FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is the exciting opportunity next for Hope Midtown?
We have believed for a long time that we want to plant roots and communicate to our friends and neighbors all over New York City that we are here to be a blessing to the city. As we embrace that mission by building disciples of Jesus who are sent as a light to the world, we are excited to announce that we will be purchasing a building! Though it is very challenging to find affordable real estate, God has provided a miraculous opportunity for us to have a central meeting point for ministry and mission on 31st and Park.
What is the purpose of a Capital Campaign?
This campaign is a step toward inviting our congregation to meaningfully participate in this call to love and serve generations of New Yorkers. The purpose of the campaign includes a spiritual goal as well as a financial goal. The spiritual goal is for this time in the life of our church to be a faith-building journey. The result of this journey cannot be measured in dollars, but in the hearts of people who are experiencing the joy of radically following Jesus Christ and seeing New Yorkers become whole-hearted disciples of Jesus. The financial goal is to raise the capital necessary to fuel the vision to reach New Yorkers in various missional initiatives, including new churches and new kingdom ventures.
How much money needs to be raised and given?
We are praying that we secure pledges from our congregation that equal at least $2 million dollars. All of us are being asked to consider strengthening our regular giving and committing to an over-and-above sacrificial gift—in the form of a 26-month pledge to the campaign. The total investment ($6.6 million) is more, and therefore Drew Hyun will be looking to raise $4.6 million dollars from supportive friends and organizations outside of our church ($600,000 has already been pledged from outside donors).
How did we arrive at the final amounts to be raised by Hope Midtown and by outside donors?
Based on the current giving trends in Midtown ($700,000 annually for operating costs with close to $1 million annually with outside giving - and growing every year) and in conversation with an outside consultant who has worked with a number of churches on capital campaigns, $2 million over 26-months felt like a faith-filled, reasonable goal for our church.
The outside fundraising goal ($4.6 million) was set after setting the goal for Hope Midtown.
Should I reduce my regular giving to give to the campaign?
This campaign is meant to be an invitation to give above-and-beyond our regular giving. Our regular ministries depend upon the annual offering for our general operating expenses, and we want to continue to steward our funds in ways that allow us to maintain our growth while growing in our support for the various causes we already invest in.
Will Hope Midtown be moving our Sunday Services to the new building?
No, we will remain at the Salvation Army International Social Justice Commission on 52nd/3rd for the foreseeable future. The building we are purchasing is not large enough to host our Sunday gatherings as this new building on 31st/Park has a capacity of 75 in its largest gathering space (as opposed to 299 in Salvation Army ISJC). We have a wonderful relationship with SA ISJC and are grateful for our partnership with them.
Meanwhile, our hope is for the new building to be used as a mid-sized space for various missional initiatives including the start of new churches and mission ventures around the city.
How did we arrive at the current plans and how will the building be used?
Early on Hope Church NYC’s church planting journey, we decided to invest in church planting instead of renting a central office space. As a result, we have never leased or owned exclusive office space as our teams have often met in restaurants or coffee shops all over the city. As our movement has multiplied, our overhead has remained low by not leasing a central office but instead investing in new churches around the city. This strategy, while helpful at the start, is unsustainable as we continue to scale our movement moving forward.
We have always felt it would be untenable for us to purchase a new building with the exorbitant costs of Manhattan, but due to unique circumstances (outlined in the Project Vision), we were given a unique opportunity to purchase the property at an incredibly reduced rate through the generosity of a family foundation. In many ways, this building fits everything we could have dreamed of - large enough to be a 24-7 ministry hub for starting new discipleship groups, new churches, and new kingdom ventures throughout the city - yet small enough to keep our Midtown church appropriately stretched to inhabit other spaces throughout the city as gathering sanctuaries.
What is the story behind this particular building?
Originally, a staff person at Jews for Jesus (the organization that has owned the building the past 30+ years) approached Drew last year about Hope Midtown possibly buying the building at $19 million. Drew declined to explore this possibility. Months later, an opportunity was brought to our attention about co-buying the building at a drastically reduced rate.
Members of a private family foundation stepped in as buyers and are willing to:
Purchase the top 3 floors of a 7 floor building to be used as a parsonage for pastors and church planters
Loan Hope Midtown funds to purchase the bottom 4 commercial floors to be used as midweek gathering space, co-working offices and a base for launching missional initiatives (including new churches) in the city for years to come.
How will owning a building enhance the work we are doing?
By purchasing this space, we finally put down roots in the heart of Manhattan while becoming a missional hub for generations to come - all at an unbelievable cost! The work we are about to embark on, then, is the result of years of planning and a desire to make our church as healthy and effective as possible. Those who have been a part of the process did not just envision bricks and mortar, but rather changed lives.
What will happen if the entire amount is not raised?
The target is just that—a number we are aiming at based on our congregation’s capacity and our project needs. However, our church may raise above or below that amount. Since it is unlikely we will raise exactly $2M, we will take time for discernment and prayer to either adjust the projects (if we are under) or decide how to invest surplus (if we are over) into God’s kingdom. One possible outcome if we are not able to raise the funding would be that the foundation might have to look into selling those floors to someone else.
Will we take on debt to fund this project?
Our church is financially healthy with an 8-month reserve and growth every year as a congregation. For this campaign, the only debt we will incur is the low-interest loan from the foundation for the floors that we are purchasing. Our goal is to pay this back with the funds raised from the campaign, as well as outside fundraising from Drew. Meanwhile, our general operating budget will remain the same in terms of its priorities to give, save, and spend.
Why invest in bricks and mortar when the missions needs of the world are so great?
Missions work has always been the heartbeat of our congregation at Hope Midtown. We have given up to 25% annually toward causes outside of our church, and if one were to include the New City Network, up to 45% of our annual income toward causes outside of our church. It has never been an either-or proposition (investing either in missions or in buildings). God has blessed us to invest in both, and that will continue. Moreover, since this building will primarily be used to serve missional initiatives like new churches and new kingdom ventures, this building will primarily be a gift toward mission more than a gift to a single local church.
When will construction take place and how long would it take?
We have already received $600,000 in outside donations of the $4.6 million outside fundraising goal, and thus, renovations will begin in September 2019 and conclude in the Spring of 2020.
What should I give?
Good question! That’s between you and God. The amount should represent something that is a heartfelt spiritual decision, and not simply an afterthought or an obligation. The Scripture challenges us to give first to God’s work and to do so with passion and joy. The widow gave everything she had, and Christ commended her for her devotion and sacrifice. We will not give equally, but we can sacrifice equally. If we each pray about and then give an offering that represents true sacrifice, the cumulative effort will be amazing.
How can I give to the campaign?
There are many ways you can contribute. Cash/Checks/Online is the most obvious way, but you can also give real estate, stocks, bonds, and other non-cash assets.
Will members be asking other members for pledges or donations?
No. You may hear testimonials of people who are willing to say, “Will you join me in making a sacrificial gift?” but this will be in worship services or in other large settings where no one individual or family is being put on the spot.
What if I absolutely cannot give a sacrificial gift because I am a single-parent or on a fixed income or unemployed?
No problem and no pressure! If this is the case, we would love for you to steward what you have: enthusiasm, influence, hope, prayer. Pray for your leaders, pastors, volunteers, members, and for this campaign. In short, do your best with what you have. God knows our circumstances, so He knows what faithfulness looks like for each one of us.
When do I need to make this commitment? How long is the campaign?
Commitment Sunday will be on Sunday, December 8, 2019. Every household in the church will be given the opportunity to participate. Members are asked to make their pledges at the worship services, but you can also let us know of your commitment at some other time.
After I have pledged, what is the length of time I have to turn in my gift?
The payout horizon for the capital commitment is 26 months, so roughly 2 years. But the way we have bracketed the collection period of the campaign allows for giving to happen in 4 different income tax years (2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022). Some will utilize the tax advantage of giving portions of their gift over those years as well as trusting God to provide in amazing ways in order to fulfill that pledge to give.
What if I have more specific questions?
Any campaign leader would gladly talk with you about the church, the vision, and the projects. You can call the church office at (347-915-4673) or email Drew to be connected with the answers to your questions (or to one of our campaign leaders, if you would like).