B E H I N D / T H E / B A R

So next week will mark my FIFTIETH trip around the sun.  I’ve really not been all that excited about this particular mile marker.  But. . . .hey  I’m learning to embrace it.  

The past year has been an exciting year and a tough year.  This time last year we were trying to raise the money to purchase “706” Market Street for what will eventually be the Oasis Center.  With God’s help and your generosity, we did it.  It’s taken us a year to get our footing and a realistic plan to move forward.  

For the last twelve months we’ve paid the monthly note for the building largely from RiverChurch’s operating budget and partially from monthly donations given by our friends and family members.  We’ve established a board of directors and we’ve laid out plans to build out the first two floors of the building for Cadence to occupy and for shared work space for non-profit allies to utilize. 

Simply stated – our goal is to get in the door.  

As a family – we’ve decided that “706” is fully operational we will donate the downtown location of Cadence Coffee Company and its profit to the Oasis Center – so the building will immediately have a source of monthly revenue from cafe operation alone.    We’ve got a plan and we’re moving forward with that plan.  

Until we get in the building and it is able to generate revenue – we’re walking the long road of fundraising. Today, I had a conversation with a friend who committed a $15,000 gift to help us officially begin construction and lighten the load of the monthly note from RIverChurch’s operating budget.  Almost immediately after that I had another conversation with a friend committing to a generous monthly gift that will start March 1.  So today has already been a huge day of encouragement.

So . . . .maybe, I’m on an emotional high, or maybe I’m crazy, or maybe I’m desperate.  I don’t know but I thought I would throw this out there . . . .

I want to see this vision of the Oasis Center flourish – become a reality and quickly.  Facebook suggested today that I invite friends to give to a nonprofit of my choice this year as an expression of well wishes. “Friends” on Facebook already make you feel so loved and celebrated on your birthday, but I thought I would put this “ask” out here on the World Wide Web. . .

Would you consider making a $50 gift to the Oasis Center this week?

You don’t even have to wish me a “happy birthday,” although I know it would be the cheaper route.  But your tax deductible gift of $50 would serve two purposes – help us further down the road with our vision for the Oasis Center – and gosh . . . it would just mean a lot to this aging man.  

Presently we have a goal of $100,000 – that allows us to officially begin the construction process and lightens the load from the RiverChurch Operating expenses.  

I gotta be honest, this feels awkward putting this out there, but turning 50 feels awkward too.  So I’m embracing the awkward.  Typically – I avoid these kinds of things because I don’t want people to think  . . . . (fill in the blank).  But one good thing about getting older is that you care less what people think about you – because hey people are thinking about you less anyway.  

So yeah . . . help me celebrate 50 with a generous gift of 50 to the Oasis Center.