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Look around Northminster Presbyterian Church. Several times over the years, and twice since 2005, we have built to serve more and serve better. And we are. We look around the church and see evidence of it every day in so many ways. We see it from the first time a Bible is opened at dawn until the last basketball is stilled and the lights dimmed every night. We see it in the hundreds of people who gather here for Vacation Bible School, to play softball, to hear a Christian concert. We see it in the transformation of the people who leave our building after a Great Banquet. We see it when we look outward from the church as well. It’s in the concrete poured for the walls of a Sunday school in the jungles of Mexico. We see it in the young children from Pennsylvania who hold the hands of the youth of our church on a mission trip as together they pray, some for the first time. We have built a thriving, welcoming church, but we are not done. We must continue to strive for even greater things
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Northminster Presbyterian Church is a dream come true in so
many ways and for so many people.
Surely the brave folks who formed Northminster by merging
Alta and Kellar churches in 1969 could not have known how well
that leap of faith would be rewarded. That church grew on the
foundation of those two churches, and in 1989, its congregation
took another leap of faith, purchasing land on the city’s far
north side.
In 1994, Northminster voted to begin building two wings at
that new location. The members prudently opted to wait to
build the sanctuary. But they continued to believe God had a
larger congregation waiting for them, more people who needed
Northminster. A year later, they stepped out in faith and built a
large sanctuary for worship.
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WHAT WE'VE GAINED
Gymnasium for school, church and community use
New secure classrooms for Northminster Learning Center and Sunday School
Ample Storage
Reinforced storm shelters
Trinity Room for contemporary worship, Great Banquet and more
Dedicated music space
A renovated Fellowship Hall
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| In 2005 and in 2008, God called us to act again. Our gymnasium, restrooms with storm protection and a new Northminster Learning Center and Sunday School classrooms were built in 2005. We pledged $1.44 million to build them. We broke ground again in 2008, adding the Trinity Room, offices, a conference room and music space. Together, we pledged $1.2 million to build them.
Our buildings are finished, our ministries thriving. But God isn’t finished with Northminster. It’s time to grow in our impact and our opportunities, not in bricks and mortar. Once again, we want to dream big.
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Northminster can continue to live out God’s vision for our church through intentional, generous and sacrificial giving over and above
what each of us gives to the operating budget. Our $1.7 million debt cannot simply be folded into our operating budget. If we do nothing, we could pay more than $513,000 in interest alone over the next two decades. That’s no legacy to leave our children.
Since 2005, our members have pledged $2.64 million for new buildings and given $2.18 million. We bolstered our pledges by selling some land. But there is more to do. We still owe $1.7 million. It promises to be an enormous burden unless we find it in our hearts to continue the sacrifices. We make a $19,760 payment toward our debt each month. That’s more than the yearly budget for many of our ministries and nearly as much as the monthly salaries and benefits of our pastoral staff.
Every dollar we can pay on our debt will free more dollars to reach others with God’s love. We’ve seen it. When we return some of what God has blessed us with, he multiplies those blessings for ourselves and others. We understand every individual can’t make an equal gift, but we do ask everyone to make an equal sacrifice.
How can you help keep our church in line with the dreams God has for us?
• Thank God for His care and keeping.
• Ask God how much He would have you give.
• Be obedient and give as the Lord leads.
• Attend a Dream Session.
• Join us on Commitment Sunday, October 30, and be ready to
make a three-year commitment over and above what you are
giving to the operating budget.
• Be ready to receive the blessings that only He can give.
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