Building on Faith

History - Nov. 2001 to Oct. 2005

2001
November - MLC members participated in a Vision Survey that identified the needs of our church and school with a goal to enhance our ability to carry out our mission efforts.

December - A Vision Committee was formed that reviewed the survey, developed plans to implement as many of the ideas as possible and considered a building program to enhance our facilities. The top responses of the survey indicated a need to add classrooms to accommodate our rapidly growing school, create an above-ground fellowship hall, a dedicated choir room, a redesigned church entrance, and provide handicap accessibility.

2002
March - The committee began to interview architects and selected Jeff Wyant of Wyant Architecture to assist us with a feasibility study, project development, a potential budget and the initial design for our project.

thru Sept - Preliminary designs for our church and school additions were made, reviewed and amended by the committee.

September - Recognizing that a special effort was needed for our "Building of Faith" program, we embarked on a program of Sustained Giving Stewardship Emphasis. The program was directed by the Capital Funding Services of the Lutheran Church Extension Fund.

Sept/Oct - Additional architecture firms were contacted and several architects were interviewed.

Oct/Dec - The Sustained Giving Stewardship Emphasis program began with open forum discussions, a wonderful and uplifting 12-hour prayer vigil in October, special Worship and Bible Studies and concluded with Congregational Commitment Dinners in December.

November - Guenther & Hee Associates, an architecture firm located in Collingswood, NJ was selected for the project.

December - The MLC voters assembly approved requesting a construction loan of $1,200,000 from the Lutheran Church Extension Fund for the project. At a subsequent meeting, early in 2003, additional funds were approved to increase the overall project budget to $1,465,000.

2003
Jan/Apr - Throughout the early part of the year, much time and effort was spent with our architect as the plans were refined and developed.

April - Our building project received its initial approval from the Pennsauken Planning Board. The Vision Committee was reformatted to become the MLC Building Committee.

June/July - Construction firms were reviewed and representatives from five firms were interviewed. The bids were carefully reviewed and follow-up interviews were conducted.

August - Lynco Construction Co. of Marlton, NJ (a subsidiary of Roland Aristone, Inc.) was selected to be the builder for the church and school construction project.

September - The loan closing was held, the construction funds were now ready. Also, we held the groundbreaking ceremony on a bright sunny Sunday between the two worship services.

October - A Site Improvement Bond was obtained and our builder and architect prepared all of the forms and drawings needed to obtain the necessary building permits.

November - The building permit applications along with sets of the architects construction drawings were submitted to Pennsauken Township on November 17th.

December - On December 24th an early Christmas present from Pennsauken Township! The building permits were issued and construction could now begin.

2004
Jan/Feb - Construction began, but little was accomplished as the freezing temperatures prohibited excavating and pouring concrete for the new footings and foundations.

March - The construction effort finally began in earnest. The concrete was poured and the new "footprint" of our church and school became evident. The Building Committee met regularly with Lynco representatives to monitor the construction process and to review the hundreds of big and little details that required attention.

Apr/Sept - The project moved along at a steady pace. Walls and ceilings went up, electrical and plumbing systems were installed, floor tiles were laid, and every square inch of the new wall surfaces and most of the old existing walls were painted by MLC members and school families.

October - Construction was essentially completed and a temporary Certificate of Occupancy was received. The school opened its doors and a relieved Mary Bishop and school staff welcomed all of the children to their new home. On Oct. 24th we held a Dedication Service to thank God for our new expanded church and school.

2005
October - We have been using our wonderful, expanded facilities for a whole year. On this day, Oct. 23, 2005, we want to take time to give thanks:

Give thanks first and foremost to God from whom all blessings flow
and for enabling this project to come to fruition.
And then to:

The People Involved

All members of MLC and Christian School - for your prayers, your financial support and for your personal efforts in such areas as: painting new and old classrooms, moving furniture, assembling book cases and supply cabinets, painting doors and frames, showing problem-solving creativity after floods and other natural disasters, running electrical and computer cables, shoveling several tons of topsoil and mulch, planting grass and shrubs and trees, cleaning windows and floors and walls, painting exterior soffit and fascia, and for the fifty or more people who worked to make the Sustained Giving Stewardship Emphasis the tremendous success that it was.

Vision and Building Committees - Mary Bishop, Dan Buzz, Jane Duffy, Ilene Edgein, Michael Edgein, Bob Fahr, Ed Fitzgerald, Judy Fitzgerald, Gerry Groeber, Lou Meilink, Jim Moore, Dave Phillips, Dot Speight, Laura Tolles, and Pastor Larry Vogel.

Professional Services Provided through MLC members - Ed Fitzgerald of Arnold's Lock and Safe for the new doors and hardware. Dave Beckendorf of Quality Heating and Air Conditioning for the new systems. Lynne Kennedy of Freedom Press and Imaging for all of the printed material used in the SGSE program. Joe Tavares of Maciera Concrete for moving lots of dirt with his frontend loader and installing the new concrete pad by the kitchen. Matt Phillips for replacing major portions of the sidewalks on Baker and Terrace Aves. Mark Gilde for his paint spraying talent saving many hours. Charley Dawson for help with the plumbing fixtures. Jim Moore for removing the old underground oil tanks.

Outside Professional Services:

Guenther and Hee Associates - Rudy Guenther and Fon Hee
Wyant Architecture - Jeff Wyant
Lynco Construction Co. - Harry Hill and John Ronaldson
Evers and Associates - Eric Evers
Shimber & Szuhaj Attorneys - Tim Szuhaj
Lutheran Church Extension Fund - Cindy Reville
LCMS Capital Funding Services - Ernie Heinecke
Hildebrand Agency - Dean Hildebrand
Artex
Action Paving
First Choice Stripping
C&P Wholesale Fence
Independent Alarm Distributors
GeoTech, Inc.
Green Side Up
McNaughton's Nursery
James DePietro
Sam Mento
Sherwin Williams Paint
Pennsauken Twp. Planning and Zoning Office
JCA Associates - Raymond Jordan
Wharton Surety Consultants - Jane Cole

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Martin Luther Chapel and Christian School Route 130 & Terrace Avenue Pennsauken, NJ 08109 Chapel (856) 665-0116 School (856) 665-0231