We have the joy of celebrating the milestone of completing our recent office expansion project!
Our Interim Pastor, Rev. Robert Bayley was instrumental in getting the new office building project moving towards the construction phase. He joined Session as they voted for the project and supported their decision to move forward with the bids collected by the Building Committee. He listened to the staff who expressed their needs and advocated for them to get into workspaces more conducive to optimal productivity. He also supported the Building Committee by praying with them and staying updated on each phase. His dream was to have the project completed so a new pastor would have a fresh new office in which to work. We all thank Pastor Robert for his part in this project and wish him the best in his next interim position!
We gratefully highlight the many people involved - the building committee that oversaw this project: Kevin Smith, Grace Debbink, Jarod Grant, Leon Anderson, Robert Miller, and Brion Gallo.
In particular, we thank God for Kevin Smith and his tireless work as part of the building project. In addition to being our Lead Trustee, he also became the Liaison of the Building Expansion Project – working on every single detail imaginable and unimaginable with the architect, builder, and contractors and communicating with the building committee, finance ministry, and our church family.
Grace Debbink, our Office Administrator on staff, has been the driving force behind this project since she first heard of the concept from years prior to her arrival. She learned all the details about the previous research, designs, and pricing. She asked herself and others, “Why not now?” The idea got traction when Grace explained the long-term benefits of having an expanded office space to support the growing staff and designated work and meeting areas for church members, as well. Because of her tenacity, she pushed through many emails, meetings, and phone calls and the project picked up speed – all while her family made a major move across the country.
Geoffrey Engle may have been 'behind the scenes' (and in the ceiling), but his contributions have been and continue to be invaluable for all who use the new office space. He was able to provide much history and many suggestions regarding former operating systems to Kevin Smith. His work on the router has ensured successful internet access, which is obviously a significant need. He also attended the new phone system training and created an easy-to-understand guide for our church.
We also thank God for finance elders Dave Smouse, Dean Farmer, and former finance elder Tony Guido, who combined their talents, time, and efforts to raise funds through the Capital Campaign and make payments for services rendered in a timely manner. They also came up with consistent communications – through the written word and video. We appreciate that they were dedicated to making fiscally responsible decisions every step of the way.
Administration elders Robert Miller, Jon Friedmeyer, and former admin elder John Martin put their heads together to review building plans and make accommodations suitable for the entire staff (and potential future employees). They thoughtfully persevered through countless reply all emails and meetings, while championing the staff.
Many thanks to Debbie Boyd for all of her efforts to plan, coordinate and purchase all of the new office furniture at an amazing discount given by her company, Boyd Furniture. We appreciate her endeavors to buy, store and deliver the furniture while coordinating with the project completion and ensuring the best possible price for our church. She assembled many pieces of furniture on her own time and continues to provide excellent customer service!
Our incredible staff was displaced for nine months and graciously made this work. They diligently worked to the best of their ability, granting grace when the going got tough, being prayerful at every turn, and remaining flexible during challenging times. Grace, CiCi, Laura, Rachel, Diane, Eileen, and Pastor Matt will stay thankful and embrace the space!
In addition to the people behind this project, there is the vision. The facility of Pax Pres is one of the many resources God has entrusted to us to steward well. Pax Pres exists to worship God, to nurture each other as disciples, and to minister in the world in Jesus’ name. Each room of our expanded office is a space in which Pax members, elders, deacons, staff, and trustees can be equipped and encouraged to fulfill the mission God has for us.
Picture in your mind the people of Pax, of all ages, appropriately using our expanded office space to prepare themselves as disciples and to prepare the material resources needed to go and make disciples in Southern Maryland and across the world.
Spaces such as the conference room will become available for use by groups like Session, classes, and other ministry meetings. We are still settling into the new routines of this space, including scheduling. As we iron out those details, you are welcome to contact the church office with questions about scheduling use of the space for a church group or ministry. We encourage grace and patience as we communicate and negotiate with each other about those details.
As we continue to work within COVID-19 guidelines, we request that you please make an appointment to visit the office. Temperature-taking, mask-wearing and social-distancing are still in place. We now have a new way to gain access during hours – an actual doorbell! It is located to the left of the east-facing entry doors. Ring it and Laura Landreth, our administrative assistant, will buzz you in during office hours of Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Also know that Pastor Matt’s office hours are Monday through Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
We also thank God for the sacrificial investments and generous giving across this entire congregation, without which this expansion project would not have been possible. Many years ago, over the course of a number of years, nearly $250,000 was given by many saints in this church, including some who have since gone on to be with the Lord. Last year, a capital campaign was undertaken to further finance this project. Collectively, many of the Pax family contributed almost $100,000 funds - let's appreciate how big of an investment and sacrifice that is toward the vision of disciple-making.
Let’s pray for God’s gift of this space to our ministry.
Almighty God, across centuries, cultures, and contexts, you’ve called men and women to be disciples of Jesus who make disciples of Jesus. We thank you, God, that you generously equip us with the resources we need to fulfill that disciple-making mission. Thank you, God, for everyone and everything that went into building this new office space at Pax: we thank you for every single person and for the generosity and sacrifice of time, finances, and energy that so many have contributed to make this possible. Make us good stewards of the space you’ve given us, Lord – not just for keeping it tidy and in order, but give us a vision of how this space can launch us out into our community with the mission of Jesus Christ. We commit this space and all whose contributions have made it possible to your glory and to yours alone. In Christ, Amen.
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