April 22, 2010 Update

I know this seems like a reoccurring theme for us but we do apologize for not updating in a couple of months. There is good reason for it though as you'll read below.

On the last update we did mention that we have indeed received all permits needed to begin digging from the St. Johns Water Management, Florida Department of Transportation and the federal government. The only one left that we need is the county permit. We only have one more obstacle to tackle with the county and that's with the environmental portion of it - all other areas of the county have approved the plans. Everything with the environmental portion of the plans as been revised and our site engineer has resubmitted the plans to the county. We should hear back from them in the next couple of weeks.

Once we get final approval from the county we will immedietly set up the silt fencing required by law on all construction projects. Once the fencing is inspected and approved digging for the new building pad, digging for the retention pond, filling in the retention pond up front and laying out of the new parking lot will begin. Simultaneously we will begin the process of getting the actual building permit and getting the new building shipped to the Crossroads property.

In other news around the property:
- A general contractor out of Orlando has donated a full playground to the church. The playground is currently set up in Celebration, Florida. The playground needs to be taken out to make room for more housing in the area. In the next couple of weeks a team from Crossroads will head over there to pick it up. This is an absolute blessing!!! Below are some pictures of the playground taken at the Celebration location (It poured down rain the night before these were taken)

- The inside of the Crossroads Barn is looking awesome these days. It is now occupied by our youth group and puppet team. It is fully equipped with couches, lighting, sounds system, ping pong table, air hockey and more. The walls are even decorated with paintings the students painted themselves. We pray that it will be a place for students to draw closer to Jesus Christ and further grow their relationship with Him in the years to come. If you have a chance, stop by and check it out.

That's the news on the property and new building for now. Please continue to keep this project in your prayers. We do this not because church is about a new building but to use these things as as tools for growing, equipping and teaching people about the most amazing message this world has ever seen or heard. It's all about Him!!!