Show Up for 6th-12th Grade Students

Update: Project is In Progress 

“The next generation of our community is at the center of our mission. We designed the student building to be anchored in the center of our master plan. We gave it a unique design to carve it out of our cmapus, and to signify that this space is extraordinary, and is to be used by God in an extraordinary way.”
-Patrick Kelley
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UPDATED ON THE PROJECT | December 14, 2012  |
The largest capital project outlined in the Show Up campaign was the construction of a Student Building at the Richmond campus.  We’ve been working with our architects for the past 7 months trying to meet our current and projected programming needs for the hundreds of middle and high school students that call RPC home.   We have determined that the structure will need to be approximately 15,000 sq. feet and we are positioning it in what will be the center of the Richmond campus when the master plan is completely developed.   This building is where 6^th-12^th grade kids will love to hang out and discover a relationship with Jesus Christ.  The building will enable us to begin conversations that will alter the lives of thousands of students in the years ahead.  Student ministry is a vital part of our future and the health of our church.

This Show Up project, however, has been the most challenging.  The initial construction budget of 3 million dollars covers the cost of the building and pre-construction work, but it doesn’t allow for “soft cost” items such as audio/video, furniture, architecture fees, and  some very expensive but necessary site work.  We are all working hard to simplify the building, and still have a structure that fits our campus.  It is taking longer than we had hoped, but I’m sure God will continue to lead.

I will be asking folks in our congregation that have NOT pledged to the SHOW UP campaign to jump on board for the remaining 2 years with a pledge.  I am not asking you to give more to the campaign because I believe we all prayed very hard about what we are currently doing.   I’m praying more people join us as we move this mission forward to reach students for Christ.  Thank you for already being part and caring so deeply about this eternal work.  Please pray for other families to catch your vision so we can move forward with construction.

The Show Up campaign is this year’s December mission project.  One thing you can consider as your December missions project, since you are already part of the campaign, is making a one-time gift to Friends of North Richmond’s after school program. This is a chance to rally your family around elementary age students who need some success in the classroom.

Thank you for being so generous.  I get nervous talking about projects above and beyond the general budget because I fear people will divert their giving.  Forgive me for having to say that budget giving has to be priority.  I trust God will lead us all and provide for His work.

Thank you again for giving to our Show Up campaign.  Your commitment and your contributions make it possible for us to SHOW UP to change people’s lives.   This is going to be a big month so please pray for your church.

Showing up for our children is one of the most significant things we can do. Building a facility for 6th grade through 12th grade students will give students, at a very critical age, an opportunity to discover a relationship with Jesus Christ. Teenagers today are under a siege of destructive choices like never before and they need the people of River Pointe to show up for them and offer guidance. Teens like to hang out, and showing up for our kids means providing a great place for them to gather.

The student building will house weekend services as well as programs throughout the week.
	The student building will be the center of the church’s master plan because it serves as a reminder that students must be the center of our ministry.
The space will be designed with amenities that will make it a great place to start conversations, and build relationships.

“It’s about having a place to talk about similar problems we are all having… a high School service provides a great place for people my age wanting to hang out with others who are building towards the same thing…it’s awesome.”

- Courtney Tate, 17

God has put our church in the middle of 30,000 students in this age group, but our Lakeside building is undersized, and because every ministry uses it, has too many restrictions. Building a specially-designed 14,000 sq. ft. facility will allow us to move 5th grade students out of children’s ministry, which needs the extra space. This new space gives us the opportunity to offer more Student Ministry program times.
Most importantly, the next generation of leaders and followers of Christ will have their own space to invite their friends and grow in a relationship with Christ. It’s no mistake that River Pointe’s student ministry will be the center of the church’s master plan because it serves as a reminder that students in this stage of life must be the center of our ministry.
To Show Up for the next generation means providing the money to design and build a facility- the need is $2,950,000.

	“I was an empty box. I said I was a Christian but I didn’t live like one. When I got to Middle School, the whole thing changed…I learned you could be dedicated to Christ and still live a cool life. River Pointe has guided me to the point where I can teach others about God.” - Mario rodriguez, age 14
“River Pointe has helped my faith in Christ grow stronger.” -Kyndell hauenstein, 17