Tomorrow First
The Story of Tomorrow First
After a year of planning, praying, and generous giving, construction on our Tomorrow First HVAC project began February 23, 2026. Our entire heating and cooling system has been replaced with modern, energy-efficient equipment that will serve our congregation and community for the next 30 to 40 years. The new system is now up and running.
This was never just about pipes and equipment. It is about comfortable worship spaces where families can focus on God. It is about classrooms where children can learn without distraction. It is about a building that welcomes our community year-round, from Vacation Bible School in July to Scout meetings in January.
Where the Project Stands
Current phase: Final closeout and finishing work
Contractor: P1 Service, LLC
System status: New heating and cooling system online and running
Remaining work: Finish carpentry, paint, ceiling tile, and final inspections
Last updated: August 4, 2026
Where the Campaign Stands
113 households have made three-year commitments totaling $1,845,113, significantly exceeding our $1.75 million goal. As of August 4, 2026, $1,007,094 has been received, 58% of the goal. The church covered construction costs with a bridge loan while campaign gifts come in, so every gift now pays down loan principal and reduces the interest we pay. Giving continues through October 2028.
Construction Updates
Twenty-two weeks, start to finish
Construction ran from February 23 through July 2026 in four phases, with the crew from P1 Service, LLC on site Monday through Thursday. Worship continued as normal every Sunday throughout, and the building was cleaned up and usable each weekend.
Owner, controls, and equipment training was completed in late July, and the new system is now running. What remains is finish work: paint, doors, trim, ceiling tile, and final city and state inspections.
Weekly updates from the whole project, with photos, are collected in our news feed.
What Makes This Possible
A building that stays comfortable is a building that stays open.
The new system means worship without distraction, classrooms that work in January and July, and space the wider community can use in any season. That is the point of the whole project: not the equipment, but the ministry it makes room for.
Generosity is one of the five promises we make as members of McPherson First, alongside prayers, presence, service, and witness. Tomorrow First is one expression of that promise. There are many others.
Frequently Asked Questions
On November 23, 2025, our congregation voted 72-1 to authorize the Tomorrow First project. The campaign has grown since then: 113 households have made three-year commitments totaling $1,845,113, significantly exceeding our $1.75 million goal. As of August 4, 2026, $1,007,094 has been received, 58% of the goal. Crossing $1 million in gifts received is a milestone worth naming, and it directly reduces what the church still owes on construction. This response demonstrates our shared commitment to ensuring McPherson First remains a vibrant home for ministry for generations to come.
Yes, and it still matters. Construction costs came due before all campaign gifts arrive, so the church is carrying the difference. Every gift reduces that balance and the interest that goes with it, which means more of the church’s resources go to ministry.
If you made a three-year commitment in 2025, your continued giving through October 2028 is exactly what the plan depends on. If you did not, gifts of any size are welcome at any time. Give to Tomorrow First.
Construction ran from February 23 through July 2026. The crew from P1 Service, LLC worked Monday through Thursday across four phases. Worship services continued as scheduled throughout, and the two-week stretch without climate control during the system switchover was scheduled between seasons. The new system is now running, and the remaining work is finish carpentry, paint, ceiling tile, and final city and state inspections.
The new HVAC system delivers individual room temperature control, year-round reliability without seasonal changeovers, energy-efficient operation that significantly reduces utility costs, and comfortable spaces for all ministries. Every space, from the Chapel to the Serve Center, is welcoming and comfortable, removing barriers to hospitality and expanding our capacity for ministry.
The congregation authorized three funding sources, in order: First Fruits offerings, up to $1.0 million from unrestricted invested funds (estate gifts from faithful members), and a bridge loan of up to $1.7 million from Wesleyan Impact Partners and the Kansas Methodist Foundation, secured by church property, with a three-year term and interest-only monthly payments. P1 billed the church monthly through construction, and the church drew only what it needed as those bills came due.
We make monthly interest payments throughout the loan term. As campaign commitments, First Fruits offerings, potential energy efficiency grants, and other available funds come in, we use these to pay down the loan principal over the three-year period. When we have enough capital campaign funds to cover the next three interest payments, we use some of those funds to pay down principal, which reduces our overall interest expense. Strong campaign results meant we borrowed less initially and can pay off the loan more quickly. We are also working to increase annual giving and manage expenses carefully, with a goal of reducing our reliance on invested funds for operations.
Yes! Consider tax advantages of giving appreciated stocks, real estate, or IRA charitable distributions (age 70½+). We’ve set up an easy process for stock transfers. Learn more about donating stock. For other non-cash gifts or to discuss options confidentially, contact Pastor Andrew or Karen Snyder.
The Tomorrow First project is possible because faithful members who came before us included the church in their estate plans. Their generosity allows us to invest in tomorrow's ministry today. We have the opportunity to pay that gift forward by making our own plans to support the church's future. Whether through your will, trust, or beneficiary designations, legacy giving ensures McPherson First continues welcoming and serving generations yet to come. For confidential conversations about how you can be part of the church's future, contact Pastor Andrew or Sandy Hunter.
Our Treasurer and Leadership Board track financing and campaign progress each month. We share regular updates in worship and by email, and weekly construction updates from the whole project are collected in our news feed. Current campaign totals are posted on this page and updated as gifts come in.