Tomorrow First Capital Campaign

Tomorrow First is our capital campaign to replace our church's 50+ year old heating and cooling system. By investing in tomorrow's ministry today, we're ensuring our building can reliably serve our congregation and community for decades to come.

Our system from the late 1960s is well beyond its 15-20 year design life. We currently face limited temperature control, week-long seasonal changeovers, obsolete controllers that randomly reset, and risk of catastrophic failure that could shut down our building for 4-6 months. Proactive replacement ensures uninterrupted ministry.

Emergency repairs only address immediate problems while leaving us vulnerable to future failures. A breakdown during extreme weather could close our building for months, shutting down worship, the food cupboard, STEPMC programs, and all community ministries. Planning ahead minimizes disruption and ensures reliability.

• Year-round heating and cooling without seasonal delays
• Individual room temperature controls
• Improved air circulation throughout the building
• Climate control for currently uncomfortable spaces (Chapel, Serve Center, Couch Land)
• Quieter operation in Hess Hall
• Energy efficiency savings
• Reliable, easy-to-use controls

The total cost is $2.7 million. Here's what's included:

• Construction contract with P1 Service: $2.4 million (covers everything - planning, equipment, and installation)
• Contingency funds for unexpected issues
• Campaign costs

We're getting a complete system that will last 20-30 years. It includes new equipment, modern controls, building updates, professional installation, and testing to make sure everything works right.

P1 Service was selected after thorough evaluation. They bring extensive church and institutional project experience, have service personnel in McPherson daily, and provided the most comprehensive proposal including all engineering, equipment, and installation.

• September 14, 2025: Campaign launch (Gratitude Sunday)
• October 12, 2025: Commitment Sunday
• November 23, 2025: All Church Conference vote for final approval
• December 1, 2025: P1 contract decision deadline
• February-July 2026: Construction (5 months, weather permitting)
• 2025-2028: Campaign pledge fulfillment

Worship services will continue as scheduled. During system switchover, we'll be without climate control for approximately two weeks (including two Sundays), scheduled between seasons for comfort. Some areas may rotate temporary closures, with alternative spaces identified for affected programs.

We're asking our church family to raise $1.75 million over three years through the Tomorrow First campaign. We'll also use:

• About $117,000 we already have saved for this project
• $20,000 grant from the conference
• Church savings and/or loans if needed

If we exceed our campaign goal, we'll need less from reserves or loans. We're trusting God to provide through the generosity of our congregation. We'll use construction financing to pay bills while pledge money comes in over three years.

Separate from the capital campaign, we're implementing a sustainable ministry funding approach through adjusted investment fund usage, growing congregational giving, and aligning expenses. This ensures stable ministry operations for years to come.

Commitment Sunday is October 12, when we'll learn how much our congregation pledges toward our goal. Our whole church will vote on November 23 to decide whether to move forward.

For a project of this scope with a three-year campaign, it's normal to need a loan to bridge timing between construction costs and pledge payments. If we exceed our goal, we'll borrow less. If we fall short, we'll borrow more. The loan will be paid back as pledges come in and through our regular budget, if needed.

We're committed to being responsible stewards as we seek to complete this essential project. The December 1 contract deadline gives us time to make an informed decision based on campaign results.

Three-year commitments allow larger gifts spread across four tax years (2025-2028), provide giving flexibility, and follow capital campaign best practices. Research shows this approach raises significantly more than single-year campaigns.

Yes! Consider tax advantages of giving appreciated stocks, real estate, or IRA charitable distributions (age 70½+). We've partnered with the Kansas Methodist Foundation to make stock transfers simple - learn more about donating stock here. For other non-cash gifts or to discuss options confidentially, contact Pastor Andrew or Sandy Hunter.

• Pray for wisdom, unity, and God's provision
• Participate in information sessions
• Give through a prayerful three-year commitment
• Volunteer with campaign teams
• Share why this matters for our future

Our building hosts vital ministries weekly: worship services, food cupboard serving 13 families, STEPMC programs, youth activities, and community groups. Tomorrow First ensures these ministries continue uninterrupted while positioning us to expand our impact as a servant church experiencing and sharing God's grace.