Historical Background for the Big Vision
Two years of ministry and research in the Church Rock area has revealed that the central point of ministry will need to be located outside the Church Rock community. There are numerous barriers that have directed this decision. After tedious research, no privately owned land is available for purchase in the Church Rock community. Because the Church Rock area also includes the communities of Sundance and White Cliffs/Superman Canyon, there are physical, psychological and cultural barriers that prevent ministry effectiveness when presenting ministry opportunities centered in Church Rock proper. Persons in the other included areas are not comfortable participating in activities in the Church Rock community. In response, the central ministry operations facilities must be located in a “neutral” location as close as possible to the Church Rock area. Ministry in the various areas will be accomplished through the use of the ministry bus, school facilities, and other special events. Transportation will be provided for those who need transportation to the central ministry center.
The vision for the ministry center will greatly expand the reach of the ministry, including the inclusion of a large section of east Gallup . The ideal location will be close to a Gallup movie theatre and a large housing community. Observation shows that there are no Baptist churches in the east Gallup area. There is one Pentecostal church, one Reformed church, one Jehovah's Witness church, and one Muslim mosque in the immediate area. The demographics of the additional area are not very different from the Church Rock area. Like Church Rock, 70% of the population identified themselves as unbelievers concerning the Christian faith in a 2004 survey. The populations of both areas have been described as being greatly pluralistic in their beliefs. The spiritual needs as well as cultural challenges in both areas are virtually identical, even considering that the expanded area also includes a representative group of Anglo population.
The Ministry Center Overview
The vision includes the construction of a ministry center at a nearby location where land can be purchased. This vision is God-sized, and it will be a step-by-step process as God provides the availability of land, buildings, financial resources and staff. This will be a multipurpose facility that will eventually include a large multipurpose area, offices, classrooms, a skate park and specialty shop, a Christian bookstore, a counseling center, a snack shop, housing for mission teams, and on-site pastoral care. The development of the ministry center is dependent on the commitment and support of partners, individuals, churches and denominational entities.
The ministry center is designed to meet the immediate needs of the community through building healthy relationship with the people. The community includes overwhelming poverty, alcohol and drug addiction, unhealthy family life, and overall low self-esteem. Building a Christian ministry center that includes activities that will gain the immediate interest of the people in the community will allow them the opportunity to experience fun in a Christian atmosphere and be trained in the Christian faith. The facility will be capable of meeting daily community needs as well as for hosting conferences and other special events.
The Ministry Center : Phase One
As established by a master plan, the first phase of the ministry center will include the basic core building with a large multipurpose area, an adequately scaled industrial kitchen, a small laundry area, expanded locker rooms, several classrooms, storage, a security plan, parking and a few offices.
The large multipurpose ministry area will be utilized for worship, organized sports, small-scale skateboarding events, housing for mission teams, special events and other miscellaneous needs as they arise. This large room can be outfitted as needed to make it as useful as possible. As soon as possible, the multipurpose area will be equipped with an installed media and sound systems, a stage area, portable seating and tables, basketball goals and professional volleyball capabilities. The main floor will be finished concrete for maximum durability and use.
The kitchen will be an adequately scaled industrial kitchen will be installed to meet general food preparation needs for special events and for mission teams. The kitchen area will be designed to meet industry standards for commercial use for any situation.
Expanded locker rooms will be included to provide adequate and comfortable shower and restroom facilities for the housing of visiting mission teams as well as for sporting events and other situations that require such facilities. The locker rooms will include sinks, mirrors, toilets and private showers with dressing areas adequate for large groups. A limited number of commercial lockers and benches will also be provided as needed.
A small laundry area will be installed for the purpose of laundering table cloths, towels, and for the needs of ministry teams. This area will include approximately 3 washers, 5 dryers and a folding area.
Several classroom-style rooms will be included for multipurpose use. These rooms will be used for Bible studies and classes addressing addiction recovery assistance, financial planning, family health, student tutoring, and more.
A dedicated storage area will be provided for the purpose of storing tables, chairs, and other equipment when not in use. An adequate storage area is crucial for the building to be utilized at maximum effectiveness and to minimize clutter.
A few offices will be included in the initial facility for the primary leadership staff. At some point, these offices will be equipped for all necessary day-to-day operation, including desks, a basic computer network, a networked copier/printer, internet access, a telephone line, and primary computers to be used for center management. When the center ministry is expanded, the computer network will be utilized for all check-in and check-out procedures.
The security plan will include a basic zoned perimeter system with motion detectors. For broad-based day-to-day security, an array of closed-circuit cameras will be installed for the monitoring of all public areas within the building and outside the building. These cameras will be networked to a master security computer that will archive visual documentation from all cameras.
The initial plan will include scaled parking for the facility and necessary civil engineering specifications, whether asphalt, concrete or gravel.
Phase one of the ministry center vision is large, and priorities must be established. The following steps will be necessary to see this become reality.
- Support for the vision must be secured from partners, individuals, churches, ministry organizations and Southern Baptist entities for the vision to go forward.
- Land must be located and purchased. There are several pieces of property currently on the market in the targeted area.
- A master plan and construction drawings must be completed.
- A contractor must be selected or a construction plan must be established.
- The basic building must be constructed with the basic floor plan with kitchen, locker rooms, classrooms and offices.
- The building must meet all requirements for occupation and use.
- Regular financial support must be available, and daily staff and specialty training staff must be secured.
- The facilities must be outfitted with the necessary equipment as soon as financially possible.
- When the facility is fully functional and support is available, phase two will be implemented.
The Ministry Center: Phase Two
The second phase of the ministry center will include the addition of a complete state-of-the-art indoor climate-controlled skate park with a specialty shop. The addition of this ministry expansion will greatly broaden the ministry base, attracting a great number of young people from the community. Young people in Gallup and the surrounding area are extremely excited about skateboarding, and the sport continues to grow in popularity. The addition of this facility will provide an incredible tool for building relationships with the young people and their families. Along with providing the opportunity for young people to enjoy their sport, they will be able to do so in a controlled Christian atmosphere. The use of the park will be provided at a minimal cost, and students will be awarded free skate time when they participate in Bible studies and other distinctly Christian activities. The skate park will also be used to host distinctly Christian skateboarding teams, presenting professional demonstrations as a tool to share their Christian testimonies.
Phase two will also include the addition of a specialty shop for skateboarding. This shop will include a variety of skateboarding equipment as well as limited clothing and shoes. The specialty shop is a key part of an effective skate park, and there are limited sources of professional gear available in the Gallup area.
This phase will also include the addition of a snack shop/coffee shop. The inclusion of this feature will provide a needed resource for young people who will be expending tremendous amounts of energy. The snack shop/coffee shop will also provide a nice setting for fellowship and ministry to take place in a relaxed atmosphere. These settings are also desirable for small group Bible studies.
The addition of this facility will include additional construction; however, this facility will not be as complex as the construction of phase one. Skate parks are extremely utilitarian, and are easy to maintain. The construction will include the addition of the specialty shop and the snack shop, but these are not complex facilities. Again, the following steps will be necessary to see this become reality.
- Support for the vision must be secured from partners, individuals, churches, ministry organizations and Southern Baptist entities for the vision to go forward.
- Currently acquired land will be utilized according to the master plan, and the new building will be added to the current facility.
- A contractor must be selected or a construction plan must be established.
- The basic building must be constructed according to the plans. Several Christian skateboarding professionals are available to help with the actual course design and implementation.
- The building must meet all requirements for occupation and use.
- When the facility is fully functional and support is available, phase three will be implemented.
The Ministry Center: Phase Three
Phase three will include the addition of a Christian bookstore. Details are forthcoming on the addition of this phase.
The Ministry Center: Phase Four
Phase four will include the addition of bunk-style housing for mission teams. These facilities will connect to the multipurpose area which will also house the locker rooms. Details are forthcoming on the addition of this phase; however, this phase may be placed earlier in the development as needs may dictate.
The Ministry Center: Phase Five
Phase five will include the introduction of a formal Christian counseling center as a part of the ministry center. This is a complex addition that will require much planning and consideration. Details are forthcoming on the addition of this phase.
