City Bible “to lease” Vancouver Campus
Posted on July 12th, 2006 by catalyst into the Uncategorized categoryCity Bible Church has found a site for their newest campus and will convert a Mountain View Ice Rink into their new Vancouver satellite church. According to the Vancouver Business Journal, City Bible expects to begin services in the fall. Money quote:
The church is subleasing to the rink’s management group operating as Mountain View Ice Arena LLC. Programs are expected to remain at existing levels.
Improvements are expected to cost $3.2 million and will include an 800-seat auditorium, classrooms and a café/meeting area. The remaining rink will also receive upgrades and deferred maintenance, said Wood.
You can here more details of the business venture at City Bible Church, Pastor Jack Louman discusses the new campus in his July 2 sermon, A Time and Season of Favor.
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July 12th, 2006 at 7:32 am
I think you need to read the article again. It was purchased privately, and CBC is leasing a portion of the building with an option to buy. It’s still going to take 3.2 million to get it ready for use.
July 12th, 2006 at 7:50 am
Maybe you’re right. However, Bruce Wood and Tom Kemper attend City Bible and also purchased the 217 property. I believe they are doing this on CBC’s behalf. And in the end, City Bible has to make it work financially. But I guess perhaps CBC is not on the hook for the whole 4.8 million.
Listen to the last half of Jack’s sermon and let me know if you think CBC has purchased the property. If I’m wrong, I’m happy to correct what I wrote.
July 12th, 2006 at 8:07 am
I’m probably the only one that read this backwards. Made me laugh though.
Whoops, for a second I thought ice-skaters could become possible customers of CBC!
July 12th, 2006 at 8:50 am
Charismatics on Ice.
Should make for some funny articles in the paper …
. CBC denies liability for ice fall claiming member was slain in spirit
. CBC - where dancing in the spirit now includes the ‘triple axle’
. Heat bill skyrockets at new campus
. Three services offered at new campus: long, short, and freestyle
. Ushers on skates
. Tanya Harding joins CBC worship team
July 12th, 2006 at 9:03 am
hahahahahahha
July 12th, 2006 at 9:21 am
'scrup,
You know way to much about ice skating. Quite funny and clever though.
July 12th, 2006 at 9:34 am
I can see the CBC roller derby team right now.
July 12th, 2006 at 9:49 am
Anybody that buys into the “retire the debt lie” is a fool.
July 12th, 2006 at 10:34 am
Apparently, you have been hearing them wrong, JP.
It’s re-tire the debt.
July 12th, 2006 at 11:06 am
I just wish they would be more honest and stop trying to manipulate their members out of hard earned money (maybe they already have).
I guess I should listen to Jack’s sermon before I pass too much judgment.
July 12th, 2006 at 12:10 pm
OK, I listened to Jack’s message. He’s still a boring speaker.
He talks about the 217 project at (22:20) and the Vancouver project at (25:10). He doesn’t go much into the details of how it will work, but seems to imply that they are indeed purchasing (or plan to purchase) the building. It’s hard to distinguish the finer details when his whole message was basically a pep rally about how CBC is “flourishing”, i.e. “We’re great! Hooray for us!”
This really bothered me how an entire “sermon” was spent trying to boost morale in the congregation about how they were being favored by God because of all the apparrent financial success that they’ve had with these projects. He spent at least 10 minutes on statistics about how the Church (universal) is growing, and how much the charismatic (Spirit-filled) movement is growing. As someone who works with statistics as part of their job, I find these kinds of statements that mention specific numbers or percentages regarding people’s personal & religious beliefs dubious at best. Even if these numbers are close to representing reality, why do they feel the need to compare themselves with other religions or even other denominations? Another telling remark concerning this attitude was when Jack mentions how other churches had tried to purchase the 217 property but they (CBC) alone were successful. He might as well have mooned the crowd and yelled “Suck it, you Baptist losers!” At least that would have been entertaining. And now that they haved moved into Vancouver, there is no mention of the several churches that were planted there by former CBC elders. It’s almost as if FD is hoping to steamroll his way onto their turf to prove something.
It also annoyed me that Jack used the same scriptures he’s been using for the last decade to talk about giving and tithing, as if he’s discovered something new for us all to get excited about. I don’t understand the whole point of the message, unless it was just to keep people excited about giving so that they can still be “favored”. Hm, it always seems to come down to the equation: giving & tithing = God’s favor.
One final peeve: Rather than try to present something new or interesting, he simply hammers his message home by constantly repeating the words “Favor” and “Flourishing”. I can’t help but think he sounds a lot like George W. when he gets flustered and can’t think of anything else to say so he just repeats himself a lot. I guess if he says it enough times, then people will be convinced that they are indeed favored and flourishing.
July 12th, 2006 at 12:17 pm
FICM: I agree. It was a big pep rally sermon. I got kind of excited when Jack Louman broke out a Bible Verse, thinking the sermon might have some substance, but alas it was not so.
Anyway, I’m not sure of the specific details of the Ice Rink purchase, but I’m pretty sure CBC is behind it and are liable for it.
July 12th, 2006 at 12:49 pm
Beyond the obvious stuff mentioned already, this all took me back to my many years at CBC and all the talk of God’s favor. If I had a nickel for everytime they said God’s favor was upon them, or “THIS was the year of the Lord’s favor,” (-The Vineyard song anyone?) I would be rich myself.
So I pose the question, what of this “favor.” Is it really anything more than hyper-spirtual, spirit-filled, charasmatic/pentecostal snobery? Or is there a biblical precident and theology to support this? Frankly there are many many churches much larger than CBC and if all the “favoring” was going on wouldn’t they be one of the 20k+ churches out there?
Does God really come to Favor one church above others? Perhaps he does, or maybe some people are just better speakers, leaders, business-men, marketeers, better at meeting needs, etc.. and their churches flourish?
And if God does “Favor” churches is a new ice skating rink the evidence? I guess it’s more fun than Gold Teeth fillings eh?
July 12th, 2006 at 12:50 pm
I was wondering when this would come up!
CBC is, in fact, leasing the Vancouver building from Bruce Wood’s real estate company. It’s an investment property and CBC does not own it - at least not at this time. Although Bruce does attend CBC, he is a business owner and this is what he does for a living; it’s definitely not a “favor” to CBC. He’s worked similar deals for other churches to purchase or lease property as well. And on top of that… Bruce is a really cool guy!
July 12th, 2006 at 1:05 pm
Does this make CBC the Tonya Harding of churches, to Bob Isabell’s and Bobby Mac’s Nancy Kerrigan? If you can’t beat them on talent, skill, and charisma, you beat them with force?
I picture the Bob’s laying on the floors of their respective churches clutching their knees while screaming “Why me? Why me?” Meanwhile, back on Mt. Boob, Tonya, Jeff, and Shane are picking out sequined vestments for the inevitable dedication service.
July 12th, 2006 at 1:13 pm
I wonder how people would feel if they realized that their tithes and giving are ultimately lining the pockets of real estate investors who are members of the church? Would they still think he is a “cool guy”? Maybe ChurchGirl has already answered that question for us…
July 12th, 2006 at 5:57 pm
Who ultimately owns the building(s)? Anybody know?
July 13th, 2006 at 5:41 am
[…] That said, in the interest of accuracy, I cleaned up the language in the post below to reflect the fact that CBC is only leasing the property. […]
July 13th, 2006 at 5:49 am
Church Gal:
Thanks for the update. Do you mind asking Bruce why he bought the property? And what type of return he expects for his investment.
And uh, dinner with Frank Damazio doesn’t count.
July 13th, 2006 at 5:03 pm
Yeah, I do.