Posted on 05/02/2006 6:07:54 PM PDT by twippo
Applause built up in waves as the numbers grew on the overhead screens: $50 million … $75 million … $90 million.
Finally the worshipers leapt to their feet and cheered at the final sum: a staggering $103 million in donation pledges for the next round of expansion at Calvary Chapel of Fort Lauderdale.
The amount, coming after a two-month appeal via sermons and brochures, overshot the $80 million goal, a beaming Pastor Bob Coy reported.
"Thank you, thank you, thank you for doing this," Coy said to his 2,400 listeners on Sunday, the last of four weekend services at the non-denominational evangelical church. "As your pastor, I am so proud of you."
The money, most of it to be donated over three years, will be used for several projects:
A larger sanctuary, covering 360,000 square feet and seating up to 7,000 people. The current sanctuary, with 50,000 square feet, will be used partly for an auditorium and children's classrooms.
Renovation of a youth center, including a cafe, a gym, basketball courts and a skateboard park.
A new satellite campus in south Broward, plus remodeling of existing campuses in Boca Raton and Plantation.
A four-story "discipleship building," already under construction, which will house adult classes, the church's day school, media and performing arts rooms, children's weekend ministries and a 650-seat theater. Part of the building is scheduled to open in December.
(Excerpt) Read more at sun-sentinel.com ...
I have to ask, "Isn't there a better use for a hundred million dollars?"
And yes...I am being very sarcastic.
Rather self serving, isn't it. I just hope its not so comfortable that they go to sleep.
Luke 12
15 And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.
16 And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:
17 And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?
18 And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.
19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.
20 But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?
21 So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.
22 And he said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on.
23 The life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment.
Matthew 25
1 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.
2 And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.
3 They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:
4 But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
5 While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.
6 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.
7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.
8 And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.
9 But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.
10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.
11 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.
12 But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.
You have to see this church with your own eyes to believe it. It has an aquarium and four different restaurant facilities on-site, plus a catering service. The name of the street intersection on the main entrance is simply, "Calvary Chapel." As you turn in, the foliage and rocks are decorated like something you see at Disney World, and it spells out the name of the church in huge letters.
http://www.calvaryftl.org
the restaurants: http://www.daily-grill.org/
It's no problem if they do go to sleep, I'm sure there are plans to build their own gated housing development as well. Imagine, a one-stop church for everything your lifestyle needs.
Yes, they built a new and wonderful church. But I and several hundred others, no longer attend there.
To the best of your knowledge, was the minister of your old church also making the same financial sacrifices as the congregation?
Calvary Chapel started when Chuck Smith took over a small church that was about to close back in the 60's. He taught and lived the whole Bible, pure and simple. That church has been growing like crazy ever since because the people are being spiritually fed there.
To the best of my knowledge, and I have almost zero, the minister and the assistant minister were ALL faithful followers of His word. Otherwise I don't think I would have attend there.
To the best of my knowledge, and I have almost zero, the minister and the assistant minister were ALL faithful followers of His word. Otherwise I don't think I would have attend there.
I attended this church when the services were held in a converted warehouse. The church started out of the back of a station wagon and the original services were held in storage units. It's amazing to see what it is now, considering where they came from. Ft Lauderdale is a major metropolitan city in South Florida. They have converted many a soul to Jesus Christ. There missionary work is world wide as well.
Just to keep it in perspective, Ft. Lauderdale is the Yacht Capital of the world. There are hundreds of yachts with values exceeding 30 million per.
God bless them and those they help.
But that's a hundred million dollars.
It seems to me that the church could be built for a fifth of that, and the other eighty million dollars could feed some people after a disaster, teach people to read, support a mission, put something in someone's life that was not there before and pray for them whatever their god.
I like the Calvary's idea of satellite ministries in neighboring cities; I just think it should have been done long ago. Calvary has 15,000 regular attendees (there's no formal membership). Instead of making bigger churches, why not break them up to keep the community and accountability of a smaller fellowship, plus the the witness to different geographic sectors of the community.
I fear some churches with all these programs (swimming pools, gyms, restaurants, coffee shops) on their campuses are inhibiting members from ever having to interact with the community.
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