Progress

Since our land purchase, we have:

Utilized Our Property…

… through fellowship gatherings, and worship gatherings. In addition, the new property was the focus of an Eagle Scout project resulting in major clean-up of the property (trash removal, etc.) along with the creation of a fire-circle and picnic area.

First BonfirePeople gathered around the first bonfire

Taken Action Steps to Develop Our Property…

… through various engineering studies and other site development steps. Our initial goal through these actions is to develop an access road and access bridge (at some point) across Ballenger Creek, located on the 77.76 acres on the east side of Route 15/340. In addition, we have begun some preliminary work on possible building approaches and designs.

Enhanced the Zoning Status of the Property…

… through proactive lobbying initiatives, as the Frederick County Commissioners wrestled with various re-zoning proposals for agricultural land (the current zoning of our property). The end result of our lobbying efforts was greater freedom for our churches to develop on agricultural land.

Raised Funds to Service the Debt on Our Property and Develop Our Property…

… through a “silent” financial capital stewardship initiative in 2007 targeting stewards/donors most ready and able to contribute financially toward serving our debt, and early development costs.

Encouraged Folks To Share Their Hopes and Dreams…

… for the Rt. 15/340 property through the IMAGINE tree (in main hallway, right outside the sanctuary). Hopes/dreams posted thus far, follow:

  1. To expand the followers of Jesus Christ
  2. Healing ground for our souls/spirits
  3. An environment that encourages people to find Christ and that helps followers become fully devoted disciples
  4. Imagine that FCOB’s beacon to the community will be intensified on our new location
  5. Space for youth on fire for God
  6. Better storage/AV in each room
  7. Beautiful classrooms, recreation area, see the Lord’s light – beautiful views of nature
  8. Imagine places where people can gather to fellowship and connect with one another throughout the week.
  9. Updated AV equipment for Sunday School rooms with smart boards
  10. More growth of Deaf Fellowship
  11. Working for God to enlarge His flock
  12. Lives radically transformed through the power of Jesus Christ
  13. Prayer Room
  14. Book Store (We have none nearby.)
  15. Learning Center for the children to grow in Christian values and discipleship
  16. More space for our children and youth
  17. To be God’s home at the heart of His church into the best
  18. Space for fellowship, coffee, sculptures. Eliminate the clutter.
  19. An assisted living facility
  20. More opportunities to lead others to Christ
  21. To plant all the tillable ground to grow food to donate to the Food Bank
  22. A choir room where we could leave the tables up after bells. Imagine individual classrooms for our children and High School.
  23. I can dream of a space the youth can call their own.
  24. Expand our special needs ministry.
  25. Directional arrows for parking lot
  26. Imagine no crowded hallways
  27. Meeting area for between services “chit-chat” areas
  28. More teachers for youth/more youth attending Sunday School
  29. A mission to welcome and to reach people for Jesus
  30. Place to gather and worship – place to grow and pursuit Christians in Frederick County and surrounding area
  31. A church parlor where small gatherings could comfortably take place – gathering before weddings and funerals, prayer groups, etc.
  32. Coffee Cafe
  33. A renewed commitment to exponential preaching which Christ will use to save.
  34. No crowded hallways
  35. More workers involved in the church missions
  36. To continue to grow membership, connections, believers, new members, ministries
  37. A large multi-purpose building – incorporating a gym for our youth (of any age), a worship center, a social hall, and any other use imaginable – later to be tied into a new preschool facility.
  38. Youth participating in the worship services.
  39. Space to fellowship after worship.
  40. Open area for informal gathering near sanctuary.
  41. To keep God’s priorities over our own.
  42. Can you imagine how pleased the Lord will be as we enlarge and expand His ministry and outreach at FCOB?
  43. I imagine a bigger church for more members and more parking spaces
  44. I imagine a Health Room near foyer area
  45. Full-size pipe organ
  46. More office space
  47. More spiritual needs being filled/stronger worships
  48. We would like to have our own deaf fellowship classrooms and storage
  49. More groups for teenagers to know Christ
  50. Reach more hearts for Christ
  51. I imagine a place where we as a church family can grow upward, outward, downward, deepen our roots, branch out into our community and expand our fellowship.
  52. Amy Messler:
    1. More classrooms, sanctuary for Deaf People, bigger size Conference Room for meetings with technology to meet deaf needs.
    2. Stained glass of Jesus healing deaf man.
  53. Wireless headphones for Deaf Praise Team
  54. Christian Counseling
  55. Imagine spacious worship areas and adequate parking
  56. Better parking system
  57. Imagine the outreach of FCOB being multiplied to many who haven’t yet heard the Good News
  58. Praying that we can be a beacon to Jesus “Light for the rest of the World” Amen
  59. More Love
  60. Big Deaf Church
  61. Practice rooms for all the many musical groups and lots of storage
  62. An outdoor and indoor pool
  63. To love and be closer
  64. Green church
  65. I love church
  66. A place where thousands of children reach Jesus Christ for the first time
  67. More teachers for the Deaf children and youth
  68. Imagine a place where people have a right to their own beliefs.
  69. More room for youth activities.
  70. Prayer room as we had before
  71. More Love
  72. Room for more friendly people
  73. Conference Center for Christian growth. Have speakers and musical groups.
  74. To love and be closer
  75. Imagine a hospitality room with kitchen facility.
  76. More space to gather and greet each other
  77. God will lead Casey (my daughter) to the youth group — Amie Bolyard
  78. Place we can call “home”
  79. Imagine bringing so many new believers to know the love of Jesus
  80. Youth room, large music room, space for music and instruments
  81. A culturally diverse congregation of blacks, whites and hispanics
  82. Bring more people to church
  83. More followers of Christ and an area for youth and young adults
  84. Deaf Men Fellowship
  85. Parking easily
  86. Aquarium room to visit
  87. I pledge to build a new church, God wants it. I love God.
  88. A religious community for all ages
  89. WNT – more classrooms, more offerings to grow in Christ
  90. Imagine comfortable places for spiritual conversation
  91. A peaceful garden for prayer and reflection
  92. A refuge for deaf people… where God’s presence is felt
  93. Expand the great deaf fellowship services through God
  94. I imagine space to play in fields and more space for our youth
  95. A home for foster children and orphans
  96. Spiritual Retreat Center – Theological Training School
  97. To glorify God on our new space
  98. Little alcoves in hallways possibly with benches so when two people want to chat they can without blocking traffic. Thanks for asking.
  99. Christian bookstore and coffee shop
  100. Youth Place
  101. Dirt Bike Route
  102. Space and COBLC expanded to K-12 Christian School
  103. Youth Center and Amphitheater, Cemetery
  104. Theater Room for ever
  105. Imagine a place where the children have Sunday School rooms rather than dividers
  106. Gardens
  107. Elder care home
  108. More parking spaces
  109. Storage space
  110. Video capability – sound room
  111. Good stewards of God’s gifts
  112. Life
  113. Imagine a gym, soccer/baseball fields, etc. so we can experience a combination of sports and Christian fellowship.
  114. More people coming to know the Lord, Hope and Outreach
  115. A gymnasium for our youth
  116. Humongous building/church that provides for all our needs, baseball fields and camping areas.
  117. An area large enough for coffee hour where people have space to get their coffee, have room to sit and talk to other people.
  118. Place for outdoor wedding – pergola
  119. Youth classrooms
  120. Larger diverse membership
  121. Classroom space for all people, young, old, deaf and hearing
  122. More parking spaces
  123. A place of welcome and comfort
  124. A gathering place for county youth to reach them for Jesus
  125. Campus for children of all ages
  126. Imagine… what God can do
  127. Deaf Fellowship grow
  128. Fellowship and spiritual experiences
  129. Sign language classes to foster more communication between the deaf and hearing FCOB members
  130. Imagine Jesus Christ living in the hearts of our children through the teachings of our Sunday School teachers in the hearing and deaf class rooms. Praise God!
  131. Garden with benches where people can pray in silence
  132. 5:38 service with old fashioned hymns with a new beat.
  133. A place where anybody can have fellowship, worship without a communication barrier.
  134. Get plenty of space for parking cars
  135. Grow more and more for Deaf Fellowship and new deaf membership there, more deaf kids’ activities
  136. Full size basketball court with 3 point line, score clock, bleachers and seats.
  137. More Deaf to Christ
  138. Office Space
  139. Imagine a place to worship that is unique to each worship style
  140. Hi God
  141. Sunday School/WNT learning space for preschool through 5th grade and WAVE children. Rooms for: classes, choir, offices, storage, Big Group
Imagine
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