Expansion planned for Church at Brook Hills

The Church at Brook Hills is expanding its mission — both locally and globally — with its Roots & Reach initiative. The project, which has been in the works since fall 2016, is gearing up to start this month.

As part of the church’s budget process for 2019, a formal campus development recommendation was presented and in December 2018, 92% of members present voted to affirm this recommendation presented by the Elder Council.

Senior Pastor Matt Mason said they have received strong support and there is excitement around the project. 

The two primary factors driving the plan to further develop the church’s campus are facility needs and ministry values. The modular buildings that were intended to be temporary have been used much longer than expected. Space inside the building was also lacking, so additional space will be created for on-campus small group space for children and adults.

“A big part of this project is our Brook Hills kid’s ministry,” Mason said. “Our prayer is that there will be an impact on thousands of children’s lives who will grow up here and serve Jesus and lead in the community, and some of them may become missionaries or future ministry leaders. And we as a church, we are excited about it.”

The project consists of three main components for campus development: creating a 20,000-square-foot new lobby and common area ($4 million); adding a two-story, 27,000-square-foot building for BH Kids and adult small groups ($4.5 million); and adding an estimated 267 spaces to the parking lot ($1.5 million). 

In addition to the new construction, improvements will also be made to existing spaces and various deferred maintenance items will be completed. These include: an update and repurposing of the third floor for adult small groups; an update of the first floor preschool ministry area; security improvements; improvements to the preschool playground; a new roof on the existing facility; replacement of the fire alarm panel in the main building; upgraded HVAC controls; and installation of new carpet in the worship room. These costs are estimated at $1,265,000.

Improvements to the existing playground were scheduled to begin last month, with construction set for the beginning of July. The first project will be getting rid of the modular buildings, which will be donated to Eden-Westside Baptist Church. 

Brook Hills has engaged the architectural firm Live Design Group, which developed the design and plans for the current campus, to develop potential concepts. The owner, Aubrey Garrison, is a long-time Brook Hills member and was the first person to be baptized in the existing building. The general contractor is Johnson Kreis, and partner Bill Kreis is a member at Brook Hills. 

The Elder Council and stewardship ministry team have developed a three-fold approach to funding the project using available undesignated cash, the church budget (all prior debt was paid off last summer) and keeping 10% of the general budget allocated for campus development, debt management and additional gifts.

The church will continue to take up a Global Offering as it does each December, which usually raises between $600,000 to $1 million that is distributed to global mission projects. Over the past 10 years, more than $10 million from Brook Hills has gone to global missions. 

Mason said their goal is to identify needs for these funds that would not be possible under the current general ministry budget or Global Offering. 

 “We are not diverting all of our generosity toward the building,” Mason said. “We don’t want to suspend our missional energy and zeal, but keep in view the urgent needs around the world. We don’t believe this project is merely an investment in bricks and mortar. We hope the ministry that happens in these spaces becomes a catalyst for men, women and children remade by Jesus to take light out into their neighborhoods and among the nations.”

The projected timeline for the project is 12 to 14 months, with construction complete by the summer or fall of 2020. For more information, visit brookhills.org.