The Executive Team and Elders met extensively, along with key leaders in the church, to consider options for addressing our growing space issues. In addition, a Master Planning Committee was formed to explore expansion options including:

• Moving to a new property and building a larger space. This ended up not being affordable.
• Creating a second worship center with live worship. It was discovered that the majority of attendees favored attending services in the main auditorium with a live message. 
• Adding a fourth service, either on Saturday night or on Sunday. This solution would not address the crowding issue during peak attendance times. Additionally, those added services times would likely see minimal attendance based on current national trends, provided by a hired consultant. 
• Launching a satellite model of Sunnybrook. While this could be an option in the future, it doesn’t address the current space issues we have at our main campus now. When surveyed, many attenders expressed they’d still prefer attending the current campus, even if another location were to become available.
  

Additionally, a study was done to ascertain at what point our campus is “maxed out” due to parking constraints. It was determined we could add 300 additional parking spaces which constitutes an additional 600 seats to our current seating capacity. This project will essentially max out our property capacity. 

The church leadership would consider taking on a percentage of debt.

There are some desired aspects of the project that were cut to meet budget constraints. Those aspects would be added to the construction plan. They include: 

• Adding a mezzanine in the Next-Gen Space dedicated for student activities/groups.
• Adding space for Hope Ministry services within the Hope Center to better meet the needs of weekly guests.
• Remodeling of current office area for staff. 
• Elevating the look and function of the new Connections and large meeting space in the former nursery area.

A six-week campaign series is scheduled to begin on November 2, 2025, and will conclude with Commitment Sunday on December 7, 2025. The giving period will begin the following week. The new building project is set to begin in early 2026, starting with the construction of the Hope Center and the expansion of the Next-Gen Space to accommodate attendance during the addition of the auditorium balcony. Sunday services—and any additional ministry needs in the auditorium—will continue throughout the duration of the project, with only sections of the space closed at any given time. The project is scheduled to be completed in 2027. 

Pastor Jeff has committed seven more years of full-time service to his current role as Lead Pastor at Sunnybrook.

Sunnybrook operates under a Presbytery form of governance, where decisions are made by a board of elders (presbyters) rather than by individual leaders or the entire congregation. According to our By-laws, the circumstances in which the entire congregation votes includes: the annual budget, purchase of land or buildings, calling the Lead Pastor, changes in the church By-laws, or affirming elders. Therefore, a vote is not taken when embarking on a capital campaign. 

There are two commitments on the commitment card that will express your intention: your One, and your financial commitment. Writing down and praying consistently for your One can make an incredible impact on you and on that person’s eternity. Secondly, we ask for a written financial commitment of your giving intention so we may accurately budget for the project at hand, stewarding the gifts God entrusts to us. 

The Hope Center is being moved to the north end of the building to allow for ministry expansion and increased services for our Hope Center guests.  

The existing space will expand to encompass a significant portion of the former Little Campers location as well as revamping the Elmer’s café seating area.  

When we reach capacity at our current campus, we will need to consider a satellite/church planting model.

Scripture models joyful and sacrificial giving by both leaders and the people in the building of His church (1 Chronicles 29). Here’s an outline on how you might pray:

• Acknowledge God’s Ownership—Start by recognizing that everything you possess ultimately belongs to God, and you are simply a steward of His resources. Pray for a heart that acknowledges this truth and is willing to use your resources for His purposes. 
• Seek Divine Wisdom—Pray for wisdom and discernment in managing your finances and in deciding how to contribute to the campaign. Ask God to guide you in making sound financial decisions that honor Him and align with His will. 
• Reflect on the Campaign’s Purpose—Consider For the One’s mission and how it aligns with your values and God’s kingdom. Pray for the campaign leaders, asking God to grant them wisdom, integrity, and the ability to use the funds wisely and effectively. 
• Listen to God’s Voice—Engage in prayer, journaling, and seeking wise counsel to discern God’s voice regarding your contribution. Look for confirmation through repeated messages in Scripture, prayer, and conversations with trusted mentors. 
• Give Cheerfully and Generously—Remember that God loves a cheerful giver, so pray for a heart that gives willingly and joyfully, not under compulsion. Trust in God’s provision and believe that He will meet your needs as you faithfully give. 
• Pray for the Impact of Your Gift—After you’ve made your decision, pray that your contribution blesses those in need and furthers God’s will.  Ask God to multiply your gift and use it to advance His kingdom in ways you may not even anticipate.

Campaign contributions should be over and above your regular giving. Our operating budget will still need to be met during the project.  

The campaign is set up as a three-year campaign but giving can be disbursed at your discretion. 

This is a very common question among givers. Our suggestion is to take your average overall annual income for the past couple of years and commit to a specific percentage. Your disbursements can be distributed according to your revenue.  

We recognize there may be extenuating circumstances that prevent you from honoring your commitment. We simply ask that you let our finance department know if you need to reduce your commitment or are unable to complete it for any reason so that we can plan accordingly.