2022 Building Renovation

Building TOGETHER

DEL RAY BAPTIST CHURCH

2022 RENOVATION PLAN

Letter From The Pastors

DRBC Family,

The Lord has been abundantly kind and generous to us over the years. In an area where churches often struggle to find affordable long-term space, He has graciously given us this building and land where we have been able to worship and glorify the Lord Jesus Christ for decades. His Word has been proclaimed and has produced much fruit for His glory.

We understand that every resource we have is the Lord’s and we must take diligent care with all He has entrusted to us. Our building is no exception, and wisely stewarding it takes prayer and intentional planning for its best use to the glory of God and for the good of the church for generations to come.

While our building is indeed functional at the moment, we believe many challenges need to be addressed sooner rather than later. First, we face increasing maintenance costs to maintain outdated systems such as our boiler, HVAC, bathrooms, etc. Applying bandaids to ongoing problems is not only expensive, but it delays the inevitable replacements that are sorely needed. Second, the current layout and design of the building aren’t best suited for the life and ministry of the church. Our children’s ministry space, adult education rooms, and gathering spaces for hospitality all lack practical functionality.

God has providentially placed us in an area of the world with a unique opportunity to reach the nations with His

Gospel. He has also seen fit to cause our church to grow significantly in this season which raises the urgency of this project. These proposed renovations aim to allow the DRBC family a place to gather week-in and week-out to proclaim the Gospel until He comes. If the Lord tarries, we hope these facilities will bless our church in this generation and for generations to come.

To this end, we are asking DRBC to undertake a significant building renovation plan over the coming years. These renovations won’t be focused on ‘building a bigger building’, rather, optimizing the space for ministry and ensuring the generation 50 years from now can be blessed with a usable space to gather.

First and foremost, we’re asking every member of DRBC to pray. Pray that the Lord would generously provide for all of our needs. Pray that He’d give us unity, joy, and wisdom in the process. In addition, we’re asking every member to give toward this effort. Seeing this vision become reality will take sacrificial financial investment from a lot of people.

Consider how the Lord might call you to be involved.

We’re eager to see not just how God might provide in this season, but more importantly, how He will strengthen and edify our body as we walk by faith and depend on Him.

In Christ,

How Should We Think About a Building Renovation?

1. The church is a people, not a building (1 Peter 2:4-5)

God is calling people from every corner of the earth to Himself through Christ. Through Jesus’ sacrificial death on the cross in our place and His glorious resurrection, He is making for Himself a new people: His bride, the church. And the church is called to worship Christ, love one another, and make His name known in the power of the Holy Spirit.

2. A building is a helpful tool in the church’s mission: make disciples (Mt 28:18-20)

Since the church is a people and not a building, it’s not a necessity. But, it is a tremendous blessing that the Lord uses to help advance the mission which is spiritual. A building allows us to gather together as one body and worship the Lord and obey the great commandment: make disciples. And we do this as the Word is preached, sung, seen in the ordinances, prayed, and read by God’s people gathered as God’s people.

The building God has given Del Ray is a tremendous gift that aids in our ministry. Bible studies, pastoral internships, kids ministry, Bible bootcamps, Christian schooling, and the gathering itself on Sunday are all blessed and aided by the building. The glory of a building does not rest in the size, style, and opulence, but in how God uses it to accomplish His purposes.

3. This renovation isn’t about ‘building a bigger building;’ it’s about stewarding and optimizing the space God’s given us for His glory (1 Peter 4:10, Luke 16:1-13)

God calls His people to steward any of the gifts He’s given us for His glory. Since one of the gifts He’s given our particular body is this building and piece of land, we must steward it for the glory of Christ and the spread of His fame in Alexandria and beyond. We’re not pursuing this renovation campaign so we can ‘build a bigger church building’ that we pride ourselves in, rather, we pray it would help us better steward what He’s given us to be used maximally for the work of the ministry.

DRBC Elders

WhyDel Ray Baptist Church has been building up and reaching out to meet the needs of its congregation and the local community since the 1800’s. The current building we now call home was acquired and established in 1961. Over the last 61 years the building has hosted a number of congregations, and planted churches throughout northern VA, acting as both a home and a platform for growing ministries. Over the years, the building has required significant updates to continue to meet the needs of the church. The entire building wraps around the original structure, a home built in the 1800’s. This home was never designed to support electricity, let alone the systems required to air-condition the church offices, class rooms and the main hall.

For some time, there has been a need to update and fix numerous issues. These have turned into expensive band-aids, and left the problems of a deteriorating structure unresolved. We have reached the structural limits of the original building and it is beginning to show in more frequent and greater needs arising. This does not even bring into consideration the limits faced weekly by our children’s ministry, pastoral and counseling offices and intern classrooms.

As stewards of this building, it is becoming imperative that we prayerfully consider how to equip the ministry for years to come.

More than any number, we pray God would use all of our gifts to help us better steward the building He’s given us for His glory. As wise stewards, we desire to create a space that is accessible for all, optimized for ministry, fellowship, hospitality, discipleship and education.

ENSURE HEALTH, SAFETY, & ACCESSIBILITY

UPGRADE FAILING SYSTEMS OPTIMIZE SPACES FOR EQUIPPING, WORSHIP & HOSPITALITY

Future State of the Building

Details

� Ensure the building is updated to current building codes

� Renovate and expand Children’s Wing to provide proper egress and safety requirements

� New atrium / entry foyer addition to provide accessible entrances, routes and facilities

� Site improvements will provide dedicated outdoor gathering areas that help separate pedestrian and vehicle traffic

Missional Value

“A place to equip the saints for the work of ministry for generations to come”

Details

� Efficient, economical, and easily-maintainable HVAC, plumbing, electric — AKA “The guts”— will improve overall comfort and functionality of the building, and allow us to focus on worshipping and serving the Lord together

Missional Value

“A place to assemble in worship, minimize distractions where possible”

Details

� New entry atrium to provide ample space for greeting and hospitality and improves the flow of people before / during / after worship service

� Renovated and new classrooms and offices to provide adequate space for counseling, Bible studies, and children’s ministry

� New outdoor gathering spaces will make better use of our site for youth group

Missional Value

“A place to help us make disciples of Jesus Christ as well as train future pastors& leaders in the work”

NEW EDUCATION WING

NEW ATRIUM

NEW OUTDOOR SPACE

The ASK

Over the coming weeks, there are a few key ways to be involved:

We are asking for you to first, and most importantly, partner with us in praying for the following:

1. Wisdom

Selection of the design team and the contractors who will steward this process

2. Provision

That the Lord would provide for the completion of the work financially and strategically

3. Stewardship

That we would work diligently to best steward the funds committed in light of the actual costs at the time of the renovation. Additionally that the changes made would equip generations to come, fostering gospel teaching and the great commission

Give Participate2

Prayerfully consider how you might give above and beyond your normal giving.

TYPES OF GIFTS

� One-time gift by January 2023

~ AND/OR ~

� Pledge a monthly gift for the next two years

HOW

1. Turn in your commitment card by Nov 8th.

2. Begin giving online or by check as committed.

Join us and plan to attend one of the upcoming events.

� Q&A’s with the elders and the building renovations team

� Mark your calendars for the celebration potluck dinner on November 13th!

Discussion Questions

� In what ways do you struggle with either of the following temptations?

� How have you seen stewardship modeled well in the past?

What might it look like for you in regards to this renovation campaign?

Devotional # 1

Temptations to avoid with buildings

1 Peter 2:5, Isaiah 53, Colossians 2:20-23

The church is a people bought with the precious blood of Jesus Christ. Churches don’t need buildings to exist — God’s word will go forth regardless of what physically exists. However, buildings can be a tremendous blessing from God to be used for the building up of the saints and proclamation of the gospel. And when God gives His people a building to leverage for His glory, we must be careful to avoid two common temptations:

Devotional # 2

Stewardship

Prayer Points

� Pray that God would help us boast alone in the cross of Christ.

� Pray that God would help us be wise stewards of this building.

� Pray God would give us wisdom to pursue this campaign with clarity and sincerity before Him.

Temptation #1: seeing the size and aesthetic of a building as a measure of a church’s faithfulness to God and His favor on that body

Our flesh will always be tempted to think bigger means better and that physical blessing is a sign of spiritual faithfulness. Yet, look at our Lord Jesus Christ. He was perfectly faithful to God yet “had no place to lay his head” and was a man “of suffering and familiar with pain”. And ultimately, He went to the cross to suffer the greatest injustice in all eternity so that sinners could be made right with God.

We are not renovating the building God has given us to show Alexandria how faithful we are to God or the favor He’s given us. We’re renovating it to be faithful stewards so that the work of the ministry can move forward with greater faithfulness, less distraction, and opportunities to serve and love the community.

Kids’ Activity

One of the blessings of buildings is that God uses it to help us focus on hearing God’s word! If we had to meet outside, we’d often be distracted by the weather instead of hearing God’s word. To best ensure we’re able to hear God’s word, we need to fix many of the heating / cooling systems in the church building to ensure people can come and hear the gospel!

Activity: have your kids put on winter gloves. Then, ask them to try and write with the gloves on. How did it go? Was it more difficult? Explain to them that one goal in renovating the building is to ensure we have heating / cooling so people can focus on hearing God’s word and not be distracted by the weather!

Temptation #2: asceticism that leads to a disregard and mismanagement of a building for the glory of God

If buildings aren’t necessary, why bother with them? Shouldn’t we put the money towards more ‘spiritual work’?

While buildings aren’t inherently spiritual, God gives them as a blessing to be used for His glory. A building can help us gather to hear the word of God without the distractions / limitations of weather; it can be seen by unbelievers who may be searching for God and wander into a service; and the list goes on.

God, in His kindness, has given us a building to be stewarded well. To do this well, we must prayerfully consider how the space must be optimized for ministry to flourish for generations to come.

Discussion Questions

� Are you giving regularly now?

� How much can you give above your current church giving?Matthew 25:14-30

Stewardship: How Well We Manage What We Have Matters to God

God’s Word teaches us that it is very important that we manage what He has given us with much care. While the primary purpose of the Bible is to illuminate our sin nature and to reveal Jesus as the solution to our sin nature, God also instructs us to manage everything that He has given us in a way that will advance His Kingdom now and in the future. A passage of Scripture that helps us remember this truth is Matthew 25.

In Matthew 25, Jesus teaches his Disciples about people being prepared for His return. Some will be prepared for His return and sadly others will not. While that is the primary point of the passage, there is also a lesson here about being good stewards of what God has given us.

Notice the one who was given one talent simply buried it in the ground and did not invest the talent in a way that would grow and improve what he was given. We learn that this is not how we are to live. Whatever God has given us, we are to do all we can to make it better than it was when He gave it to us. We have been given salvation, therefore, we should share that gospel truth with others. We have been given specific abilities, therefore, we should use those abilities in a way that brings God glory and advances His Kingdom. We have been given this church building, therefore, we should commit to improving it.

Our heart posture should be like the man who was given five talents who made five more and the man who was given two talents and made two more. As we commit as members to renovate the building, think about how much you can give to the effort. What we commit will be a blessing to those who worship for generations to come.

Prayer Points

� Pray that giving exceeds the current need.

� Pray that all giving will be done joyfully.

Kids’ Activity Two Dimes for Every Dollar

Have your kids set aside two dimes for every dollar every week and place it in a jar. The first dime is ten percent of a dollar for ordinary church giving and the second would represent the extra giving for the church renovation. They do not need to give it to the effort but over the course of a year, they will see the dimes fill up the jar.

Discussion Questions

� When was the last time you reflected on God’s generosity to you in Christ?

� What keeps you from doing this?

� What impact could taking 15 minutes a day for 3 days to reflect on that have for you?

Devotional # 3 Generosity

Luke 19:1-10; 2 Corinthians 3:18, 8:9

The story of Zacchaeus is familiar enough to where we might sometimes forget the main point: Jesus changes everything about those He saves. Zacchaeus was financially rich, most likely acquiring wealth from the taxes he collected. He did not seem to be a crowd favorite as they grumbled and called him a “sinner” (Lk. 19:7). Little did they know,

Q: Why are we using plans and estimates from 2017 when so much has changed in the economy?

A: While much has indeed changed, the 2017 plans provided enough in-depth analysis to help us understand the various possibilities of how the building could be best optimized for future generations. Instead of spending more money to update estimates, we thought it wise to see how much money the Lord would bring in through the body to then re-engage architects and rightly prioritize decisions based on what’s feasible.

Q: What happens if we don’t hit our goal of $12 million?

A: All the money will still be used towards renovating the building! Though we may not be able to do all we would desire, there are still great improvements that can and need to be made. We will prioritize options based on urgency and what’s best for the ministry over the long term.

Prayer Points

� Pray that the Lord would help us reflect a generous spirit to those around us.

� Pray that the Lord might increase our love for him as we reflect on his generosity toward us.

Jesus came to “seek and to save the lost” like Zacchaeus! He was given a new heart with new beliefs, affections, and desires. He was no longer the rich fool, acquiring wealth for his comforts but rather desired to be rich toward God (Lk. 12:15-21). What was the tangible evidence of his conversion? He not only gave back what he took from others but restored to them fourfold (Lk. 19:8). He was abundantly generous.

Generosity is a mark of a Christian. Whether it is generously offering your enemies your cloak when they take your tunic (Mt. 5:40), meeting the daily needs of brothers and sisters in the church (Acts 4:34-35), giving to those in need when you don’t have much in the bank (2 Cor. 8:2), or giving a Saturday to help someone move into a new apartment, Christians ought to be known for their generous spirit. But why is this so?

Q: Who will make the final design decisions on the new building?

A: Specific design decisions will be made by a core group of elders and other members of the church serving on a building committee. Final plans will be presented to the congregation to vote on during a members meeting.

Q: What is the timeline for renovations once the money comes in?

A: We plan to re-engage architects and engineers in early 2023 to begin revising plans and eventually securing permits. Renovations wouldn’t likely start until summer of 2024.

Q: Should I redirect my current offering to the building fund?

Kids’ Activity

Have the children choose a neighbor, or someone you interact with regularly, to show generosity to. This could be devoting a workday to mow their yard, making them dinner so they don’t have to, etc. Ask them to pray that the Lord might use this act of generosity to show them God’s generosity in Christ. Be ready to tell the story to the church of what the Lord did!

A Christian’s heart is meant to reflect God’s heart. A key fact of our salvation is that we were given a new heart and as we behold the Lord, we are changed from one degree of glory to another (2 Cor. 3:18). We are transformed, taking on the characteristics of our King. Our hearts begin looking more like Jesus’. So, to understand generosity we must ultimately look to the Lord Jesus who “though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich” (2 Cor. 8:9). We are not commanded to be generous without a reason or motivation. We are generous because God in Christ was eternally generous toward us. Consider these two truths:

1. God owns everything and

2. He chose to eternally bless us

From these alone, we are freed up to not be reluctant givers but generous, giving from a cheerful heart (2 Cor. 9:7). God’s generosity to us in Christ — his unbreakable grip on us for eternity — should loosen our grip on our time, talents, and treasures, using them so that others might be happy in Christ. Our generosity doesn’t flow from our abundance but from a heart changed by Jesus. Our generosity reflects a generous God to our brothers and sisters and a watching world.

FAQs

A: We’d encourage you not to do this. We’re asking each member to give above and beyond their normal offering to this specific project. God is using normal giving to keep the ministry moving forward each year.

Q: How can I give?

A: You can give online or via check. Select ‘renovation fund’ for category if giving online or write ‘renovation fund’ in the check memo line.

Q: What about building projects / repairs in the meantime until renovations begin?

A: We have a separate Capital Expenditures budget that will continue to cover necessary repairs and projects until renovations begin.

Q: Is the goal to make a bigger building to allow for a larger church membership?

A: No, our primary goal is stewarding this building in such a way that ministry can move forward for generations to come — by improving health, safety, and accessibility; fixing broken systems; and optimizing the space for use. While plans have not been made, there is a possibility of changing the layout of the main hall in such a way that congregational singing would be enhanced while at the same time adding some more seating capacity.

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