Building Beyond 125

Building Beyond 125 is the name of our building renovation project. It began the year of Clifton Baptist Church's 125th anniversary and thus was named building beyond the 125 year legacy we have been gifted. The heart behind our efforts is to be good stewards of what the Lord has entrusted to us. That's our mission, and therefore our place. But it is also our people. In these sermons, John Kimbell lead us in considering how Scripture compels us to this stewardship.

Phase One of the project resulted in the successful renovation of our auditorium in 2022. Through the generous support provided, the renovation loan of $750,000 was completely paid off in two years. Since the completion of phase one, we’ve been enjoying an improved auditorium that has enabled more people to gather and hear God’s Word in an inviting, undistracting way.

This will be a big decision because it will be a big project. Compared to the auditorium renovation, phase two will involve more than four times the square footage, moving walls and modifying stairways, and significant unseen updates to mechanical and electrical features to a building constructed in the 1930’s. While phase two of the renovation will impact much of the building, there are four key improvements we aim for in this phase. In addition to installing an elevator for enhanced accessibility throughout the building, we also aim to add a new front entrance, expand the fellowship hall, and update our classroom spaces. The renderings here offer an idea of what some of these areas could look like upon renovation.

Our target goal is $1.5 million over three years. We are excited to have secured the same contractor who performed so excellently and efficiently in the first renovation. The contractor has worked with the team to determine the most cost efficient direction to yield the greatest improvements. Between that and our favorable credit terms with the bank still remaining from our previous renovation, this project will never be cheaper than in 2025.

The elders have expressed their dedication to mission priority, financial responsibility, and congregational care in this process. Mission priority means we will make no decisions that hinder us from our mission to proclaim Jesus Christ and form disciples. Financial responsibility means we will not burden this congregation with exorbitant debt. Congregational care means even in our call to you for sacrificial giving, we will never coerce, but like the apostle Paul did in 2 Corinthians 9, allow each person to decide for himself so that we can be cheerful givers.