Exciting things are happening at Bethel as we continue preparing for the next phase of our Growing in Faith journey! We are grateful for your prayers, support, patience, and flexibility as we work together through these transitions. Our goal is to make this process as smooth, organized, and uplifting as possible for everyone.

Key Dates Ahead — Worship and Sunday School:

• Sunday, May 31 – Last day of Sunday School in our current classrooms.
• Sunday, June 7 – First day of Sunday School in our new classrooms.
  • Logos: Fellowship Hall
  • Mosaic: Choir room
  • Seekers: Down Under, second room on the right
• Sunday, June 21 – Sunday, July 26
• We will have one combined worship service at 10:00 AM for six weeks, with Sunday School at 9:00 AM.
• Sunday, August 2 – Sunday, August 30
  We will return to our normal 9:00 AM and 11:00 AM worship services, with both services meeting in the Sanctuary during Phase I of the building redesign work. During these five weeks, we will also enjoy combined Sunday School at 10:00 AM in the Fellowship Hall.

This is an exciting season in the life of Bethel! Every adjustment we make today is helping prepare the way for future ministry, fellowship, and growth. Thank you for walking through this transition with such a positive spirit and servant-hearted attitude.

The Session committed to providing regular updates on the financial progress for our Growing in Faith Campaign during our congregational meeting. This is the first such report. We will continue to update you on a regular basis.

The total contributions received through March were $3,503,768. This includes both pledged and non-pledged giving. Pledge giving totaled $2,644,451 of the $7,647,951 pledged, with an additional $859,317 of non-pledged giving. Praise God for these gifts. We continue to receive new pledges ($20,000 in March). We encourage anyone who has not pledged and feels led to do so to please contact David Carson. Total building expenses through March were $659,624, which were non-direct construction expenses such as architectural, project management, campaign assistance etc. We thank you for your generous support. Please continue to pray for the build team as we near the exciting start of this important time in the life of Bethel.

After prayerful consideration and healthy debate, the Session has voted to use Wesleyan Impact Partners, a non-traditional loan partner. Wesleyan is a not-for-profit institution that lends money to churches and other non-profits as they expand their missions to serve the Lord. Any income that they receive from interest charged goes right back into providing loans for other churches. As a result of being a not-for-profit lender, they are able to offer more competitive rates and other terms that are more favorable than traditional commercial banks.

Since we have cash on hand to pay for phase one, we will not be finalizing a loan until late 2026 or early 2027 as we begin phase two. As a result, we cannot tell you exactly what the loan percentage will be, but we are confident that it will be favorable to Bethel. As part of their offer, we have to potential to pay interest only for up to six years if that is needed.

Another unique aspect of Wesleyan’s offer is that if we deposit our pledge money with them, they will reduce our interest rate commensurate with the amount we deposit at loan closing. If we are able to deposit $2 million at the time of closing, our loan interest rate would be reduced by one full percentage point. This will result in monthly interest savings between $5,000 and $7,000 per month. As of today, taking into account the estimated cost of phase one, we have roughly $1 million that would be available to deposit. So, for those who have pledged and are able to contribute towards those pledges between now and the end of this year, that will only enhance our ability to reduce our interest rate and ultimately reduce the overall cost of this important project.

Thank you again for your generous giving to date. We expect to provide financial updates every two months or so unless the situation requires more frequent updates.   

The Build Team continues to make steady progress as plans move closer to implementation, with a tentative groundbreaking date of June 21.

Phase I: Children’s Ministry Wing
Preparation for construction is underway, with demolition scheduled to begin June 8. The goal is to have this phase completed and ready for use by the December Bazaar.

Family Life Center (FLC)
The FLC will remain available for Vacation Bible School (June 15–19). Following VBS, construction of the Youth Center is set to begin June 19. The space is tentatively planned to reopen in time for the December Bazaar.

Phase II: Sanctuary Renovations
Both worship services will continue in the Sanctuary through the end of 2026, with a planned transition to the FLC in January 2027 as demolition begins. Final design selections, including colors, are ongoing, and the permitting process is currently in progress.

We are making steady, intentional progress as plans move from vision into action.

• Preschool and Gym drawings are being finalized
• Sanctuary and Gathering Area plans are in detailed review
• Office relocation is being prepared to support construction

Project Timeline
This is the best information we have to date. We may see some changes as final plans are ratified.

Preschool & Gym Phase

April 20 – May 8
→ Final pricing completed

May 11 – May 22
→ Leadership review and approval

Late May – June
→ Construction mobilization

June 2026 – January 2027
→ Construction underway

Sanctuary & Gathering Area Phase

Now – May 1
→ Final design and construction drawings

May 4 – May 29
→ Detailed pricing

Next Step
→ Leadership review and approval

Why This Matters

This project is about more than buildings, it’s about preparing Bethel for:

• Stronger ministry to children and families
• More welcoming and functional gathering spaces
• Long-term impact in our community

How You Can Be Part of It

• Pray for guidance and protection
• Stay engaged with updates
• Pledge if you’ve not already done so – work is about to start
• Give faithfully to help reduce the need for borrowing

Moving Forward Together

We are seeing real momentum. Careful planning is turning into visible progress and every step is guided by faith and purpose.

Thank you for walking this journey with us.

Church Office Now at Bethel Haven

We are excited to share that our church office has successfully moved across the street to Bethel Haven.

This marks a major step forward in the Growing in Faith campaign and reflects the steady progress being made across our campus.

What Has Been Accomplished

Our Transition Team has completed the move by:

• Clearing out and preparing the new space
• Relocating office furniture, desks, and equipment
• Moving computers, books, and ministry resources
• Setting up staff workspaces for daily ministry

The new office is now active and supporting the ongoing work of the church.

Continuing to Improve the Space

While the move is complete, work continues to make the space even more effective and welcoming:

• Adding décor and artwork
• Enhancing acoustics with sound-dampening elements
• Fine-tuning organization and functionality

Looking Ahead

We are also beginning to evaluate and plan for exterior improvements, including:

• Entryways and gathering areas
• Porches, windows, and railings
• General cleaning, repair, and upkeep

Moving Forward Together

The transition to Bethel Haven allows us to continue moving ahead with construction and renovation while keeping ministry strong and uninterrupted.

Thank you for your continued prayers, generosity, and support as we move forward together.

Fundraising Progress as of March 1^st.

As we continue this journey together, we want to keep everyone informed on where we stand, and more importantly, what God is already doing through your generosity.

Where We Are

Pledges Collected: $2,347,823

• Other Contributions: $823,826
• Total Cash Collected: $3,192,805

(Total cash includes interest earned on campaign funds.)

What This Means

We have now crossed the $3.19 million mark in collected funds, which is a strong and encouraging milestone for our campaign.

This reflects:

• Faithful follow-through on commitments
• Generosity beyond pledges
• Wise stewardship through earned interest

That combination matters, it strengthens our position as we move forward and helps reduce the amount we may ultimately need to finance.

Why It Matters Now

Every dollar given before and during construction directly impacts the size of the future loan. Simply put: The more we give now, the more freedom Bethel has later.

Thank You

If you’ve been giving—keep going.
If you’ve made a pledge—stay faithful.
If you haven’t yet participated—you can pledge and give online at any time.

This campaign is about creating space for ministry, connection, and future generations to encounter Christ at Bethel.

And you are helping make that possible, thank you!

Dear Bethel Friends and Covenant Partners,

Sunday afternoon’s congregational meeting marked the beginning of a new chapter in the life of our church. We give thanks to God for His faithfulness and for the spirit of prayer, thoughtfulness, and unity that has guided Bethel throughout the Growing in Faith campaign.

For those who were unable to attend, the congregation gathered to hear a recommendation from the Session to approve two motions related to the funding and future of the Growing in Faith renovation project. The motions were:

1. To approve a line of credit/loan of up to $8.5 million to finance the building project, secured by a deed of trust on church property.
2. To approve the marketing and sale of our property across the street, including Bethel Haven and the Blaze building, with proceeds used to help service the loan for the project.

There were 209 Covenant Partners present at the meeting. After hearing from nineteen voices in support and none in opposition, the congregation proceeded to vote. The ballots were collected by the appointed tellers—Roxanne Hudson, Jim Mohr, Allen Hauser, and Derek Pastwick—and counted in a separate room.

The results were as follows:

• Motion 1 passed with 163 votes in favor (79%), exceeding the required 67%.
• Motion 2 passed with 162 votes in favor (79%), exceeding the required 51%.

We are deeply grateful for the prayerful engagement of our congregation in this important moment. At the same time, we recognize that some members of our church family had reservations regarding the project, its funding, or the direction it represents. These brothers and sisters remain a valued and loved part of our church family. Even when we see things differently, we remain united in Christ.

As we move forward, we are reminded of Jesus’ prayer for His people in John 17:20–23, that we would be one as He and the Father are one. Our hope and prayer is that Bethel would continue to live into that unity, trusting that our shared witness to the gospel will point others to Christ. As the project moves ahead, there are several upcoming milestones to note:

• The Transition Team, led by Luis Ferreiro, has set April 9 as the planned date for relocating church offices to the Bethel Haven house.
• Beginning Monday, April 13, church ministry offices will operate from Bethel Haven.
• Sunday School classes will continue meeting in their current locations until construction begins. When that time comes, the Transition Team and Christian Education Committee will communicate new locations to teachers and volunteers.

The Build Team will continue finalizing plans and permits for Phase One of the renovation, which includes the Children’s Ministry Wing below the gym, along with improvements to the gym and lobby areas of the Family Life Center. Construction is tentatively expected to begin in May, with the hope that the Children’s Ministry Wing will be completed in time for the second semester of Preschool classes.

For those who would still like to participate in the Growing in Faith campaign, you can make a pledge or contribution by filling out a pledge card available in the church office or in the narthex of either worship space. You may also pledge or give online by visiting the campaign page and selecting the “GIVE” button: https://bethellkn.org/grow

Finally, we want to express heartfelt gratitude to the many people who have served faithfully to bring Bethel to this moment. Thank you to the Build Team—Joe Roy, Randy Ford, Martha Landis, Beth Lester, and Olen Persons—for your countless hours, wisdom, and dedication.

Thank you to our Capital Campaign Chairs, David and Karen Beard, and Mark and Tina Ariail, for your leadership, organization, and encouragement of the many volunteers who made this campaign possible.

And thank you to the more than 130 households who have already pledged or contributed toward this vision. Your generosity and faith are a tremendous encouragement and a vital part of what God is doing among us.

Above all, we give thanks to God, who has faithfully led Bethel every step of the way. As we step into this next season, we do so with humility, prayer, and gratitude, trusting His continued guidance.

As Scripture reminds us: “Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His steadfast love endures forever.”

With gratitude and hope,

Pastor Aaron

The Build Team has been hard at work, carefully price engineering each element of the renovation project to ensure construction is completed in the most cost-effective and responsible way possible. Designs, materials, and systems continue to be refined in close coordination with partners so that we are stewarding resources wisely while preserving the Growing in Faith vision.

The Children’s Ministry Wing plans are complete and construction-ready, and the Gathering Area and Sanctuary renovation plans are in their final stages of preparation. As the session and Finance Team work towards next steps, our team is ensuring these plans will be ready to be executed.

Last week, Campaign co-chair David Beard shared an update with the Session, focusing on ways covenant partners can stay informed and engaged as we move toward a congregational vote. He highlighted that Bethel’s website has been updated with a wide range of helpful information and will continue to be refreshed as new details become available. Covenant partners are encouraged to explore the Growing in Faith webpage and to share information through conversations.

The Building Committee also provided a report to the Session. They expect to receive the final cost for the Children’s Educational Wing on February 6. In parallel, Randy Ford continues conversations with banks to gather information on potential loan options. As a reminder, the role of the Financing Team (comprised of Mark Ariail, Randy Ford, Marcus Lee, and Jim Mohr) is to develop borrowing assumptions, explore lending options, and identify financial risks for Session’s consideration. Session remains responsible for determining whether and how much to borrow, communicating risks to the congregation, approving a repayment plan that protects Bethel’s ministry and mission, and ultimately bringing a recommendation to the congregation for a vote.

Looking ahead, Session will meet on February 10 at 7:00 PM to review loan options, and to discuss the details and timing of the congregational meeting.

The renovations ahead represent a significant investment in Bethel’s long-term ministry, mission, and future. Because of this, the Campaign Team and Session are committed to moving forward with clarity, care, and trust—not speed. Our focus remains on sound financial assumptions, responsible borrowing strategies, protection of the church’s ministry and mission, and clear, honest communication with the congregation.

To support this work, Session has appointed a Financing Team made up of pastoral leadership, Session representatives, and experienced members of the Finance and Stewardship teams. The team consists of: Mark Ariail, Randy Ford, Marcus Lee, and Jim Mohr.

This team is tasked with evaluating and preparing for a potential loan. Their responsibilities include developing borrowing assumptions and financial modeling, exploring available lending options, and identifying risks related to borrowing.

At this stage, the team is working to explain why borrowing is necessary, what borrowing range could be realistic given project costs and timing, how financing could be structured, and what risks should be considered. Session will use this work to determine what amount (if any) to recommend, communicate the risks to the congregation, and approve a repayment plan that protects Bethel’s ministry and mission.

Session has charged the team with securing proposed loan terms and expects to share detailed information with the congregation in February. In keeping with ECO polity, a congregational vote will be required to authorize borrowing before construction can begin. This vote would establish Bethel’s capacity to borrow; it would not commit the church to a specific loan or lender. Session will discuss the details and timing of the congregational meeting and vote at its January 27 meeting.

We remain committed to leading with transparency, unity, and faithful stewardship as we discern the next steps together.