Frequently Asked Questions
Vision
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We desire to build a church for the glory of God, as a tangible, visible expression of our love for him, and to serve him by making him known to others. A permanent church home will allow us to continue and grow with the ministries we have been blessed with over the past 14 years while we have rented space at OAC, and to enable these ministries and new ones to meet more easily without the set up and take down that are required every time we meet at OAC.
Imagine a Sunday School where artwork could be left on the wall from week to week, building on their current study from God’s word, and the summer Bible Camp could be set up well in advance.
Imagine having Church offices that are onsite and easily accessible for parishioners to visit anytime.
Imagine a place where we could host weddings on Saturdays and funerals without needing to find another Church facility when there are scheduling conflicts.
Imagine a place where we can have our youth and young adults spontaneously meet, a place for training of Artizo students, and to host conferences for St. John’s and for the Anglican Diocese of Canada, and so much more!
Having a permanent home lets us tangibly realize these aspirations, letting us finally settle down in a true home.
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We are thankful for the convenience and kindness of the long-term rental at Oakridge Adventist Church (OAC). But renting for our ministry and mission puts us in a precarious position, at risk of an uncertain future. OAC has been wonderfully transparent with us and our rental renewals continue - however, the church is prime real estate for development, which means are are not in a good long-term situation.
Purchasing a home will protect us from the ever-present threat of disruption to ministry and missions, dispersal, and the fracturing of community. We cannot presume on OAC for the long term, and it is not financial wise to try to rent forever. And while we may be able to rent for a few more years, if we do not take this step now, we merely pass this problem to the next generation.
Building &
Location
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We’re looking from Marine Drive to 2nd Avenue from Dunbar to Main Street. We’ve looked at possibilities outside these boundaries as well.
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Yes, we are! However, over the past 14 years, of all the potential church buildings that have been identified as possibilities, not one of them has ended up being suitable for various reasons including the congregation being unwilling to sell, the building being too small in size, as well as the challenge of rezoning and renovating the existing space.
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Through the generosity of OAC and the grace of God, we have been able to rent for the past 14 years. However, we know that this is not sustainable for the long term, as OAC is a prime site for redevelopment.
As the cost of property in Vancouver increases and the options for renting a suitable church space decrease, if we don’t plan for a new church home, we are simply passing this challenge on to the next generation.
We need to plan for a space for St. John’s Vancouver to continue ministry in Vancouver for the next 100 years.
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Absolutely! This is a definite requirement for any new building or renovation of an existing space.
Fundraising & Finances
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The building committee is currently undergoing extensive work in conjunction with an architectural firm, commercial broker, and the City of Vancouver to determine test fit variations, land size needs, and related costing options based on St. John Vancouver’s ministry and programmatic needs.
Once this information has been compiled, it will be provided to the Trustees for further discussion of a reasonable scope in order to secure a permanent church home. Of course, final costing will depend on a variety of factors such as build or renovation costs, city zoning and code requirements, and inflation. Allowance for these factors will be included in the architect’s cost assessments.
We look forward to sharing further updates as they become available.
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There are many ways you can help!
You can pray regularly for a new church home for St. John’s Vancouver.
You can donate online to the building fund.
You can donate gifts of securities, RRSP, RRIF, TFSA, property, or life insurance policies by contacting the Church office, Darrell Thomas, or Anita Anderson.