Frequently Asked Questions - LFAC
Find answers to your questions about building, rental, vision, CCS, and starting new churches.
FAQs on a Building and Building Fund
When will we have our own sanctuary and no longer rent on Sundays and Wednesdays? What’s the
hold up for us to begin construction? Is it a lack of money? Or a change in vision? If a $3 million gift
were given, would we build?
Over the next five years, LFA will continue to rent and will not actively pursue building our own sanctuary. We are
finalizing a long-term rental agreement to conduct both Sunday worship and Wednesday night activities at
Cumberland Christian School.
The primary issue driving this decision is similar to what a healthy family does when funds are limited: we prioritize
our values so we can live within our means. If $3 million were given, yes, we probably would build. But we
probably wouldn’t have had to do the hard, yet healthy work of prioritizing our values. Since we don’t have the
money to build, our assessment has led us to better understand our priorities.
Although we understand that a permanent building might be convenient and comfortable, might give a sense of
security and stability, and could be used to fulfill God-given vision, LFA leadership sees three challenges that keep us
from prioritizing building now:
➡ We believe our first and greatest priority — even more than our desire to meet in our own building — is the call
to do our part to provide every man, woman, and child in South Jersey with repeated opportunities to see, hear,
and respond to the Gospel of Jesus Christ and grow as His disciples. Constructing a building requires a large
amount of upfront money, time, and energy to raise the necessary funds. Or it requires a disproportional amount
of our budget to support a long-term mortgage. From that perspective, focusing on a new building, at this time,
could have overwhelming potential to tie our hands from doing the priority ministry we are called to do. At
another time, that may not be the case.
➡ Constructing physical buildings is not the ultimate vision of a church. Everything we invest in a "building" must
serve, not dictate, the highest vision of a church.
Why can't we simply build a cheaper, smaller building rather than sink all this money into rent for
five years? Or, why can't we start now and just build it bit by bit? Or have the men of the church
volunteer to build it?
During 2010, in an attempt to design a scaled-back building, we researched ways to significantly reduce the total
projected cost of $3.7 million. The research team, made up of people experienced in commercial construction, was
commissioned to determine the potential of a new building design that would ...
➡ Cost significantly less than our original plan but still meet our growing needs as detailed in our original
architectural plans,
➡ Fit within the original footprint approved by the city planning board so as to not incur more costs in reapplying,
➡ Be permanent and fit within our long-term building plan — would not need to be torn down to make room for
future construction,
➡ Consult with builders/design firms who would consider staging out the building process without cost prohibitive
overlapping steps
We discovered that even the most scaled-back metal shell of a building (that is, not outfitted with carpet, sound,
chairs, walls for classrooms, etc.) would cost a minimum of $1.44 million. Even a shell building requires that
extensive site-work be done first. Grading, parking, and lighting would cost about $600,000, and the bulk of that
work could not be done by volunteers. Furthermore, mortgage for the building and site work would be
approximately $16,000 per month, or 28% of our current budget. When we approached organizations that might
loan us the money, they told us the mortgage would be too great a percentage of our budget.
We made the decision then that it would be unwise to
Site work and shell
prioritize so much of our general fund for building
building - mortgage CCS - rental
construction alone. Furthermore, our rental at CCS will
Annual cost $199,680 $16,000
be, in round figures, $16,000 annually. What we would
pay in one month for a mortgage ($16,640) is roughly % of 2011 budget 26% 2.1%
equivalent to what it will cost for a year of rent at % of 2012 budget 28% 2.3%
CCS ($16,000).
If I made a pledge to the building fund, or if I want to give towards our future building, should I
continue giving to the building fund? What will happen to the money currently in the building fund?
Our decision to not build over the next five years is NOT a commitment to never build, or any kind of statement
against church building or investing in our current building. We believe a time will come when we will build our
own sanctuary, and we presently have projects we would like to complete towards that eventual construction.
Therefore, any current giving to the building fund is appropriate and will position us to build in the future when it
seems prudent to do so. Funds given to the building fund will be spent exclusively on projects that the Governing
Elders consider essential for a new building.
So are we making plans for how to best use our Lincoln property in the near and distant future?
As building fund money is available, the Governing Elders may authorize projects that move us towards a new
building, such as site grading, parking, curbs, and sewage handling.
FAQs on Vision
Has our vision changed? Are we still looking to be a training center where people are equipped and
sent out?
Our vision has not changed. LFAC exists to win and equip followers of Jesus who love God passionately, to make
disciples continually, and to plant churches regularly as lives, families, and communities are transformed by the
Gospel of Jesus.
In support of that vision, back in 2003, LFA leadership embraced the idea of and has been leading toward the time
when LFA would establish a network of at least five churches that, together, would effectively demonstrate and
clearly articulate the Gospel of Jesus among lost people of South Jersey from Camden to Atlantic City, reaching out
and moving towards those who don’t live near us in Vineland and don’t know Jesus yet. This is the vision towards
which we continue to move.
Don’t we need to have a "stable" home/building before we can move outward?
Though we believe our home "base” of regular attenders needs to solidify around 700 people, we are not convinced
that moving into our own building is an essential, early step for us to fulfill our vision.
I'm used to church being a certain way. Not having a building and all this moving makes me feel
“homeless” … like what we do is not "church." What am I supposed to do with my feelings that LFA
is not like a normal church?
It is natural to feel comfortable or “at home” in one setting more than another. Similarly, some people experience
more meaningful worship depending on the musical style of the worship leader and the aesthetics of the meeting
place. Such stylistic preferences are not wrong, but simply part of what it means to be human.
Still, we must remember that overemphasizing our personal preferences can, at times, exclude us or blind us from
what God may be doing. We want to prioritize God’s agenda while remaining sensitive to personal preferences and
needs. So even though we intend to take into consideration people’s comfort zones, it is important to not set too
strict a boundary around our comfort, culture, or what we are “used to.” In our move to CCS, we will attempt to
address appropriate desires to have a sense of “sacred space” while addressing the needs of people with special
physical needs and providing a God-centered, comfortable physical setting for our worship experience.
How do I trust that the church leadership has heard from God and this path of moving to CCS and
starting new churches is the right direction?
It is a challenge for all of us to follow leadership, particularly when there is an element of risk or when we are
stretched into the unknown. That challenge was part of the human experience under even great leaders like Moses.
Though called to follow leaders even when we’re challenged, still, we are not supposed to “put up” with anything or
follow any leaders. We must discern.
As a general rule, when discerning the credibility of Christian leaders, and choosing to follow or not, it is wise to
consider three things:
1) Consider the leaders' words — Are they aligned with God’s Word?
2) Consider their life — Are they setting an example? (1 Timothy 4:12; Titus 2:7)
3) Consider the fruit of their leadership — Is there fruitful evidence that they are gifted by God for their role?
(Matthew 7:15-20)
Likewise, there is one thing to avoid: We must continually reject a consumer mindset that tends to ask “is my leader
doing what I want him to do?” Though we often recognize the burden that leaders carry, we need to be reminded
that the call to follow is a serious biblical command to be obeyed.
FAQs on a Renting Cumberland Christian School and Staying Portable
When will LFA start meeting at CCS on both Wednesdays and Sundays?
We are in the last stages of signing a long-term rental agreement with Cumberland Christian School to use their
facilities for Sunday mornings and Wednesday nights starting sometime in 2012. We hope to use CCS for our
Christmas Eve and New Years worship services. We will make the move to CCS permanent after we have the
necessary equipment and supplies in place and the set-up teams are adequately staffed and trained.
Aren't our set-up and tear-down teams already overloaded? Won’t renting at CCS be a lot more work
for a long time? What effect will this move have on the set-up teams?
Yes, it is a lot of work (and often under-appreciated) to come early or stay late on Sunday or Wednesday to prepare a
“sacred” space for us to meet God. And, yes, since folding and unfolding a few hundred chairs will be part of the
weekly CCS set-up, this move will in reality increase the workload. Still, we value the potential of this missional
service in our lives as we become stronger followers of Jesus.
Volunteering to serve on a set-up team at LFA has the potential to missionally engage people who might feel they
have no other way to be part of God’s Kingdom work. Recognizing both the value AND the plain hard work of
serving on a set-up team, we are committed to not overwork or to burn out those who serve us in this significant way.
We pledge to make the necessary changes to provide them with a rewarding, positive experience.
Where is the money coming from to renovate CCS?
By consolidating our activities at CCS, we will save roughly $8,500 - $10,000 in annual rent payments. Part of the
reason we can save so much is because we are providing capital improvements to the CCS facility (primarily heating/
AC and lighting) in lieu of rent. These improvements require seed money from us but, over the long haul, will yield
substantial savings. The upfront money for renovations and set-up costs will come from two sources: About one-third
will come from a special undesignated gift recently given to our church, and the other two-thirds will come from
borrowing from our existing cash reserves. We will pay back those reserves over the next five years.
Wallace is adequate and it is at least an auditorium. Why would we move to a gymnasium? And why
CCS?
One of the priorities that the Governing Elders established during this year is that we simplify our meeting places,
reducing our weekly meeting places from three to two. CCS offers scheduling flexibility, and a long-term rental
agreement with CCS better protects us from not knowing if we will be able to continue to meet at Wallace each year.
Although an auditorium can be a better meeting place than a gymnasium, many people have come to feel that even
Wallace was an unacceptable location for various reasons. Through our CCS set-up design, we expect to bring
sufficient changes to the gym so that it becomes a place for us to freely encounter God.
FAQs on the Vision of Developing New Churches through "Multi-site"
What do you mean when you say we will start new churches through multi-site?
Similar to how LFA currently is one church worshiping at two different times on Sunday morning, imagine us as one
church worshiping at two (or more) different locations throughout our region. Along with LFA Vineland, imagine LFA
Bridgeton or LFA Elmer or LFA Buena. As a multi-site church, we will be one church with one common vision,
budget, leadership and board, yet reaching out and moving towards people who don’t live near us in Vineland and
who don’t know Jesus yet. As we approach the time to launch our first new church (lead time to start a new church
will be about one year), the many details that must be addressed will become clear.
Will the pursuit of starting new churches instead of building a new building enable us to reach more
people with the Gospel?
Our records indicate that 84% of those who attend LFA travel less than 20 minutes to get there. Given the population
of South Jersey, it’s obvious there are many more people who live more than 20 minutes from us that need to be
reached. We believe moving near the many unreached people of South Jersey, God will transform lives through the
ministry of LFA.
How will starting new churches instead of building a new building going to help our church family
become more mature disciples?
From our experiences in Alpha and Pastorates, through Summer Missions and Taste of Mission, from trips to
Waveland, MS and trips around the US and the world, we have learned that we find our sweet spot — we flourish —
when we prioritize "mission." Living Jesus’ design for our life, on mission:
➡ Our hearts are infused with Jesus’ heart,
➡ We grow best as followers of Jesus,
➡ We develop community and authentic relationships,
➡ Our families are awakened to greater purpose.
As we engage more of our church in the mission of bringing the Gospel to those who live in our region, LFA will
continue to live in our sweet spot, flourishing in Jesus’ design for our life.
What steps do we need to take to be ready to launch our first new church?
➡ Make the transition to CCS successfully.
➡ Increase the quality of our worship experience on Sunday morning by bringing new attention to 1) children’s
ministry, 2) worship, and 3) welcoming guests.
➡ Connecting the Sunday morning attenders to a next step in their discipleship process (serving on a team, TFL,
Alpha, Pastorate).
➡ Enhancing the experience of serving on ministry teams (including set-up team).
➡ Increase our Sunday Attendance to 700, so we can send 10% of our congregation to serve as volunteers in the
first new church.
What if I have more questions or want clearer answers?
Feel free to talk with any of the pastors or email your concerns to questions@lfachurch.org
I’m getting this vision, I’m getting inspired, and I want to do something about it. How do I get
involved?
➡ Right now, one of the places we really need to rally our strength is through the ministry teams. Volunteer for a set-
up team or a technical team by email: churchoffice@lfachurch.org
➡ Another step is to pray about being ready to volunteer to support the beginning of a new church in our region
when the time comes.
➡ Talk with a pastor about what might be your next step in the discipleship process.