May Video Update

A Video Update 

from our new church building

We Have Walls!

Great progress is being made at our new church building and excitement for the big move is ramping up! A team of paid professionals and LOTS of volunteers has been working hard to get the space renovated and ready for us to relocate there at the end of June. Here are a few photos of how things are looking now!

Putting up the walls and spackling in the sanctuary

The hole in the wall to the left is where the window to the baby room will be, looking into the sanctuary.

Our New Worship Space

As we've shared before, our church is moving to a new facility. Because Vienna is a city of catholic cathedrals and not evangelical churches, finding a new worship space typically means converting an empty facility into something suitable for a church. God was so faithful in providing us with a space that will be a great fit for our conrgegation. The new building....

• has huge windows across the front, making it very visible to those walking by
• is located in a residential area full of apartment building and pedestrian walkways. We hope to welcome and invite our new neighbors to join us!
• has large space suitable for a sanctuary, which will accommodate at least 80 more seats than we currently have
•  is a big, open, empty space which we can renovate to suit our needs
• is located at the bottom of a building that has a swimming pool on the roof. We can do baptisms up there!
• boasts lots of storage space

We are currently working with an architect and contractor to renovate the space. Here are some photos of it as it currently looks:

Where the sanctuary will be located

Several bathrooms, which will be renovated and expanded to meet code

An example of how the space will be laid out. This is an old plan, but you get the idea!

We are so so thankful for this space and look forward to seeing it transform over the next few months! Church members are currently donating their time to help with the renovations, scraping walls, painting, repairing and a whole lot more. This is a beautiful example of our community coming together and working together!

Update and a Prayer Request

As anyone that lives in a city knows, space is at a premium. Parking is challenging, apartment living is the norm, and things are smaller and more compact. This is also a European value. It still amazes me to think about my time last summer in the States - there is just so much open space! Many of these things we have gotten used to and recognize that they are just different ways of operating.

Because of this reality, most churches here consistently struggle with space issues. Rent (or mortgage) tends to hold a pretty large spot in any church's budget. Growth also brings its own challenges. Questions like: Where are we going to put all these people? or How will we have enough or properly-sized classrooms for all the groups that need to meet? Most church buildings are occupied by multiple congregations that are able to afford a rent together. Even with this reality, many churches can tell stories of God providing, such as finding a reduced-rent facility based on the church doing a renovation of the space. Others have seen God move in creative ways, utilizing the space throughout the week for non-profit offices, kindergartens, and other creative solutions.

Our church has been wrestling with the issue of space for awhile now. It is a long story, that I won't try to completely explain, but it is amazing to watch God move as He opens and closes doors and to see leaders making decisions and working with one another. This experience is invaluable, also because I will probably go through a process like this again in the future.

The latest step in this journey has popped up within the last few weeks. God recently closed the door in our church for renovating our current space, so we are seeking a new solution. There is a new rental opportunity, where we could fit more people into the sanctuary as well as have all the Sunday school rooms we would need. The challenge is the decision will need to be made fast (with in the next few weeks).

Will you pray for our church? Please pray for:

• wisdom on the part of the leadership and the church to consider this from every perspective to have all the information needed
• all of the details that would need to happen
• ultimately, God's leading on behalf of our church

We can't wait to see what God does and how he leads in this new chapter our church's history. We will keep you posted!