Pastor Rick Frie has spent much of his 40 years in ministry helping churches overcome growth plateaus.
That's why when he came in view of a call to First Baptist Church, Jenks, Okla., he was upfront about what he saw as a need for the church.
“The church was landlocked and Sunday school attendance averaged 150. I said that if they were to call me as a pastor, they were also calling for the church to relocate someday,” he said.
In the seven years Frie has served as pastor, the church has experienced steady growth and today runs approximately 500 in Sunday school. The church added a second Sunday school and worship service.
“Most of our growth has been in young families; our preschool department has just exploded,” Frie said.
Three years ago, acknowledging the need for expansion, the church voted to buy 28 acres a few miles south of their current 45,000 square foot building. They bought the property for $930,000 and the congregation was challenged to pay it off in 12 months, which they did. The church began its Lighting a Legacy Campaign to raise $3.5 million over a three year period to help pay for the construction of the new $9 million building. In one year, the church has raised $1.6 million. Jenks Public Schools purchased the church’s current building for $3 million and has allowed the church to stay until their current building is completed, which Frie estimates will be summer 2010.
“Our church family has really stepped out in faith and raised money even during a bad economy,” Frie said. “We did not have one single ‘no’ vote when we voted to move. We’ve really watched God do things that were almost impossible.”
The funds that the congregation raised and money received from the sale of their building were placed in a Church Funds Management account with the Foundation. Recently, First Jenks took out a $6 million Church Building Loan with the Foundation to complete its 80,000 square foot building that is a two-story lodge design, including an open foyer with a fireplace, café, children’s worship area, Sunday school classes , offices, and large sanctuary.
Frie said that seeking a loan with the Foundation was a priority because the interest paid on a loan goes back into ministry
“The Foundation comes alongside churches to help them accomplish their vision and to help reach people,” Frie said. “For us, there’s never been a moment that we thought about going to a bank to take out this loan. If you are going to be in debt, why not help other churches and ministries. The money we pay in interest goes to help advance God’s Kingdom. To me, that’s powerful.”
Frie said his congregation’s vision is that God will use their new facility to draw families and individuals who need a safe place, one where with Jesus they can be real and work through the struggles all people have, resulting in victory in their lives.
“I love the story of Zaccheus and how out of curiosity to see Jesus he climbed into a tree, one that God had planted and watered. Because of that tree, Zaccheus was provided a vantage point that helped him come to know Christ.
“That’s the vision we have for our new building. We know there will be some who will simply come out of curiosity to see what’s going on here. But for some it will be the place where they will have the vantage point that helps them know Christ,” he said.