A Next Step of Faith
Stephen Davey, Pastor/Teacher
Beloved,
Someone said that a Christian’s greatest step of faith is simply the next one. I couldn’t agree more!
Over the past four decades our church has engaged in building projects that were well beyond our financial reach. Each project was a step of faith. I’ve mentioned often that each of our building projects was six-times our annual budget. Through the sacrificial giving of our congregation, the buildings have gone up and ministry initiatives have been able to develop way beyond our original vision.
Today, when people ask me questions like, “How did you ever get 35 acres on the corner of Tryon and Holly Springs?” I have to smile and acknowledge that the Lord simply worked through willing people!
Several months ago I began praying that my adventures of faith, and that of our church, would not gather dust in the past tense. There were more Jordans to cross and more walls to restore. We’re not building to grow bigger, but to disciple better . . . accommodating what God has already brought us, as well as a generation we have just begun reaching for Christ.
A Year-End Challenge for Generations to Come
That next step of faith is in front of us. To meet our building schedule, we need to raise $3.5 million dollars to purchase the steel framing by December 31, 2026. The lag time between purchase and delivery is around 8 months and we’re planning to break ground next summer.
Please consider ways to add this project to our sacrificial giving. It will require all of us, sacrificing all that we can. Frankly, it might seem impossible . . . but that’s why we’ll call it our greatest step of faith — the next one we’re taking together!
One more milestone of God’s faithfulness . . . through God’s willing people.
Stephen Davey, Pastor/Teacher
Beloved,
Someone said that a Christian’s greatest step of faith is simply the next one. I couldn’t agree more!
Over the past four decades our church has engaged in building projects that were well beyond our financial reach. Each project was a step of faith. I’ve mentioned often that each of our building projects was six-times our annual budget. Through the sacrificial giving of our congregation, the buildings have gone up and ministry initiatives have been able to develop way beyond our original vision.
Today, when people ask me questions like, “How did you ever get 35 acres on the corner of Tryon and Holly Springs?” I have to smile and acknowledge that the Lord simply worked through willing people!
Several months ago I began praying that my adventures of faith, and that of our church, would not gather dust in the past tense. There were more Jordan’s to cross and more walls to restore. We’re not building to grow bigger, but to disciple better . . . accommodating what God has already brought us, as well as a generation we have just begun reaching for Christ.
A Year-End Challenge for Generations to Come
That next step of faith is in front of us. To meet our building schedule we need to raise $3.5 million dollars to purchase the steel framing by December 31, 2026. The lag time between purchase and delivery is around 8 months and we’re planning to break ground next summer.
Please consider ways to add this project to our sacrificial giving. It will require all of us, sacrificing all that we can. Frankly, it might seem impossible . . . but that’s why we’ll call it our greatest step of faith — the next one we’re taking together!
One more milestone of God’s faithfulness . . . through God’s willing people.
These photos are from our current gym’s steel framing that went up in 1999. We are praying for God’s provision to help us raise $3.5 million by December 31, 2026, to purchase the steel we need for our new campus expansion.
Preliminary Renderings
Campus Expansion
Pretend you’re standing in the middle of the central courtyard looking toward Tryon Road. This will be your view of the new buildings. You’ll notice the large porch with columns which leads into the foyer and then into the sanctuary in the center of this rendering.
The new Children’s center is on the left and the additional Adult classroom building is on the right. We’ll show you the view from Tryon Road once those renderings are completed.
Campus Expansion
Pretend you’re standing in the middle of the central courtyard looking toward Tryon Road. This will be your view of the new buildings. You’ll notice the large porch with columns which leads into the foyer and then into the sanctuary in the center of this rendering.
The children’s center is on the left and the additional adult classroom building is on the right. We’ll show you the view from Tryon Road once those renderings are completed
New Drop-Off Areas
Our building expansion will also include new drive-thru drop-off zones:
- West Drop-off: This drop-off under the portico will have two car lanes, allowing more families to access the new Children’s center, where you can securely check-in your children for services and special events.
- East Drop-off: For accessing a new large multi-purpose room for large-group gatherings or special events.
New
Floor Plan
Our new building expansion will include a dedicated Sanctuary that will seat 2,500 people to address our current capacity issue.
In addition, it will include new Children’s classrooms and a large multi-purpose room that can be used for a variety of ministry needs.
The current buildings will connect to the new building via a covered sky bridge.
New
Floor Plan
Our new building expansion will include a dedicated Sanctuary that will seat 2,500 people to address our current capacity issue.
In addition, it will include new Children’s classrooms and a large multi-purpose room that can be used for a variety of ministry needs.
The current buildings will connect to the new building via a covered sky bridge.
Estimated Costs
Our original figure of $55 million was based on an original concept design that we eventually learned would not accommodate our growth and vision for the future. Since then, we’ve spent the last 6 months in detailed, intensive discussions with our new design/build team. As a result, our project has grown toward a more realistic design, adding 14,000 square feet to the project. This will allow us to impact and minister to every age group in our church family.
Unfortunately, building costs have risen 7.4% over the last year. This increase, combined with the increased scope of the project, has resulted in a revised total cost. Here’s the bottom line — the longer we wait, the more it costs.
Now that our architects have sharpened their pencils, our total project can be more accurately estimated as follows:
| Worship/Sanctuary | $48 million |
| Children’s Center | $8.4 million |
| Student/Adult/ Seminary Education |
$8.4 million |
| Audio/Visual/Lighting/Sound System/Furniture/Fixtures |
$6 million |
| Parking lots | $2.6 million |
| Design and development fees |
$1.6 million |
| TOTAL: | $75 million |
$75
MILLION
Thanks to the grace of God working in and through our generous congregation, our earlier $1 million dollar goal (Year-end/2025) was exceeded and has since grown to $1.43 million. That extra giving of $430,000 has now kicked-off our next step of faith — “Raise the Steel: A Year-end Challenge for Generations to Come.” While we recognize that this is a large amount, let me encourage you with a little history.
Our Beginnings
When our church was meeting in the schoolhouse, around 200 adults voted on our first building project – and it was 6 times our annual budget. That was a great step of faith for us – 6 times our annual budget.
When we outgrew our first building, down Tryon Road, the Lord led us to this property, and we began a building project. The cost was 6 times our annual budget.
Why Not Plant Churches?
Some people might be wondering, “Why didn’t you start other churches?”
We did. So far, we’ve started 24 churches in this region and other states as well.
But planting other churches doesn’t solve space problems.
A New Step of Faith
Last year we raised nearly $12 million dollars as a congregation, including special gifts and projects. Six times that budget is $72 million dollars. We realized this ratio remains the same, after looking at past building programs.
It’s just about the same ratio that it was 35 years ago in the schoolhouse, and 28 years ago down Tryon, and now, it’s the same step of faith today.
God has honored our steps of faith before – He can certainly do it again.
Call to Action
A Campaign to Reach the Generations & Our Region
We’re calling our building project Generations. We want to reach this generation – we want to reach our region for Christ –
and generations to come.
At The Shepherd’s Church, we rejoice in God’s faithfulness from generation to generation. As we look back on all He has done in and through our church family this past year, we also look forward with gratitude and anticipation. For Generations: Expanding Our Reach, Deepening Our Roots reflects our commitment to create spaces where future generations can hear the gospel, grow in Christ, and carry the truth of God’s faithfulness to the next generation through praise (Psalm 145:4).
Prayer & Giving
We’d like to prayerfully consider giving as much as we can – over and above our normal giving. Even though the plans are still being developed, we already know that this will take all of us — sacrificing, praying, stretching, giving ‚ for this generation, and generations to come.
No pledging will take place until spring of 2027. We just need gifts to help us raise $3.5 million by December 31, 2026, to secure the steel needed for this expansion project. We’ve seen God provide miraculously in the past, and we know He will again!
More information will be provided in the coming months.
Thank You for Your Generosity!
We’d like to prayerfully consider giving as much as we can through the end of this year – over and above our normal giving. Even though the plans are still being developed, we already know that this will take all of us — sacrificing, praying, stretching, giving ‚ for this generation, and generations to come.
No pledging will take place in the near future — just gifts to help launch the needs of this campaign — let’s get this off the ground.
More information will be provided in the coming months.
Thank You for Your Generosity!
DONATION FORM
Sunday Offering
If you’re attending services in person, you can drop your gift in the offering plate or we have offering boxes near each exit of the Worship Center where you can drop off your donation. Giving envelopes are also available there and by each of our Welcome Centers. If donating by check, be sure to write in the memo line: “Generations Campaign.”
By Mail
Still prefer to use snail mail? No problem! Just send your donation to our Office Address at:
The Shepherd’s Church
6051 Tryon Road
Cary, NC 27518
Stocks & Securities
You will receive a tax deduction for the fair market value of your securities at the time of the donation. To donate a security, complete the appropriate form linked below. Send one copy to your broker to authorize the transaction and one copy to our church office letting us know how you want the funds applied.