This Sunday, December 11 we'll hold our first service as Granger Community Church at our new multisite location at 2701 E. Bristol Street in Elkhart. The level of anticipation couldn't be higher. Scores of volunteers and staff have labored hundreds of hours, given up sleep and demonstrated astounding skill. The preparation continues as I write, but come Sunday morning we'll be ready: two services at 9:30 and 11:30am.
With so much to celebrate, another group at 2701 E. Bristol is struggling. For the past several years Little Cherubs Daycare has rented space to provide care and teaching for up to seventy children a semester. In the past week the parents and staff of Little Cherubs have expressed hurt and anger about our recent arrangment in the building we now own and occupy. I want to offer some background and vision for the people of GCC-Elkhart, as many questions have surfaced in the past few days.
- Before the transfer of ownership (which occurred in July) from St. John's Church of Christ to Granger Community Church, we agreed to rent space to Little Cherubs for at least one more school year.
- We agreed that we would make evaluation of any longer term no later than February. We wanted to make that determination as early as possible, so that if there were any changes in the agreement, Little Cherubs would have ample time to make different plans.
- The Little Cherubs staff responded graciously to a move to the lower level of the building for the past three-four months so construction could occur without interruption to their program while assuring safety for their children.
- During this time our staff and volunteer teams processed the best use of the children's space on the main level of the building, knowing we would provide ministry to potential hundreds of children on the weekends. This time also allowed time to understand how the daycare utilized their classroom space for teaching.
- At the same time plans to open Granger Community Church's own licensed Early Learning Center on our Granger campus at 630 E. University Drive were in full motion. Our target open is Fall 2012. We want our vision and focus to be clear - to our families and our community about this new ministry.
- Some have believed that Little Cherubs was merging with Granger Community Church, becoming GCC's daycare in Elkhart. While we've planned to occupy the same building, Little Cherubs remains a unique ministry from GCC. Given this confusion and wanting to open our own Early Learning Center with clarity and strength, we have opted to end our rental agreement with Little Cherubs at the end of this current school year - May 2012. This was not a swift decision. It was not a pleasant or easy decision.
- The use of classroom space is very different between our church and Little Cherub's. The overlapping use of the same rooms as classrooms is incompatible. Not wrong, just different. Different enough that it would not be possible to completely empty rooms of daycare materials and furnishings for weekend use.
- However, for the remaining six months of the school year Little Cherubs will be welcome to use considerable space on the main level of the building for napping, reading circles, music and movement, etc. as they see helpful. They will be able to maximize their classrooms on the lower level for teaching and table activities without disruption to their setup.
- Finally, we made this difficult decision to end our rental agreement as soon as possible, allowing the daycare more time to make necessary arrangements for other space.
We respect the work of Little Cherubs. They have established a worthy reputation in our community. The families and children of Little Cherubs are good people. Their program is good. We're happy to work with them over the coming months. I trust our relationship will be healthy. I know their care for their children will remain strong and unwavering. I'm grateful for that.
Join me in praying with the families and staff of Little Cherubs as they struggle with this transition. Pray they find a new home where their approach to ministry is a perfect fit. Thank God for the good and faithful work of Little Cherubs.
These are the tough choices that come with careful evaluation of what we've said "yes" to. There will continue to be countless good ideas for the use of this building in Elkhart. There will be hundreds of good ministries we could offer to our church and community. Some of them we will embrace. Many more we'll take a pass on. Maintaining focus, staying true to our agreed upon vision as a church isn't easy. It's not easy for any organization.
Sunday will be a big day! Pray for all the details in opening the space for services this month. Pray for our artists as they lead us. Pray for our children's and guest services and facility care teams as they finalize preparation and create an atmosphere that communicates God's love to everyone who attends services this weekend.
See you at 9:30 or 11:30!
