Text Box: Financial Sub-Committee:    The Preschool applied for a $2.3 million dollar grant with the Mississippi Department of Human Services (MDHS) back in September 2006.    The MDHS awarded the Preschool with a grant in the amount of $1.5 million.   The Preschool has served the community for over 25 years and is currently being housed in seven temporary modular units.  They have a waiting list of over 100 children.    Once rebuilt, the Preschool expects to serve a minimum of 128 children per year.  It will provide preschool and child care services for all populations in Long Beach and Harrison County.    The Preschool has also Text Box: applied for another recovery Grant  from the Gulf Coast Long Term Recovery Fund.   This grant would be for Brick and Mortar.   Please be in prayer for this and other grants that we have applied for.    We also applied and  received a $50,000 Grant from Samaritan’s Purse.  This money was awarded to assist in the rebuild of the Preschool.   Capital Campaign: As we gear up for the Capital Campaign, a leadership training meeting was held on January 25.  Additional training of volunteers will be forthcoming.   Letters have been sent out to various church members for this initial training session.  There will be many sessions to Text Box: follow.   If you are interested in volunteering, please contact the church office. Together we can achieve so much more.     Publicity Sub-Committee:   Sign Ordinances have  been obtained and we have awarded the building  and installation of the new church property sign to All Signs from Gulfport.    The new sign, which will show phase one, is anticipated to be erected within the next month.   Church Services to Temporarily Move: We have been notified that the middle school gym floor will need to be replaced. Worship services will be moved from the gym to the Text Box: Volume 1, Issue 8 Text Box: Preschool Receives Grant for $1.5 Million Text Box: January  28, 2007 Text Box: Special Note: We need your prayers for God’s guidance, provision and that His name be glorified in the construction of His new church. Building Committee Members: Chuck Reynolds 868-1387 Ginger Worth 863-7119 Alison Clay 864-5958 Pete Meece 868-9233 Charles Dearman 863-3050 Ruby Blackwell 452-9292 Text Box: Inside this issue:   Sub-Committee Reports Text Box: Building Committee Update  

Text Box: middle school cafeteria beginning February 11 through the month of March.  Sunday school classes will remain the same except for those classes presently meeting in the cafeteria and the gym.  Further details will be forthcoming.   Ground Breaking Event Set for March 4, 2007: The Publicity Committee is diligently working on plans for a groundbreaking event to be held on March 4, 2007. Initial plans are to have worship services at our regular time with Sunday School  following. The groundbreaking ceremony will conclude the morning worship service. We will transition to our Sunday school classes directly from the groundbreaking ceremony.   More information will be distributed on this very momentous occasion as details are worked out.   We ask that you post this event on  your calendars so that you will not miss taking part in this wonderful historical event for our church.   Construction Sub-Committee: Tommy and Lynn Kellogg have moved to Tennessee and Tommy  stepped  down as Chair of the Construction Sub-Committee.  We thank Tommy for his dedication and leadership and wish them both well on their new endeavors.   The Construction Sub-Committee is currently searching for a replacement to serve on the Committee.  Jerry Davis has Text Box: graciously assumed the Chair position and will also serve as the Point of Contact  with our Contractor, Wyatt, during the construction phase of the project.    Building  Design Sub-Committee: The Building Design Team and Building Committee Members  will review final site and construction drawings with the Architect on January 30, 2007.   Bid packages were released to the Contractor this week.    Interior Design Sub-Committee: We still have many decisions to make regarding interior design, furnishings, colors, fixtures, kitchen equipment, and landscaping.    We will be asking members of the Church Body to participate with our Sub-Committees as we get further into the interior and landscaping design process.   Our Ground and Maintenance Sub-Committee has been assigned the responsibility of soliciting landscapers for the design and landscaping of the new church property.   Property Sub-Committee: The Mississippi Department of Marine Resources approved our permit to mitigate 6.52 acres of wetlands. Praise the Lord!  We are waiting on final approval from the Corp of Engineers.   Text Box: Prayer Sub-Committee: We ask that you pray specifically  for the following: · Corp of Engineers approval of Wetlands Mitigation · New member for Construction Sub-Committee · Grant Opportunities · Capital Stewardship Campaign beginning April 22. · The work of our Building Committee Members · The work of our Sub-Committee Members · Church Staff · Clear communication and understanding   Upcoming Dates of Interest: · Jan 30 – Final review of drawings with the Architect · Feb 11 – Final construction costs expected · Mar 4 – Ground Breaking Event · Apr 22 – Stewardship Campaign begins