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From Rev. Brock Patterson
“The Next Step”
Greetings Chapel Family!
We are pleased to present you with an opportunity to help the Chapel continue to meet the needs of its people and the community. The Chapel is blessed with a beautiful campus and location, all because of God’s work through the many people who have served at the Chapel for the last sixty-five years.
As you probably are aware, we are beginning to experience some significant infrastructure issues. Some of our challenges are due to the Chapel’s growth these last few years, but most of our complications are due to the age and condition of some vital areas within the Chapel’s main, common areas.
The men's and women’s restrooms on the main floor are the primary challenge. The restrooms are badly in need of updating, but more importantly, the restrooms are not ADA-compliant for our mobility-restricted individuals and the current plumbing is no longer sustainable. During the last two years, several dedicated volunteers have worked diligently to survey, inspect, and repair the plumbing issues to no avail. This is an immediate need and the remedy will likely include the removal or significant repair of the main sewer lines, which are buried under the Chapel and connect to Gulf of Mexico Drive.
In addition, our current restrooms are not centrally located and therefore not easy to find when folks need them. Because our restroom area also shares walls with the Staff Offices, Prayer Chapel, main lobby entrance (Narthex), and the closets located outside the restrooms, our Chapel leadership has been working on a plan to remedy all of these issues in one broad stroke. Specifically, since we will experience significant construction to remedy our restroom plumbing and updating, we should work to fix the other issues as well.
In a nutshell, we gotta fix the bathrooms and make them more accessible to everyone. Since the work is a big project of significant change, it makes complete sense to proceed with relocating the restrooms to a more convenient location, eliminate the closets that prohibit access and visibility of the restrooms, move the prayer chapel (to make room for the new restrooms), and update the staff offices to accommodate our growing Chapel family.
Thank you for your patience in reading this. (I’m a preacher so I’m expected to be long-winded, right?) We are trying to simplify it as much as possible because we want everyone to know our thoughts regarding the best possible solution to our challenges. The cost estimate of this project will not exceed $640,000.00, which we believe is a bargain to obtain two completely remodeled, updated, more convenient, and ADA-accessible restrooms, in addition to the other items this project will remedy. Although we can more than cover these costs with monies currently on hand in our facility deposit accounts, we desire to raise the full amount of the project with a new Capital Campaign that will begin on May 1, 2024. We are hoping to begin construction as early as June 1, 2024, with an estimated completion date of December 1, 2024 (if not before). We are excited for the bulk of the process to be complete before the Season resumes later this year.
How can you help? You can help in a variety of ways, beginning with your prayers as we begin this process. The Chapel staff, leadership, and project helpers have much to do quickly, including raising the necessary funds for the project. Worship will continue in the Sanctuary and all other activities will continue as well. Still, we will be temporarily relocating a few things (like staff offices) and adding temporary restrooms to accommodate the construction process. As one might figure, that’ll be a little stressful for some folks, so patience during the remodeling will also be very helpful!
In the meantime, please feel free to ask questions. Our project leaders will be on hand each Sunday before and following worship. Or, if you’re unsure who to ask, please contact me directly and I’ll put you in touch with the person in charge (if I’m unable to answer).
Here we go! It’s time to take that next step!
God Bless, Brock.
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