Lord's Grace Christian Church 主恩基督教會

The purpose is to provide appropriate facilities complying with the City Building Codes, for the needs of the various ministries now and for the coming 5 years in accordance with the vision and the Five-Year Plan of the church.

為著目前的事工需要及未來五年計劃的增長，本會決議提供合用的及符合政府建築條例的設施。

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2. What is the objective?

At the completion of the remodeling project the church will have the following additional/renovated facilities:

Worship Center 2 in the South Wing of the lower level of Building 3—intended for the Mandarin Service as well as the potential second Cantonese Service which is being contemplated. This center will have double the width of the current worship center in Building 2 and can seat about 210
Children’s Center in the North Wing of the lower level of Building 3 with a worship hall of capacity for about 80 to 90 children, 9 classrooms and a library/resource room
Building 2 renovated for two centers—the Body Life Center and the Youth & Young Professional Center

當改建工程完成後，本會將增加以下的設施：

第二所崇拜中心位於第三座大樓底層之南翼為現時的普通話堂而設，同時亦為正考慮的第二堂粵語崇拜而設。這新崇拜中心將比起現時位於第二座大樓之崇拜中心，寬濶多一倍，可容納約210人。
兒童中心位於第三座大樓底層之北翼將有一個容納80至90位兒童崇拜的場所及9個課室及1個房間作圖書館及資源中心。
第二座大樓經裝修後可作為二個事工中心肢體生活中心及青少年和職青中心。

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3. Why Building 3 has to be remodeled before the church can use it?

The current site was originally constructed and approved by the City of Mountain View for office use. After LGCC bought the campus in 1998, the church obtained the City approval and remodeled Building 1 and 2 for church use. Building 3, which was not changed, has been housing the Pastoral Office and offices which the church rented out. In September 2007 the City’s Planning granted permission for the church to use the two wings on the lower level of Building 3 for general assembly purposes but the church has to refit the building to comply with the City’s Building Codes (e.g. fire safety, American Disability Act, etc.).

本會現址原為山景城市府核准作辦公室之用。自1998年主恩基督教會購得這園地後，經市府批准改建第一座及第二座大樓作教會之用，而第三座大樓仍未更改條例，作為教牧同工辦公室及出租給一些機構作辦公室之用。於2007年9月市府已允許本會可使用第三座大樓底層南北翼作聚會之用，惟必須改建而符合市府建築條例。（例如：防火安全條例，美國殘障條例等）

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4. Why so costly?

The typical remodeling cost of such type of project is around $100 to $150 per sq. ft. A very significant portion of the cost is for the infrastructure upgrade to meet the current Building Codes. The two wings on the lower floor of Building 3, with a combined area of about 8,000 sq. ft., are expected to cost about $1,000,000 to remodel. The Remodeling/Facility Committees jointly performed a cost estimate based on the itemized work such as fire sprinklers, restroom, air conditioning duct, etc. and came to almost the same amount.

一般改建工程每平方呎需要約$100至$150之費用。由於設施系統必須提高以符合現代的建築條例，類似的改建更為昂貴。第三座大樓底層的兩翼合共面積約 8000平方呎。故需改建費用為約$1,000,000。改建小組及教堂設施小組合力作了另一個價格評沽，詳情請閱第七項，這估計包括滅火灌水系統、洗手間、空氣調節系統等。

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5. Is it worthwhile and timely for the church to commit this significant resource on the facilities?

In 1998 this campus was presented with more space than the church needed and more financial burden than the church would like to bear. With gratitude to our Heavenly Father’s provision through brothers and sisters’ generous offerings together with the income from the rental business the purchase was viably done. It has been the church’s plan and prayers of gratitude to fully utilize all spaces for ministries in due time. Now, it will soon be 10 years since the purchase. The church’s financials have been sound and the ministry growth is very notable in some of the areas (for example, the Mandarin and the Children Ministries) even to the extent that they outgrew or soon to outgrow the facility. It is time to build for Him with gratitude—to maximize the church’s ministry potential, to make our church the spiritual home for more, to glorify Him!

在1998年時，教堂園地提供的地方比起當時教會事工需要的為多，而經濟上的壓力亦為大。感謝天父的供應及弟兄姊妹的慷慨奉獻，加上出租的辦公室所收的租金等，當時購堂一事是智慧之舉。自從購得這園地以來，本會一直在禱告及計劃中，決心總有一天把租出的辦公室全收回作教會事工之用。現時距購堂也屆十載，本會之經濟穩定，加上事工有顯著的增長，尤以普通話堂及兒童事工為甚。這些事工所用的場地設施現已不足應用。故此，現在就是為神擴建的時候加強本會事工的潛力，使教會成為更多人的屬靈之家，榮歸上主！

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6. What is the difference between facility improvement and remodeling?

Facility Improvement addresses those activities without significant City Code implications and thus they are of much less cost and could be funded by the church’s General Fund reserve. Remodeling involves significant implications with City Codes resulting in infrastructure changes that are beyond the financial scope of the General Fund reserve. Facility Improvement activities so far carried out include the deck, Prayer Garden, Children Playground, wall removal and renovation to form the Christian Education Center and renewal of the restrooms on the upper level of Building 3. Other Facility Improvement projects to be carried out in the coming two to three years and with fund reserved are air conditioning unit replacement, building exterior wall painting, roof resurfacing and parking lot resurfacing.

物業設施上的改善針對那些與市府建築條例沒有顯著關係的工程，因而所需費用為小，本會之儲備金也可足資付。改建工程則直接觸及市府建築條例，因而要有設施系統上的改動，繼而所需之費用亦非儲備金可資付的範圍。
現時，物業設施上的改善工程已完成的包括平台、祈禱園、兒童遊樂場、第三座大樓二樓之房間拆牆及裝修以供作基督教教育中心，同時亦裝修好教牧辦公室前的洗手間等。其他設施改善將於未來二至三年間進行的包括空氣調節器的更換、教堂外牆油漆粉飾、屋頂修葺及停車場修葺等。這些工程費用將由儲備金資付。

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7. Is there an itemized cost estimate?

Yes, an estimate was jointly performed by the Remodeling Committee and the Facility Committee. Summary:

Infrastructure—fire sprinklers, air condition ducting, restrooms, fire evacuation path to public street, etc.)—$370,000
Re-layout Building 3 1st floor—North Wing for Children Ministry, South Wing for Worship Center 2—$450,000
Design fees (architecture, mechanical and electrical) and permit fees $100,000
Building 2 renovation—Body Life Center, Youth & Young Professional Center—$100,000
AV system, musical instrument and furniture for Worship Center 2—$90,000

當然有。改建小組及教堂設施小組合力得到以下的估價：

設施系統滅火灌水系統、空氣調節導管、洗手間、火警疏散通道等 $370,000
第三座大樓重新設計良好北翼作兒童事工中心，南翼作第二所崇拜中心 $450,000
設計費（劃積師、機械工程、電機工程）及許可証費用等 $100,000
第二座大樓的裝修—肢體生活中心，青少年，職青中心 $100,000
音響、音樂器才、第二所崇拜中心傢俬 $90,000

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8. Why are we building the deck, the children playground and the Prayer Garden?

The improvement of the courtyard including the deck, the children playground and the prayer garden is part of the plan to maximize the use of facilities for the various ministries and to make the church more welcoming and usable to brothers and sisters of all ages. This is done by reclaiming areas in the campus which otherwise are just non-usable, unsightly bushes. For example, the deck converts 4,000 sq. ft. of such area into a flat, safe-to-all-ages, multi-purpose outdoor area enhancing the outlook and usability of the courtyard.

教堂庭院的改善工程包括平台、兒童遊樂場及祈禱園之建設，目的是增加庭院的面積，可供不同事工之使用，因而使我們的教會更形友善及善用本來不能使用的灌木叢，開濶庭院的空間。例如，平台增加了4000平方呎之實用面積，可供不同年齡人士，在戶外作不同類形的活動。

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9. Why did we proceed with all these improvement/remodeling activities before the fund is raised?

So far all the improvement activities that the Deacon Board planned and executed are what being referred to as Facility Improvements (see Point 8 above) which the General Fund and can cover without the need of other funding. In fact, the church’s operating surplus in 2007 is enough to cover all the costs incurred by the Facility Improvements in 2007. Quite differently is the Remodeling Project which has a price tag much beyond what could be disbursed from the General Fund reserve. Therefore, the Remodeling Project, pending for fundraising, has not been carried out except the engagement of an architect to design the layout and develop the construction drawings so that the church can evaluate various options and size the cost of remodeling.

目前所有執事會已計劃的改善計劃中，這些工程都是在經常費所能資付下進行的。事實上，2007年所收的經常費有足夠的餘款可作2007年期間在物業設施改善工程上的費用。
而有關改建工程所需款項，比起經常費儲備金更冖大，因此，改建工程的費用全賴籌款行動，現時只有資付部份的劃積師費用，此舉是促進改建小組評估不同選擇及有助監管改建工程的開支。

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10. Should we not build the deck, the children playground and the Prayer Garden and use the money for remodeling?

The total cost of the courtyard improvement projects is a very small percentage compared to that for the remodeling. Even if the church does not perform the courtyard improvement, it does not change the need of having to fundraising in order to do the remodeling.

教堂庭院的改善工程所需款項，較改建工程之費用是很少的比例。就算不作庭院改善工程，教會仍需籌款作改建工程之用。

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11. What is the plan for the case that we cannot raise sufficient fund for the remodeling?

This year, 2008, is the 35th anniversary of LGCC. Through out these 35 years the Lord has been providing abundantly. Starting with the founding brothers and sisters when they did bible studies and worships at home, to the renting of the Masonic Temple to the purchase of the site at College Avenue, to the church planting in the South Bay, to the purchase of the current campus and to the challenge of the refinancing, the Lord provided. In Him we trust. In Him and for Him we build.

2008年乃本會35週年。在過去35年間，主的賜福是豐厚的。從創會弟兄姊妹在家中查經及崇拜起，經過租用密桑力教堂，到購買大學街的物業，至在南灣植堂，直到購得教堂現址，及面對教堂按揭重貸等，神都一直在供應。我們的信心在於神，在祂裡，我們為著祂一同建造！

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12. Can I designate my donation to a specific congregation or ministry?

It is very difficult, if not impossible, for the church to execute that type of designation because the bulk of the remodeling involves facilities and facility infrastructure that are common to all.

要作這種指定奉獻的事，是十分困難的。因為整個改建工程所包羅的設施及支持系統是影響整個教會的。

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13. Why LGCC stops renting out offices?

Since the downturn of the commercial property market at around year 2001 and 2002, the rental revenue downward pressure has been increasing for the church’s type of offices forcing the church to charge at a rental rate that is losing money. Taking back the rental spaces for church use and getting out of the rental business allow the church to be a fully non-profit business entity without having to pay property tax (around $36,000 per year) and eliminate the property management fee and commission (about $10,000 per year).

自從2001年及2002年商業樓宇價格下滑以來，繼而影響租金下滑，逼使主恩基督教會第三座大樓其餘的辦公室出租價格底廉，因而有虧蝕之傾向。故將全部辦公室收回歸教會所用，可以省去每年繳交的物業稅（約$36,000），使教會成為真正的不牟利機構，而亦可減省了每年額外資付的物業管理費約 $10,000

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14. Why are we raising fund again after three short years?

The last fundraising was to re-financing the property mortgage. This time it is for enhancing the church’s facilities to meet the current as well as the coming needs of the various ministries.

上次的籌款是按揭重貸，而今次的籌款是為著改良本堂的設施，而更為未來的事工而預備。

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15. When will the projects be completed?

The church is aiming at September 2009 to complete the Remodeling Project. The Facility Improvement Projects will be spread out for 2 to 3 years and some are on-going.

期盼在2009年的九月整個改建工程將告完滿結束。而改善工程將會持續多兩至三年。

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16. How can we participate?

It is most important that we pray for unity and the joining of our hearts in this very important undertakings—fundraising, facility improvements, remodeling, brothers and sisters working together in Him to make good use of the facilities, and maximize the effectiveness of the ministries to glorify Him. Let us also pray and respond such that each brother and sister participates in supporting the fundraising and in serving in the ministries to build in Him!

最重要的事 — 祈禱 —求神叫我們同心 — 在籌款、設施改善、改建工程上弟兄姊妹在主內同心同工，善用教堂的設施，增強事奉的效果而去榮耀神！讓我們同心禱告，並回應參與籌款、為神擴建！！

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