As we have seen more people coming to Real Life on a regular basis, we celebrate what God is doing. Our church is a place where we can invite our neighbors who are longing for a community to belong to, connection with, and find answers to issues of faith. Yet this influx has us believing we are On the Verge of something big. Really big!

This past year, Pastor Duane has challenged us to live "In the Zone" and less in the land of "Ing". A number people have begun tithing for the first time and are telling the stories of how God has been blessing their lives. In addition, not only have many recommitting to the biblical model of tithing, many of us have chosen to give over and above our tithes to be a part of the On the Verge Campain.


I didnt turn on a commitment card. Can I still give?
Yes. You dont have to fill out a card to give toward the campaign. Just put your gift in one of the offering envelopes and designate it for the On The Verge Campain.

I am new to Real Life. Can I give toward On The Verge too?
Yes. We would encourage you to first to learn the biblical principle of tithing. Then over and above your tithe giving, feel free to give as God leads you. Over the next three years, we anticipate God leading many new people to Real Life and there will be many opportunities for them to be a part of On The Verge.

Can I give my tithe toward the campaign?
Tithing is a biblical principle of giving 10% of what God has entrusted and blessed you with. Tithes go toward ministry budgets, building operations, and staff salaries and keeps Real Life going each week. The On The Verge campaign is about giving freely an offering to God over and above your tithe to allow the ministries of Real Life to grow and expand as God directs.

What is the current debt total?
As of 8/01/07, our debt balance was$628,730.00

Is all of the campaign money going directly to pay off the debt?
Yes, all the money that comes in will go toward paying down the debt first and foremost. We will save literally tens of thousands of dollars from interest by paying down the debt as fast as we can over the next three years. Money that comes in after the debt reduced will go toward capital facility expansion.

What about the money from the sale of the two church parsonages? Is that going toward the debt?
No. Those fund will be earmarked for capital facility improvements and technology upgrades over the next three years. We are committed to not borrowing more funds or increasing our operation cost these next three years to do these needed improvements. There will be noticeable minor remodeling of our facilities and technical improvements in the coming months, but no One The Verge money will be use.

What happens next?
In the coming month we will continue the process of structuring Real Life for growth. We are working with Goss/Pasma Architects from Chicago to help us with conceptual designs to address our facility issues we currently have, and help design ministry space to handle our projected growth. In the coming months proposed rendering of these potential building changes will be available.

ON THE VERGE GIVING PASSES $275,000!

Giving to date: $284,251.

Thank you to all of those who have sacrifically given to help reduce our debt and expand ministires!

To date (8/01/07), 265 commitments have been made for $718,161.00


Update On Campaign Goals:

*Retire the debt from previous facility improvements to free up resources for future ministry expansion.
Since the campaign kicked off in 2005, over $275,000 has been given by the friends and family members of Real Life. Every contribution has gone directly to paying down our church debt.
*Increase our lobby and community spaces so we have places for people to connect and build relationships. We created a west lobby space. By taking out a few walls we created some new community space. This is giving us more openness near our children's areas, and a great place for community to take place throughout the week. In addition, our gym space is being remodeled and will play a key long- term role for our church community.
*Improve traffic flow and signage within our buildings and within our parking lots.
The main hallway has been remodeled with higher ceiling, new paint, a new drinking fountain. New doors for the bathrooms, kitchen, and hall have been installed. These improvements have helped the traffic flow down this narrow hall and have improved the feel and aesthetics of the space.
*Upgrade children's area to make it more kid-friendly, and add security measures to make it more parent-friendly.
The children have moved to the Upper East Building (Teens were moved to Upper West). The Children's Leadership Team has designed this new area for our children. There are new decorations and colors not only in this space, but in all of our children spaces. Some new security measures are being researched and will be implemented soon as well.
*Remodel, and redecorate key ministry spaces to make them more appealing and effective.
Our auditorium has become an expanded ministry space. The last two years, we experimented with having more events in this space including a Volunteer Fair and the Annual Ladies Tea. We continue to get input on redesigning the auditorium to make it more multi-purpose friendly.
*Provide needed technical upgrades to meet our changing ministry needs.
Since Fall of '05, a new auditorium technical plan has been implemented. Improvements to the sound, lights, and video in the technical areas are allowing us to continue the high quality services and events that we currently have. Video monitors, like the ones in the lobby, are scheduled to be installed in more areas. This will allow those who are in other parts of the church, but are unable to be in the auditorium, to feel connected to what is happening in the Sunday morning services.


*PLEASE NOTE: All of the capital facility improvements listed above are being funded by existing capital/operation accounts. NO On The Verge money is being used. These needed improvements will continue to position us to do a variety of ministries until we reduce the church debt. We are rapidly running out of space, so we need to eliminate the debt as soon as possible so we can add new ministry spaces and resources.

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You must each make up your own mind as to how much you should give. Dont give reluctantly or in response to pressure. For God loves the person who gives cheerfully. (2 Corinthians 9:7)