Overview of Valley Shepherd’s Current Building Program 

Praise the Lord that we have a need for a new facility as it indicates a congregation that is committed to meeting the needs of the community.  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.

Since the occupation of the current sanctuary, completed in 1984, the church has wrestled with the functionality of the older parts of the facility and a growing need for more parking space.  The youth center was remodeled and nearby property purchased to create more meeting and parking space.  But the older portion has been changed little due to the cost and related ADA requirements that would accompany any major remodeling program. 

In the fall of 1994 the Long Range Planning Committee was reactivated to develop a plan to deal with building issues and space problems at Valley Shepherd.  A Master Plan Development Study was produced in the spring of 1996 with the recommendation to locate a future church site.  That fall a site was located and the congregation voted to purchase 32.4 acres at 2475 South Meridian Road at a price of $450,000.  The church now owns this site.

Over the next six years, plans were made to build a new church at 2475 South Meridian Road.  In 2003 the momentum stalled due to problems with the architectural plan and available funds.  The sale of the current facility was identified as a major ‘trigger point” to moving forward.  The Building Committee contracted with a commercial real estate agent to market the property with faith that the Lord would provide a buyer when the time was right.

The Building Committee started in 2004 to reevaluate the need for moving to the property south of town and consider other options.  After much study and consideration of four options, the Building Committee presented the results of their work to the Church Board. The Church Board voted to accept the recommendation to move forward with plans to occupy the property south of town.  The Building Committee and Church Board also agreed upon a vision statement…A house of prayer sharing the love of Christ.  

Two major issues came to the forefront as the building committee made their study regarding the current facility.  One was the deteriorating condition of the older portion of the building, especially the heating and cooling system.  And secondly, the City of Meridian has, in response to their rapid growth, developed a vision for downtown Meridian which will negatively impact Valley Shepherd’s current facility.

In June a developer approached the church with an offer to buy the current facility at a price of $1.3 million with the option to lease back the church while we build on the new property site.  The congregation voted to accept this offer on July 17.  The closing on the sale will occur December 30, 2005 thus giving the church 24 months to move Valley Shepherd to the new property.

Since July, the Building Committee has met with three architects and will be choosing one to continue with a contract to design the new church facility.  Dr. Jerald Johnson accepted the task of leading a capital fund campaign that will get the church into the new facility.

With faith and excitement, the Building Committee and Church Board anticipate great days ahead for Valley Shepherd.