Learning and Preparing
Over the last month, our architects have been turning ideas into sketches, and staff and key stakeholders, including our daycare tenant, have helped shape early concepts. It’s been exciting to explore how to best position and utilize spaces such as a gym, washrooms, chapel, and a commercial kitchen for future ministry. We’re looking forward to a day in near future when the congregation can see these drawings first hand.
We’ve also now received a draft proforma — a preliminary financial model that estimates potential costs, funding considerations, and long-term sustainability — to help evaluate the project’s feasibility. While specific details aren’t ready to be shared, the early outlook is encouraging and provides an important framework for thoughtful decision-making.
Next week, a small team will travel to the Vancouver area on a “vision trip” to learn from churches and leaders who have already navigated similar development projects. Pastor Mark, Nadine Dixon, Pastor Andrew Crossman, and Zac Hayashi will visit several churches, as well as housing and development leaders, to learn from their experience, explore funding possibilities, and gather inspiration for our project.
This season of preparation also includes thoughtful care for the land itself, and more recently, addressing challenges posed by the treed areas on our property. Over time, these areas have been impacted by encampments, creating safety risks for volunteers, staff, congregation members, and daycare families. The density of the trees has also created conditions that could encourage wildlife habitation, which, if left unaddressed, could delay future phases of our development by up to three years and add significant costs.
With these factors in mind, we are developing a careful plan for tree and brush clearing, with removal in select areas in the near future. Completing this work while the ground is still frozen — and before nesting season begins — will improve safety, allow necessary geotechnical and soil studies to proceed, and prepare the land for future inevitable development.
Prayer Items
Vision Trip to Vancouver: Pray for unity, insight, and meaningful conversations as the team travels — that what is learned would be practical, transferable, and helpful as we consider our project.
Wisdom and Discernment: Pray for clarity as decisions are weighed and refined, that each step forward would be thoughtful, well-timed, and aligned with our Church First vision.
Inspiration and Vision: Pray that God would enlarge our imagination for what is possible — that this campus would continue to be a place that advances ministry, strengthens community, and reflects His heart for the neighbourhood.
Questions? Email campus@westmeadows.org