It is amazing to witness the final phases of construction. I think back over the last seven years in wonder that we now have a new building which expands opportunity for ministry at Christ the King Lutheran Church. Seven years is a long time. During this time we have seen the movement from surprise to ideas, ideas to words, words to pictures, pictures to contracts, contracts to designs, designs to construction.
The surprise was the gift of nearly $2,000,000 from Lucille Williams, a charter member, who died in 1995. The money was used to renovate the Melanchthon House, to purchase the parsonage, to renovate and furnish the nave, and finally to underwrite an ambitious capital campaign to build the new ministry building. No one expected such a gift. The surprise made the gift that much more stimulating. With the funding from the Lucille Williams Estate we were able to stabilize the congregation with worship space, fellowship space, and office space. Our congregation can only respond in gratitude that Lucille Williams saw fit to leave her wealth to the congregation she helped found.
With the Williams Estate we began to imagine the possibilities of expanding our physical plant by giving our own wealth to the resources available. Carroll Shaddock convened a planning committee which at present consists of Richard Harper, Al Jensen, Lannie Lesher, Bryce Linsenmayer, Tod Schenck, and Charles Thompson. Discussions were initiated with Charles Tapley, the architect for our nave. It was crucial to our ministry that new buildings continue to witness to the beauty of holiness. Charles Tapley is a devoted Christian whose calling includes the designing of expressive churches. Charles loves his work at Rice Boulevard and Greenbriar as much as we do.
The planning committee began to interview various groups with interests in areas such as nursery, classroom, libraries, music, kitchen, and offices. We were invited to imagine and to dream. We tried to find more land on which to build. There was none to be had. So we started thinking hoch-tief (high and deep). Building vertically is no easy matter. So we called on one of the finest architectural firms in the city, Merriman-Holt. Bill Merriman, Dan Holt, and Jim Powell responded to our plea for help.
It was the architects who gently nudged us to select a contractor right away so that design and execution were coordinated from the get-go. They provided a list of candidates. Our committee was impressed with the style of Miner-Dederick Constructors. George Miner, a long-time friend of Al Jensen, and his son John "came to the party." Sadly George Miner died this year, but his character is still evident in our building. Pat Pollard, Julia Odell, and Tommy Wilson have built our building with respect and dignity. It shows in the relationships that have developed over the project time line.
The members of Christ the King Lutheran Church have responded to the realization that we have been "graced by the past and called for the future." We have pledged 2.1 million dollars to the project thus far.
Everywhere one looks the gifts of God are being returned to God. This building is not just "bricks and mortar." It is love, the kind of love that means letting go of one's wealth for a purpose. It is the time and energy of members like Carroll Shaddock, Richard Harper, and Al Jensen who seldom let a day go by without visiting the site or going to a meeting or doing research on a problem. It is the skill of designers, engineers, pipefitters, electricians, plumbers, roofers, carpenters, and craftsmen who treated this building as a living witness to the power of God to transform lives by freeing us to serve.
It's not over yet. We are nearing the midpoint of the capital funding campaign. Phase One ends the end of June 2003. We will renew our commitment to debt management and debt reduction with Phase Two in May. We will need another 2 million dollars through the year 2006 to allow us to expand ministries and welcome others to join this fellowship which is Christ the King Lutheran Church.