cafe* expanded children’s area* 3 new classrooms

*Worship Center will seat over 500

Lower LevelFloorplan

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Our estimated building project is $4,000,000, and we have set a base goal of $2,000,000 in pledges to be received from our church body over a period of three years. The more we raise for this project; the less we will need to borrow.

The chart below provides a guide to the number and type of pledges needed to reach our goal. The chart emphasizes that we do not expect everyone to give the same amount. We merely ask that each person consider what God would like you to pledge toward this additional facility, as you are able to do. In this way we are all sacrificing equally, though the amounts may differ.

Chartof Gifts

INDIVIDUAL 3-YEAR WEEKLY MONTHLY ANNUAL TOTAL

COMMITMENTS AMOUNT AMOUNT AMOUNT AMOUNT 3-YEAR

1 $200,000 $66,667 $200,000

1 150,000 50,000 150,000

1 100,000 33,333 100,000

2 75,000 2,083 25,000 150,000

3 50,000 1,389 16,667 150,000

4 35,000 972 11,667 140,000

5 25,000 694 8,333 125,000

14 14,400 400 4,800 201,600

40 7,200 46 200 2,400 288,000

60 3,600 23 100 1,200 216,000

60 2,700 17 75 900 162,000

50 1,800 12 50 600 90,000

31 900 6 25 300 27,900

$2,000,500

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As you consider your gift to this stewardship campaign, please consider these three questions:

1. Have you surrendered everything to God including your job, family, etc.?2. Will you ask God what the sacrificial campaign gift is for you to contribute?3. Will you obey what He reveals to you?

NextSteps

AskYourself

What Should IDo Now?

Pray Beyond Spend time with God, in His Word, and prayer. Set your heart on Him, so that He can work through you and our church.

Connect Beyond Connect with us as we seek God’s face to give us direction and help that we need to unite as a body to complete this project.

Commit Beyond Fill out a commitment card to pledge your involvement, seal it in the provided envelope, and bring it with you when you worship with us on Commitment Weekend, November 2-3.

Worship Beyond We are expecting nothing less than God’s clear direction and blessing as He enables us to meet our ministry needs. This is an amazing opportunity to watch God do a great work in our midst.

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W h y i s o u r c h u r c h

i n v o l v e d i n a

S t e w a r d s h i p C a m p a i g n ?

W h e n , w h e r e a n d h o w

w i l l t h e c o m m i t m e n t s

b e m a d e ?

W h a t i s e x p e c t e d o f

m y f a m i l y i n m a k i n g a

f i n a n c i a l c o m m i t m e n t ?

W i l l I b e a s k e d f o r a

c o m m i t m e n t p u b l i c l y ?

I f I s h o u l d f a l l b e h i n d ,

w i l l t h e c h u r c h t a k e

s t e p s t o m a k e m e p a y ?

I a l r e a d y t i t h e a n d f e e l

l i k e t h a t i s a l l I c a n

d o . A m I w r o n g ?

C a n w e m a k e o n e

c o m m i t m e n t f o r o u r

e n t i r e f a m i l y ?

W i l l G o d h e l p m e m a k e a

c o m m i t m e n t w h i c h r i g h t n o w

s e e m s b e y o n d m y m e a n s ?

Yes you may. We strongly urge that you involve your children in some way, either by individual commitment or by their participation in the family giving.

Making a commitment that you know for certain is unrealistic might be detrimental to you and the church. However, sometimes things that seem beyond reach are actually closer than they appear! Priorities may need to be rearranged in order to participate at a sacrificial level.

Every family is being asked to pray about its commitment. No one will be pressured. Nothing will be published. As a fellowship we want all to pray about what they believe God would want to do through them. If God owns everything and we are simply managers, then we believe that God will provide everything we need to effectively do His work.

Absolutely not! Your commitment is a private matter between you and God. We will not make these commitments a matter of public knowledge in any way, shape or form.

Since we are not in the business of building buildings or raising money, we will most certainly not take any action to collect on a voluntary financial commitment. Our purpose in this Campaign is to provide adequate facilities so that we can continue to make forward progress in accomplishing the mission of our church. We are simply asking that you pray and seek God’s guidance as to what He would have you commit to Him. We have provided Commitment Forms in order for us to plan wisely.

Only you and the Lord can decide how much you can give. This program has been designed so that everyone can give something, no matter what the size. No gift is too small to count! If each one does as God directs, then victory is assured.

This Beyond Capital Campaign provides us with an opportunity to challenge one another to prayerfully consider our individual involvement in the commitment of our time, talents and treasures. The finances committed will enable us to build our new facility. The time and talents commitments will allow us to continue to grow and better minister to our church family and community.

Most of the commitments will be made on Commitment Weekend, November 2-3, during our church services; however, leaders will give theirs on or before September 22. Your financial commitment will be placed in a sealed envelop to be opened by Pat Michael, the Financial Secretary. Only the total amount will be reported to the congregation.

FAQ With a project of this size everyone has questions. Here you may find a few answers.

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W h a t i s t h e t o t a l c o s t

o f t h i s p r o j e c t ?

J u s t h o w m u c h w i l l w e

n e e d t o b o r r o w ?

I s t h e r e a n a m o u n t o f

m o n e y t h a t I w i l l b e

e x p e c t e d t o c o m m i t ?

W h y d o I n e e d t o m a k e

m y c o m m i t m e n t i n

w r i t i n g ?

M a y I g i v e a s s e t s o t h e r

t h a n c a s h ?

W i l l t h e r e b e c l a s s e s t h a t

w i l l h e l p t h o s e w h o w a n t t o

g i v e f i x e d a s s e t s ?

H o w w i l l t h e p r o p o s e d

e x p a n s i o n b e f u n d e d ?

D o I h a v e f l e x i b i l i t y i n

m a k i n g m y f i n a n c i a l

c o m m i t m e n t ?

There are three sources available to fund our expansion project. 1. Up-front cash and non-cash gifts2. Regular weekly or monthly gifts given over 3 years3. Borrowed funds, if approved by the congregation.

Yes, there are three general categories under which you can make the commitment. 1. Immediate gifts from accumulated cash. 2. Regular weekly or monthly gifts of a specified amount over 3 years. 3. Non-cash assets such as property, stocks, bonds, etc.

No. After asking God for guidance in the decision, each person will decide his particular commitment. The goal is not equal gifts but equal sacrifice.

The total amount of commitments are carefully analyzed to forecast future income and to establish a realistic construction budget and timetable.

Yes. There may be tremendous tax advantages to giving assets other than cash. One of the members of our Creative Giving Team will be happy to discuss this with you, or you may choose to consult with your personal financial advisor.

Yes, we will provide seminars to teach about various tax-wise non-cash gifts.

The total estimated cost is $4 million. We have set a faith goal of $2 million.

The amount we borrow will depend upon what God provides through His people during the Beyond campaign. There will be a realistic plan to pay back our obligations and this plan will be presented to the congregation for final approval. Church leaders do not want to financially overextend the congregation.

C a n I d i v i d e m y p r e s e n t g i v i n g

b e t w e e n t h e G e n e r a l B u d g e t a n d

t h e C a p i t a l C a m p a i g n ?

W h e n d o t h e c o m m i t m e n t s

b e g i n ?

We strongly encourage you to make your commitment ”over and above” any other giving to our church. The present ministries and missions that we have implemented and support also need to be funded.

We anticipate the commitments beginning on Celebration Weekend, November 16-17. Of course we recognize that not everyone receives a weekly paycheck, therefore you may begin honoring your commitment at the time you designate in accordance with your income schedule.

W i l l I h a v e o p p o r t u n i t y t o

r e v i s e m y c o m m i t m e n t ?

W i l l m y c o m m i t m e n t

c o n s t i t u t e a p e r m a n e n t

i n v e s t m e n t ?

Certainly, since this is a commitment between you and the Lord, you have opportunity to revise your commitment. It would be helpful if changes could be communicated in a written manner so church leadership can be aware of your decision.

Definitely. That which we keep for ourselves can be lost, but that which we willingly give away can never be lost. The gifts you give for the purpose of expanding God’s Kingdom here will flourish and bear fruit as God adds His blessing to your faithfulness.

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S u g a r G r o v e C h u r c h5 8 5 1 2 O l d C o u n t y R d 1 7

G o s h e n , I N 4 6 5 2 85 7 4 . 8 7 5 . 5 6 2 2

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