Frequently Asked Questions Regarding the Valley Shepherd Building Project Updated 1/3/06 The following is a collection of questions regarding the current building project that will move Valley Shepherd to its property south of Meridian. The intent of this “FAQ’s” is to keep the congregation as well informed as possible. This document will be updated from time to time.
1	Why did the building committee recommend to the church board and congregation to sell 12 acres of the approximately 32.4 acres at 2475 South Meridian Road? After extensive discussions between the architect and building committee members it was determined that 20 acres would be adequate for a congregation of 1200. Also, the board, church leadership, and building committee feel that it would be more effective to start a “daughter church” as opposed to enlarging Valley Shepherd to a mega church. With the recent changes in the size of the church it has become necessary to use the excess land (12 acres) to provide funds necessary to begin construction in June. This will also reduce the amount of indebtedness the church will be burdened with.
2	Why can’t we wait and sell the 12 acres at a time when values might be higher? The need for funds is immediate. The bulk of the cost for the project must be in the bank before we break ground this spring. We have 24 months (starting February 2006) to finish the project. After that our lease on the current facility will run out and we will have to find another location for our congregation to meet while we wait. With faith, the building committee, church board, and leadership feels that the Lord is providing our needs any many ways…that includes unused land.
3	How much of the property will be occupied in the planned project at 2475 South Meridian Road? The building plan presented to the congregation on December 11, 2005 will cover about 1.36 acres. The building plan showing expanded sanctuary, gymnasium, classrooms and additional parking will cover 7.4 acres. That is a little more than 3 regulation slow pitch softball diamonds. Or, almost equal to three city blocks the size of the one our church is currently located on. The entire area currently projected for use (including the portion of grass and trees in the northeast corner) will cover 9.7 acres.
4	How much church property will be left unclaimed by the current project? There will be slightly more than 10 acres left undeveloped after the sale of the 12 acres on the west end of the church property. This acreage will create concerns as it is expensive to cover this with grass and maintain the grounds.
5	Is there going to be a road on the north side of the new church as shown in the drawings on December 11, 2005? At the present time this is a very complex issue. The architect included a road and access on the north in the drawings at the request of the city. Enough room for a road and proper right-away was needed for possible development of homes west of the church property to access Meridian Road. The building committee would like to see an access on the north but Idaho Transportation Department will not grant it solely for church use. If it is connected to sub divisions west of us then it could become an access we could use.
6	How long will it take for the new church to be built? The official ground breaking has been set for May 28, 2006. Our contractor has estimated that it will take about 15 to 16 months to finish the project. Based on that projection, occupancy planned for early fall of 2007.
7	Where will church services be held after the building is sold and before the new facility is built? The sale of the current facility will be finalized January 27, 2006. From that date we will have 18 months to lease back the building while the new church is built. If need be there will be the opportunity to extend the lease another six months. Current projections indicate we will need some part of the additional lease time, but we should be able to move directly from the current facility to the new one.
8	How much area will the new church cover? A regulation slow pitch softball field will cover approximately 2.3 acres 300 feet by 330 feet)
9	What happens to the Compassionate Ministries Center? Will there be a new facility on Meridian Road? The Compassionate Ministries Center (CMC) Board will be meeting to discuss this issue. Due to financial consideration, it is anticipated that the CMC will be located within the new church facility or in one of the existing buildings on the Meridian Road property.
10	How will the plan keep us a community church? Valley Shepherd has reached out to the community as Meridian has become one of the fastest growing communities in America with many new young families being added in the past decade. Recent demographic studies completed for the City of Meridian (2003) indicate that our community has: the youngest population of the valley (average age of 30), the highest percentage of children in the valley (33.7%), and the highest percent of families in the valley (50%). Valley Shepherd has a great opportunity to reach many un-churched and unsaved in the valley. The church board and building committee have felt that it is important to offer the community a strong worship-centered church as a foundation for growth. From that foundation the committee feels the Lord will honor our outreach. A review of recent literature on church growth indicates that too many churches have lost their purpose in their focus on programs that attract a mobile congregation which changes as programs come and go. Sadly, little true church growth has occurred in America in recent years as most perceived growth is actually just shifting people.
11	Will we contract the labor for the whole building project or do some ourselves and/or use volunteer groups like MMAP? There will no doubt be opportunities for volunteer work on the new church. However, in the interest of time and administrative issues surrounding coordination of volunteer forces, the contractor will be responsible for contracting the majority of the labor.
12	Will the new building have a full kitchen and fellowship hall? A commercial kitchen was in the first church plans and at present continues to be part of the plan for the new church. Wednesday night meals and church potlucks are too important to the church to not have a full kitchen and fellowship hall.
13	Will the new church be a worship center where we can use our lighted crosses and windows? The building committee is making plans to include the stained glass crosses which are currently behind the pulpit in the current sanctuary along with at least the theme portions of all the memorial windows in the foyer.
14	How big a building is being planned for the first phase? The building being planned for the first phase is approximately 45,000 square feet.
15	Who is purchasing the current church property? David Buich (M & H LLC) is purchasing the property.
16	How much will the new church cost? Initial cost estimates were $5,000,000. After the All-Church Meeting (November 6, 2005) when the congregation was allowed to review the plans, the square footage increased considerably thus increasing the cost estimate to $6,500,000.
17	If $6.5 million is for “Phase I” what does that include? Classrooms for children? Yes. Fellowship hall? Yes. Youth center? No. Gymnasium/recreational space? Not indoor.
18	What is the estimated loan balance for the new building? Is it reasonable to expect that a new building will be completed in 18 months? Estimated loan balance will be $1,800,000. From the date of closing (January 31, 2006) we will have 18 months to lease back the church and the option for an additional 6 months. Our general contractor feels the building can be completed in 18 months from ground breaking (June 2006). We will have to ask for the additional 6 months of lease back giving us a total of 24 months to complete the church to a point that we can begin to worship on the site.
19	Is the lease payment an average payment? High? Or Low? The lease payment is average and will approximate $7,600 per month.
20	At what point would the rent/lease payments start? The lease back payments would start in February 2006.
21	What approximately will be our monthly loan payment on Phase One? Initial cost estimates are $6,500,000. Our estimated monthly payment on a $1,800,000 loan is $15,000 per month.
22	From which budget would the monthly lease payment come? Will current monthly tithes and offering cover the monthly loan payments that Dean Oberst mentioned? Our preference is to make the lease payment out of tithes and offerings. Currently tithes and offerings are not adequate to cover the lease payment, but offerings are increasing.
23	Go through the financial plan: The total cost of the project is estimated at $6,500,000. Current pledges and sale of assets are expected to generate funds of $4,400,000 to $4,800,000 dependent upon the revenues generated from the sale of the excess 12 acres. This would leave us with an estimated loan amount of $1,800,000 to cover the shortfall.
24	Will you please choose an architect who has knowledge of acoustics? Good acoustics has been expressed as a priority. Part of the architect’s contracted service is to bring in an acoustic engineer to develop the floor plan, section profiles, and materials selection to enhance acoustics. The sanctuary will be designed to be acoustically “tunable” – able to be adjusted for different types of music performances.
25	Are we going to keep our current name or will that change, too? The name Valley Shepherd is the name of our incorporation and there is no plan to change it. Since the name change about 30 years ago the church has always tried to identify itself more with the Treasure Valley than just the Meridian community. Our new location has such great access to the interstate that it allows families from both ends of the Treasure Valley to worship at Valley Shepherd. A radius of 15 to 20 minutes travel East or West on the interstate involves a huge population of unsaved families.
26	What were the downfalls to moving to an existing building closer to the Meridian area? Availability of acceptable buildings with adequate space was one problem. The committee did look at a rather large commercial facility just off the interstate known by many as JaBil. But, there were a number of drawbacks. For one, it would have been very expensive to remodel the building to make it a church. A second concern was the huge expanse (7 acres) of the building and what to do with the portion not used by the church. It would have required that the largest portion of it be leased to someone thus forcing the church to become a landlord. This would help make the payment on a 32 million dollar mortgage, but what would the congregation do to make payments when no lessee could be found? This was not a problem with which the building committee wanted to burden future congregations.
27	What happens to the houses on the Meridian Road site? The mobile home will be removed. The frame house could be maintained for compassionate ministries, but a decision has not been finalized. One issue the building committee is faced with is trying to avoid moving as much earth as possible to establish a pad for the new building(s). Moving dirt is expensive so we will take up as much flat ground (the ground the houses are on) as possible for the building pad.
28	What type of structure are we looking at for the new property? (i.e. Sprung, brick, etc.) The Building Committee and church leadership are planning to build a church that draws one to worship. Now that an architect has been chosen, the committee and architect can begin to formulate a plan that meets Valley Shepherd’s needs.
29	Will my building pledge be used for anything other than the new building? All monies that have been collected in the past (going back to the Christ for the Valley Campaign) have been dedicated to the new facility to be located at 2475 South Meridian Road. Any money for repairs on the current facility while we are still in the old facility will and have come from budgeted funds or the reserve fund. Funds are currently being moved from the reserve fund, and tithes and offerings to the building fund. This is necessary to indicate to a loan institution that we can make payments if and when the building pledge program runs out.
30	Can we build a tiered parking structure on the site? While a tiered parking facility would be a good use of space, the liability insurance for such a structure is very prohibitive for a church. The cost of such a structure is out of our budget as well - $10,000 per stall is a good starting point for unadorned parking garages.
31	Do we have volunteer professional builder groups like those that were so much involved in the building of the South Baptist Church? Not at this point.
32	Is a new sanctuary cost effective since it is used only a few hours per week? Isn’t a multi-purpose (approach) more useful and cost effective? The number of hours that the sanctuary is used in a week is limited more by programs and flexibility of the facility than anything. The church board has decided that there is a need to present a foundation of strong pulpit ministry and music in a facility that speaks of worship to a community where many worship facilities do not.
33	Will the new church have a real sanctuary like this one? Or a gymnasium type? The new church will have a sanctuary. A multi-purpose gymnasium is a key component of our Master Plan and is scheduled as the second Building Phase.
34	What would be the cost of selling the current church building? The realtor is tithing one half his commission ($23,400) back to Valley Shepherd.
35	Does this sale of the church on Pine Street include the Youth Center? Yes. The sale of the current property includes all of the buildings and land we own except the parsonage. The current property includes: the church building, youth center; Hepper home, parking lot across Pine from the church, parking areas between the Sunrise Café and the Youth Center North to the alley, parking areas across from the city hall and west of the Youth Center and the parking area west of the present sanctuary. The parsonage will be sold in the future.