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Important Dates
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Discussion
April 1st
Wednesday
7:00pm
Vote
April 5th
Sunday
All Services
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What if FBCM had 1000 chairs in its Worship Center?
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Dear "First Family",
God is blessing our wonderful fellowship with consistent growth. Our 11:00 a.m. Contemporary Service in particular has been virtually full to capacity on many Sundays. In order to continue to grow, we are providing additional seating in our Worship Center. This page explains the plan to provide that seating through the addition of a balcony and the expansion of first floor seating that would bring our capacity to between 900 and 1000 seats. This will provide space for growth for several years to come in an attractive and functional manner.
As a part of this Worship Center renovation, our sound and lighting will be redesigned and improved.
Thankful for a growing spiritual family,
Bro. Ed
This expansion will allow our church to continue to grow spiritually, in our attendance, and in our financial resources for future expansion and ministry. If you have further questions, you may contact Bro. Milt at milteichler@fbcmagnolia.org or me at edseay@fbcmagnolia.org.
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Frequently Asked Questions
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- What is included in this project?
The project will consist mainly of an added balcony seating approximately 250 people and a reconfiguration of the bottom floor to expand the seating area in the back of the worship center. See the "First Floor Plan" for details on how the hallways would be impacted.
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- What else is included in this project?
Although the Worship Center is the main priority, any necessary monies to complete the Student Building will also be included in this project. As a result of Hurricane Ike, the Student Building has an estimated $500,000 worth of damages. Although the building was insured at replacement cost value, we are remodeling the building to better fit our needs. Also, the building was in the process of being restored and did not have flooring in the gym and some upstairs rooms. Consequently, the insurance will not cover those items since they were removed before the storm. Once the balcony expansion is well under way and costs are firm, we will then finalize the design on the Student Center based on the available budget.
Also included in the project is the completion and repair/replacement of the covered walkway between the Student Building and offices as well as a lighted fountain in our existing retention pond. Both of these projects would only be completed if it is cost feasible.
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- How will we pay for it in this economy?
It is the economy that is actually helping us to afford this project. Both construction costs and bank rates have dropped significantly over the past year. As a result, a refinancing of our existing debt would allow us to borrow the additional money with very little impact, if any, to our budget. It must be noted, however, that we would be incurring additional debt and that our current debt level would be extended an additional 6 years unless we were to retire the debt earlier than planned. The newly consolidated loan could actually lower our monthly loan payments and lock us into a lower interest rate of around 5% for ten years.
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- How much will it cost?
The estimated budget for these projects is between $800,000 and $1,000,000. Preliminary drawings and cost estimates by the original architect and original contractors have provided us these estimates.
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- Can I give to this project?
Though we are not entering into a formal fundraising or capital campaign effort, if you would like to donate to this project, you may make your offering to the "Building Fund." All donations to this project will lower the overall indebtedness to the Church.
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- How many seats will be added?
In short, approximately 385 seats. Currently the worship center can hold 550 in worship under normal circumstances. The new balcony is projected to add an additional 250 seats while the first floor remodel would add approximately 150. It is projected that we would lose around 15 seats due to the supports for the balcony. This would allow us to seat approximately 935 in worship for each service.
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- Will the aisles still be so narrow like they are now?
No. There are currently 643 chairs in the worship center. The space is designed to hold 550. Our growth has forced us to add more chairs requiring us to reduce the size of the aisles. Although the setup does not violate any fire codes, it is tight. The projected number of seats (935) is based on comfortable aisle widths. In reality, the worship center could seat over 1000 in worship if the seats were configured as they are now.
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- Will the quality of sound improve after the remodel?
Yes. With the addition of the balcony and expanded first floor, the audio and visual needs of the room will change dramatically. During the original construction of the Worship Center, the Church was financially unable to contract with an acoustical engineer to customize a sound system for a large irregular room design and optimize its acoustical nuances. The projected budget provides for such an engineer.
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- Why are we expanding the Worship Center instead of building new?
It is estimated that our current land could accommodate a 2500 seat auditorium with adequate parking, discipleship, administration, and water retention/detention needs. Such a project is estimated to cost between six to eight million dollars. Though the time will come for us to build such a facility, we must continue to facilitate the current growth as God continues to bless this Church.
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- Where will we meet during construction?
It is conceivable that we would only miss a few Sundays of worship in the building as it is being remodeled. This will require a precise construction schedule and coordination on behalf of the General Contractor. In the event that we would miss a Sunday, we would be creative in providing a local worship setting that could even resemble a tent revival of the good ?ole days!
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- What is the future for our Campus and Worship Center?
Our Campus Expansion Study Committee continues to meet in order to provide an overall site plan for the 20 acres owned by the First Baptist Church of Magnolia. The current thought is that the Church would eventually build a larger worship center that would maximize the campus in regards to worship, discipleship, administration, and parking. This remodeling to the current Worship Center would be a step in the right direction for the future use of the Worship Center as Adult Discipleship. This building will eventually be reconfigured to accommodate large classes on the bottom floor and a chapel setting on the top floor using the balcony seats as theater styled seating.
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- Will our worship services change?
The current worship schedule and style would remain the same until the Lord would direct otherwise. This remodel is not the catalyst for any such change and it is the intent of the pastoral staff and leadership to remain in the 9:30am Classic and 11:00am Contemporary format.
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- When will the project be completed?
The construction side of the project is currently estimated at 6 months from the time materials would arrive on campus. There are several milestones that need to be achieved before materials would be ordered. Those items include finalization of the financing, construction drawings from the architect, selection of a General Contractor and final bidding. Though ambitious, it is the committee's desire that the project be completed by September 2010.
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