***(Latest update at the bottom of the page)***

What is BRIX?
Our church is experiencing a season of new vision for our future. Last year, our Pastoral Staff and Leadership Team began praying about next steps for Bayside Woodland, during which we learned about two amazing resources. First, we found out that our denomination is willing to help us purchase property for a permanent home by financing a loan and making payments for us until we’re ready to build. Second, through the Bayside Family of Churches, we learned about The Community & Sports Development Council. This organization is willing to finance 70% of our construction costs when it’s time to build.

After consulting with Leadership and Congregational Coach Alan Forsman, our Leadership Team sensed a strong prompting from the Lord to begin moving towards a new home for Bayside Woodland. Our vision is to provide services to our community – including:

• After-school homework assistance
• Art and music classes
• Training in computer technology
• After-school sports
• Hot meals for families

That vision was refined further in consultation with John Jackson, church planting coach and Executive Pastor of Bayside Granite Bay. John counseled us that an intermediate step was necessary and urged us to consider leasing a building for the next 3 to 5 years. This step would provide a home for our Men’s, Women’s and Singles’ Ministries, our upcoming Children’s midweek programming (AWANA Club), and our Youth Ministry. It would also allow us to grow to a size (500-700) that can better carry out our vision to serve Woodland – and expand our financial base to better afford a new facility.

What’s next?

I’m asking all of us who consider Bayside our church home to help as much as you can in 3 Key Areas:

• Pray for our Building Search Team to find the right building for us to lease.
• Commit to helping our building fund reach $250K for construction and furnishings for our new facility.
• Continue your faithful financial support of Bayside through the summer.

This is a season of financial challenge for all of us, and our church is no exception. But it’s important for us not to miss another reality: this is also a season of unprecedented opportunity for our church. People are looking for help and hope in this season of uncertainty, and we have both. In many ways, this is the moment we’ve been waiting for.

I believe the Apostle Paul captured the spirit of this moment at Bayside when he wrote these verses:

“Let us not grow weary in doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.” – Galatians 6:9

“Be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the Lord’s work, knowing that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” – 1 Corinthians 15:58

It’s a joy and privilege to partner with you in this historic season for our church. Let’s make the most of it together!

Warmly in Christ,

John Withem,

Lead Pastor

BRIX UPDATE: 08/07/11

FINANCIAL UPDATE
We want to start by thanking those of you who have given or continue to give to the BRIX campaign. Thank you for investing not only in the future of our church, but the future of this community. Here is a quick financial update on the BRIX campaign as of Sunday, August 7, 2011.

Phase #1:
This was the initial six month commitment to raise funds for T.I.’s (Tenant Improvements) in a new intermediate (3 to 5 yr.) church home. We made these commitments in October of 2010. We hope to collect a minimum of $77,537.92. So far we have collected $57,497.02 of the Phase #1 pledges, and we hope to collect the remaining $20,140.90 or more during the next few months.

Phase #2:
This is the long-term three year commitment to raise funds for a permanent church home (Property and construction costs). We also started these commitments in October of 2010, so October 2013 will be the end of the Phase #2 fund-raising. We hope to collect a minimum of $166,932.20. So far we have collected $12,865.34 of the Phase #2 pledges, and we hope to collect the remaining $154,066.86 or more by October 2013. At that time we will assess the financial health of the church and determine if we are in a place to move forward with plans for a permanent location. If not, these funds will remain set aside until that is possible.

Unpledged Funds: Some funds are coming in generally for BRIX. Not labeled Phase #1 or Phase #2. These funds will be put into use as part of Phase #1.

Expenses: We have had a total of $4,917.81 in BRIX expenses which consists primarily of attorney fees and a few smaller miscellaneous expenses.

 

PROPERTY UPDATE
The search continues. Trying to find an existing building that will meet all the needs we are hoping to address has proven to be quite a task. We’re looking for something close to the following:

• Approx. 14,000 to 16,000 sq. ft.
• Initial monthly rent of approx. $4500
• Would consider a central location if it presented itself, but preference is the East side of town because there are less churches on east end of town and most new development is and will be on the east end.

The majority of available space in Woodland is industrial space, which consists primarily of wide open warehouses. The tenant improvement costs for such spaces would be astronomical. So we continue to pray and seek God’s direction for the right place to present itself. Please continue to pray with us!