FAQ’s
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is running the project?
The trustees have tasked the ‘project team’ with the job of coordinating the project. You can read more about the team here.
In addition to the paid project consultants, we’re very fortunate to have access to a range of experienced business people within our Grace community that we’ve been able to seek advice from. The individuals we call ‘Project Advisors’ are specialists in their respective fields, which include quantity surveying, engineering, capital finance, commercial property development, and lending.
The project team has engaged Christchurch-based project manager Dan Gilmore. Dan’s responsibilities include:
Project Scope and Planning
Project Milestones and Program
Selection of the Design Team
Pre-tender Documents
Contractor Engagement and Selection
Contract Review and Engagement
Construction Monitoring and Documentation
Who is on the decision making team?
The group that we’ve leaned on heavily as we’ve prepared for this season to help with facilities and building related decisions is the Property Advisors.
Find out more about our team here
Why don’t we buy land and build from scratch?
We investigated a number of bare land options prior to purchasing Tuam St and in the end opted to pursue an existing site on the basis of where we want to be and the underlying zoning. We’re so excited to be so close to the stadium and thriving inner city.
Why has this process taken so long?
Prior to finding Tuam Street, we’d looked at over 30 potential sites, eventually walking away after fully investigating their suitability. As a large church, we have some very specific requirements for finding a suitable site. In terms of council compliance, we need a site with the right zoning. One of the first things we consider when looking at a potential site is “could we get resource consent to operate here?” Parking is another consideration. In terms of traffic generation and parking on Sundays we’re quite unique. Very few businesses with large buildings have almost all their “customers” arrive in the same half hour (as we do before our services start). Other key considerations are; floor area of the building, interior layout and timing until vacant.
What is the soonest we can get in to Tuam St?
If we reach our giving targets we could move in as soon as March 2027. In the meantime, we have commercial tenants renting out the entire footprint of the site, currently bringing in more than $310k per annum. Kairos Food Rescue have been operating from this site for a couple of years having huge impact by giving away rescued food and creating a space where people can connect together, find belonging and build community. We’re excited that their new home will be next door to our current site in Ferry Rd.
You can read more about the amazing work they do here.
Can we get a Resource Consent to build a church?
Yes, we originally obtained resource consent back in 2017, this was renewed in March 2022. Our consent was updated to include a 5 storey car parking building that allows us to get a valuable revenue stream by providing public parking spaces. This is a very exciting opportunity for the future when you consider what our own parking demand will be for a large inner city church as well as demand from Te Kaha, Ara, surrounding businesses and mid-week public commuter parking
Why do we need something so big?
Prior to the quakes our morning services at 150 Ferry Rd were so full that we were at risk of exceeding our fire limit (for the maximum number of people allowed inside in the building) on a weekly basis. Sadly this meant turning people away at the door with a “Church Full” sign. In addition to the extra space we want for a main auditorium, we want a facility large enough and flexible enough in it’s uses, to cater for a huge range of activities that are central to our mission. Ultimately, this building and every other property we hold are just a tool for mission. They are spaces where God is encountered and worshipped (UP), community happens (IN) and where people are trained, equipped and sent (OUT). This building needs to be an asset that serves the city. It’s not only for our use, but rather a collection of well designed spaces that thousands of people will utilize throughout the year. It’s going to be a facility that has the space to engage the community in a relevant way.
How have we heard from God on this?
Before buying Tuam St our Property Team had considered around 30 potential sites and our key leaders and Pastors have contended in prayer for Gods leading on a new location. We’re absolutely convinced that the journey God has led us on as a church has been for our own good and far more important than simply reaching the destination. We have had to depend on God more than ever, look for his guidance in small steps forward, wrestle with obstacles and challenges in prayer and above all trust that He knows what we need.
A whole series of small miracles have led us to this point. You can read about these by clicking here.
Why be in the CBD?
We want to be a “Church in the City-for the City.” The words that God has given us over nearly three years add up to a strong mandate that could be summed up as “I want you to help rebuild the spiritual foundations of the City.” We believe that our location relative to the people we seek to serve is very important and in order to be an effective tool for mission, the building must be where the people are.
Will we be closing down any of the other campuses?
No. Strong multisite churches typically have a healthy central campus that serves the satellite campuses in other parts of the city. As each additional Campus joins the “family” we become stronger and more diverse. Each Campus has it’s own unique characteristics and strengths but are also part of the wider family, sharing core values and most importantly –each campus has a part to play in the wider mission of seeing the City saved and bought into relationship with Jesus.
Will a building campaign divert us from God’s mission?
Not at all. We’re very clear about any buildings we have simply serving us as a tool for mission. People are what’s important in the end. We need buildings to help us serve and love the city we’re a part of.
Why not plant more churches rather than have one big church?
One of the key ingredients to healthy satellite campuses is a strong central campus that provides administration support and specialist expertise. Our size allows us to provide a higher quality of ministries like worship, kids programs and the like because centralized resources and training are available to the campuses. Efficiencies provided by centralized accounting and admin functions allow the satellite campuses to get on with the job of making disciples.
Why not buy back Ferry Rd or lease it long term?
Ferry Rd is just a stepping stone to our permanent site and is not suitable as a long term City Campus location for a number of reasons.
1) We don’t own the Ferry Rd buildings. We lease the spaces at below market rates. For this reason alone Ferry Rd will never be our long term home.
2) Ferry rd is too small. Prior to the quakes our morning services were so full that we were at risk of exceeding our fire limit (for people inside in the building) on a weekly basis. Sadly this meant turning people away at the door with a “Church Full” sign.
3) The land has poor quality soil. Many of the buildings in and around Phillipstown suffered the same fate as ours, whereby the liquefaction prone soil cannot support the weight of the building in a shake.
Wouldn’t it be better to spend all the money on the poor/missions?
People with long term vision understand the need to invest in facilities that enable the mission to continue on and grow well into the future. Helping the poor and providing funds for missions is both important and central to what we’re all about. To be missional and effective at reaching the lost you need tools. Good facilities are just that – a tool for mission. We believe it’s a case of both/and rather than one or another. Both are needed to get the mission accomplished.
A great example of sacrificial investment to leave a legacy of multi-generational blessing is the Living Springs complex near Governors Bay. The faith-filled obedience, foresight and courage of Peter Morrow and David Down has created an amazing asset for the city of Christchurch and has provided a place for hundreds of people to encounter Jesus over many decades.