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GGBTS building report approved
Arizona Southern Baptist Convention messengers approved a report from the two teams charged with guiding construction of a new facility for the Arizona Campus of Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary.
Joe Chan, chairman of the committee appointed in 2006 to study the feasibility of building a facility to be used primarily by Golden Gate, told the messengers that the ASBC Convention Council approved dividing the study committee into a fundraising team and a building project team in early 2009.
The building project team, chaired by Steve Mar, made significant progress during the year, Chan said. Scottsdale's Development Review Board approved an application for a permit for the new building, which will be located on vacant land adjacent to the state convention office.
However, "due to the unfavorable economic circumstances, we're not being as successful in the fundraising," said Chan, fundraising team chairman and pastor of Tucson Chinese Baptist Church, Tucson.
At the start of the year, $350,000 had been committed to the project, with $100,000 of that having been received. A total of $83,475 has been spent so far, Chan said. No additional funds were raised in 2009, he said.
In his report later in the business session, State Missionary Steve Bass said the convention is standing by its initial commitment to build debt-free.
"We're not going to use Cooperative Program money, and I guarantee you we're not going into debt. ... So that means we're going to have to raise the money," he said. "God is trying to show us something in this time, and we're going to continue to make contacts and continue to cultivate for a time of giving."
Bass asked for prayer "that maybe God would raise that person up or persons up who would make a significant contribution" so that the building can be constructed.
In 2008, messengers approved a budgeted base amount of $2 million, with a $2.5 million challenge goal for the building. The facility will be used primarily by Golden Gate but will also provide meeting space for the state convention.