INTRODUCTION

I am just so thankful for you, and for the incredible ways that The Lord is at work all throughout our church family. You are a true blessing, and it is a great privilege to serve our Lord alongside each of you during this special season.

There is some very important information that I wanted to personally share with you as we head into this New Year. As I have prayed, I have continued to hear the Lord say, In order for Millbrook to see God do things we’ve never seen, Millbrook must demonstrate faith like never before. If I were to condense what I believe is on God’s heart for our church family, it could be summarized in only 7 words – LIKE NEVER BEFORE, BECAUSE HE IS ABLE!

In order to answer God’s calling upon Millbrook to be a model of excellence regionally and a message of evangelism ringing out globally will require that we commit to the work of Jesus Christ like never before. Part of answering this calling from God involves getting our house in order through the improvement of our physical facilities. In December 2022, you as a church family overwhelmingly affirmed as God’s will moving forward in the planning for a new Family Life Center, Fellowship Space, Student Center, and Welcome Center. As you are aware, this is a God-size project that will require God-sized financial support.

Today, I am excited to announce that He is Able is the name we have chosen for our stewardship campaign. As part of the He is Able program, every household will be asked to prayerfully consider making a sacrificial commitment – over and above your ongoing tithes and offerings – to be given through March 2027. We know that God is going to provide the necessary funds in order to accomplish His will because He is Able!

I love you and your family, and am excited to see the plans God has for Millbrook in the days ahead!

In His Strength & For His Glory,

Pastor Stephen

TIMELINE

  • August 29, 2021 – Pastor Stephen Cannon initiated the need for a Long-Range Facilities Planning Team as part of a greater State of the Church Message. The message gave an update to the church on our current position, and updated the church family on some items The Lord revealed to our leadership regarding our future.
  • January 1, 2022 – The Long-Range Facilities Planning team was prayerfully assembled, affirmed by the church, and began working in coordination with our Church Pastors and Staff to address Mill brook’s Long-Range Facility Needs. The team prepared a Needs Assessment Document focusing on where the church is currently relative to our facilities and what improvements needed to be made in order for our church to accomplish God’s plan and vision in the days ahead. The finance team budgeted appropriate funds for the Long-Range Facilities Planning Team to accomplish their stated goals and monitored our giving toward retiring the debt on our current facility and make recommendations accordingly as to how this might relate to future planning considerations.
  • November 6, 2022 – We celebrated all The Lord had done in retiring our debt. Additionally, the Long-Range Facilities Planning Team worked with the LS3P company to take the Needs Assessment and develop pre-conceptual designs that would best address the needs of Millbrook Baptist Church in order to fulfill God’s calling and vision. The Needs Document along with the pre-conceptual designs were presented to the church for prayer and potential vote to affirm as the will of The Lord.
  • December 4, 2022 – The Long-Range Planning Team’s Recommendation was voted on and affirmed by the church.
  • August 27, 2023 – The Church Staff worked in coordination with the Long-Range Facilities Planning Team and LS3P to develop a comprehensive Campus Master Plan. The Church Staff, Long-Range Planning Team, and Church Council unanimously affirmed the Campus Master Plan and Capital Campaign Company as God’s will and plan.
  • September 10, 2023 – With the pre-conceptual drawings and Capital Campaign Company secured, both were presented to the deacons and unanimously affirmed by those in attendance.
  • September 24, 2023 – A Key Leader Meeting was held to affirm the pre-conceptual drawings and Capital Campaign Company: Impact Stewardship.
  • October 29, 2023 – The pre-conceptual drawings and Capital Campaign Company were presented to the church to prayerfully affirm these as God’s will and plan.
  • November 12, 2023 – A Churchwide Vote was held and affirmed to moved forward with the Long-Range Facilities Planning Master Plan & Capital Campaign Company: Impact Stewardship. The work of the Long-Range Facilities Planning team was completed.
  • January 8, 2024 – A Churchwide Vote was held and affirmed for the Building Team to take the pre-conceptual design work in coordination with LS3P and 3D Project Management through the entire building process.
  • January 11, 2024 – Meetings began with Impact Stewardship to prepare for our future building campaign and planning for Vision, Commitment, and Celebration Sundays.
  • February 11, 2024 – Our Vision Sunday was held to launch the He is Able Capital Campaign.
  • March 17, 2024 – In celebration of God leading us through this journey, our church family turned in commitment cards, during our 10:30 AM Worship Gathering on Commitment Sunday.
  • March 30, 2024 – For Celebration Sunday, we gave thanks to The Lord and shared the results of the efforts pledged from Commitment Sunday. A first fruits offering was taken to start the giving process toward the He is Able campaign to put our faith in action and watch God fulfill His vision for our church.
  • March 30, 2025 – 1 Year Anniversary Celebration Update
  • May 27, 2025 – Architectural Design Development Plans Complete
  • June 15, 2025 – Contractor Building Pricing Check
  • July 4, 2025 – Property Survey with As-built Utilities Complete
  • July 21, 2025 – Civil Concept Plans Complete
  • August 5, 2025 – Meeting with Aiken Building and Planning Department to discuss project details required for permitting
  • November 19, 2025 – Civil Design Development Plans Complete
  • January 7, 2026 – Meeting with Aiken Building and Planning to discuss Water Quality Requirements and Detention
  •  February 6, 2026 – Civil Construction Documents Complete
  •  March 20, 2026 – Released Complete Architectural (95%) and Civil Plans (100%) for Pricing
  • April 10, 2026 – Submitted Civil Plans to Aiken Building and Planning for Permit Review; Received Contractor Pricing
  • April 26, 2026 – Churchwide Update regarding final year for He is Able commitments