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June 2010
Dear Friends,
Please look over these plans and information to re-develop
part of our property for better mission – I think
you will find that it opens a whole new potential for everyone.
The Lord has given us some terrific property with
some old, but valuable, buildings – and a church family
with resources and generosity to keep them increasingly useful.
In my years at St Thomas', the church family has generously
provided for the redevelopment of the Memorial Hall, the Schoolhouse,
34 McLaren Street, and renewal of two thirds of the church
roof – and now we are tackling the old Rectory (Ministry
Centre) and its surrounds. The Lord has enabled these challenges
to be wonderfully met.
We cannot leave the Ministry Centre to deteriorate
any more and we should seize the re-building opportunity
to expand the usefulness of our resources. If ever St Thomas'
has been isolated from the community or operating in makeshift
accommodation for staff, this new project will make a significant
impact.
When this new project is completed we will have:
• a new face to the community on the East side
• a new welcoming and fellowship area
• new meeting rooms for small groups
• new administration offices and studies for
pastors
• new residences for staff individuals / couples
I hope you will see this project as doing the very thing
we have been asked by the Lord to do – to "seek
first His kingdom" (Matthew 6:33) by helping people outside
the Kingdom come face to face with His church and by helping
people inside the Kingdom be better resourced for serving
Him and all people.
The project invites every single person in the St Thomas'
family – whatever age or stage or income – to play
some part (great or small) in this advance of His work. When
you consider that thousands and thousands benefit from the
ministry of St Thomas' and yet our resources struggle to keep
up with the need – this is the opportunity for us to
collectively contribute, having received so much from Him.
Thank you for considering this and for your invaluable fellowship.
Yours appreciatively,
Simon Manchester
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