Yesterday we had the opportunity to walk through the construction site at St.Vincent with our general contractor, Leo Post, and architect, David Heyne. Things are really coming along, to say the least.

With the form of the addition completely erected, exterior sheeting completed, and masonry work started, it’s easy to see that progress is being made. Be sure to keep an eye out because in the next few weeks the masonry work will be complete!

It’s exciting to see the amount of interior work that has been completed, as well. All walls in the rectory area have been stripped down and are awaiting their new drywall finish, demolition work is complete in all areas, and new metal framing is being installed (not to mention new ductwork is going in, see below for pictures!).

It’s an exciting time to see how much progress has been made and also to be humbled by how much is left to be done. We ask that you will continue to pray through this project with us.

Exterior sheeting/waterproofing and scaffolding set for masonry work

Sheeting – Parapet Walls

Look closely on the right side of this picture…new ductwork is installed!

Current Tasks This Week

Upcoming Week Planned Tasks

Exterior Framing

Exterior Sheeting

Waterproofing of Exterior Sheeting

Roofing Deck

Framing of Interior Walls

Current Week Completed Tasks

• Frame exterior wall

• Sheet exterior wall

• Frame 1-5/8” studs at perimeter walls

• Remove brick from opening

• HVAC duct in crawl space

• Waterproof exterior sheeting

• Frame interior walls

Upcoming Week Planned Tasks

• Framing exterior walls and exterior sheeting

• Frame interior walls

• Masonry work at new wall openings

• Build steps at end of stage

• Roof blocking

• Plumbing rough-in

• HVAC duct at Rectory

• Sprinkler rough-in at Rectory

• Brick on exterior walls

If you haven’t had a chance to drive by the St.Vincent site in the past couple of weeks, you are really missing out! Check out the latest photos of all that’s going on as the construction over at St.Vincent is well under way.

Steel structure in place for first, second, third floors

Ceiling in Sanctuary prepared to be painted

Second Floor Decking

First Floor

Second floor concrete slab poured

• Metal Stud Framing
• Continue Steel erection
• Place third floor concrete slab
• Wall framing
• Wall penetrations
• Acoustical plaster prep

This has been an incredibly exciting week over at Sojourn’s St.Vincent property. The steel for the 3-story, 12,000 SF addition is finally going up! It is encouraging to see the amazing progress being made as we continue to pray over the opportunity the Lord has given us to expand our Midtown campus into the Shelby Park Community.

There is still a lot to be done in the upcoming months. Thankfully we serve a God who is all about the details. As we continue to sort through all that needs to take place, please continue to pray that the gospel will transform us, our church, and this neighborhood.

METAL FRAMING

STRUCTURAL STEEL ERECTION

NEW OPENING IN PROGRESS

Current Week Completed Tasks:

• Wall penetrations

• Tuck Pointing

• Began steel erection

• Metal stud framing

• Misc. Carpentry

• Wall penetrations

Upcoming Week Planned Tasks:

• Continue steel erection

• Place second floor concrete slab

• Wall framing

• Wall penetration

If you look closely at the picture below you will notice the addition of the leftmost opening in the current exterior brick wall.  This new opening will not only serve as the transition from the new lobby/gallery area into the Sojourn Kids check-in area, but it will also serve as one of the central transition points from the new addition into the existing cathedral area.

As fall is fast approaching we are excited about all the transitions taking place! This week we were excited to see the first floor slab installed. Once this work is complete it will only be a matter of time before the steel is erected and the new addition to St.Vincent really starts to take shape.

Exterior Opening to Kids area (below)

Slab Rough in and Prep in Progress (below)

Concrete Placement (below)

Tasks Completed Last Week:

- Continued interior tuck pointing

- Continued through wall penetrations

- Continued under slab rough ins

- Under slab inspection is complete

- Prep foundations for new slab

- Install floor

Tasks to be Completed This Week:

- Begin metal stud framing

- Structural steel delivery

- Tuck Pointing

- Misc. Carpentry

- Wall penetrations

Most of you know by now that  I have decided to resign from Sojourn after a long process of prayer.  I am excited about the next chapter in my family’s life (you can check out a blog post and video here).  This then will be my final project update, though the project will continue.  It has been my privilege to be a part of this project for the last 2 years – from the search for new property to the acquisition, to the campaign, to the design phase and now to the construction.  Though I will not personally be over this project for the completion of the build, the team in place has already been at work with me for the past several months, including: QK4 (David Heyne is our Architect), Studio A (Vadim Kaplan is the Associate Architect), and A.L. Post (Leo Post is our General Contractor).  Jenny Holzer (Director of Administration for Sojourn and an architect by trade) has been in the design meetings with me for the past 10 months and will now be working on this project with Pastor Mike Cosper. I am excited to see the final product in late Spring 2012 – please continue to join me in praying for all of the details of this project and for the safety of all involved.

Rough-in of Plumbing (below)

Core Drilling For Plumbing (below)

Fire Main Being Installed (below)

Rock Grade At New Slab (below)

Installation of Supports Over New Openings (below)

Tasks Completed Last Week:

- Excavate utility trench & install utilities, electrical, plumbing, sprinklers

- Continue interior tuck pointing & through wall penetrations

- Begin under slab rough ins

- Complete floor penetrations for ductwork in Sanctuary

- Waterproofing for elevator pit

Tasks to be Completed This Week:

- Continue interior tuck pointing & through wall penetrations

- Continue under slab rough ins

- Prep foundations for new slab

If you have driven by lately, our new property at 1207 S. Shelby St, you would see a new construction sign on the building as you drive down Oak St.  Though it looks small and is rather high on the building (mostly because the building is so massive:), it communicates the expanding vision of our church as we pray and prepare for this new campus building for Midtown in the Shelby Park community.  Our goal is still to open our doors Easter Sunday 2012! Please keep praying to that end and continue to consider ways in which you can sacrifice financially to help us see this 2-year project come to completion.

Completed this Week:

- Complete building foundations

- Continue interior demolition & tuck pointing

- Continue through wall penetrations

- Asbestos abatement in basement and HVAC units

Tasks for this Week:

- Excavate utility trench

- Install utilities, electrical, plumbing, sprinklers

- Continue interior tuck pointing & through wall penetrations

- Begin under slab rough ins

This summer we had to add quite a bit of clay to the property as well as gravel and the addition of 16 helical piers. All of this so we could prepare the ground for the addition of a 3-story, 12,000 SF addition to St. Vincent’s.  This foundation work is almost complete! It is extremely important for the rest of the project that this is done with precision.  This new addition will house the new bathrooms, lobby space, elevator, stairwells, and children’s classrooms.  I hope you enjoy seeing the pictures each week as we anticipate the opening of this new facility sometime in the Spring 2012.  Please continue to pray for the leaders, the workers, the plans, and the finances that are making this project a possibility.

Foundation Wall From Southeast Corner

Opening Enclosed With Set Lentils In Preparation For New Opening Into Lobby

Completed This Week:

- Building foundations

- Continue ductwork in Sanctuary

- Continue interior demolition & plaster repair

- Begin through wall penetrations

- Abatement work in basement

Planned For This Week:

- Complete building foundations

- Continue interior demolition & interior tuck pointing

- Continue through wall penetrations

Foundation work is coming along nicely and several of the openings needed for new rooms have been started this week.  As you can see in the pictures, the elevator pit is a welcomed site meaning we are one step closer to our first-ever elevator! This is quite a point of celebration if you have ever had a meeting on our third floor or tried checking multiple children in for services on Sunday. Please continue to pray for safety, good weather and great progress!

Footing for Elevator Shaft

Masonry Opening for Doors

Tasks Completed This Week:

Building foundations

Continue ductwork in Sanctuary

Continue interior demolition

Continue plaster repair

Begin carpentry work for air grilles in Sanctuary

Tasks For This Week:

Complete building foundations

Continue ductwork in Sanctuary

Continue interior demolition

Continue plaster repair

Begin through wall penetrations

Another large part of our vision for gospel change at Sojourn is New Leaders emerging to help see this change happen.  There’s no way we’re going to impact our city with only a few influential leaders. As we desire more and better communities, we desire more and better leaders for those communities. In the New Testament, leadership isn’t represented with a sword or a staff, but with a towel and basin, and with a cross. We want to follow the model of Jesus, who laid down his life, washed feet, and led by being a servant. Leadership at Sojourn is organic and organized.

Recently I asked Pastor Chad Lewis to provide us an update of our Pastor’s School:

At Sojourn, we believe that the local church has a responsibility to raise up the next generation of pastors. It is the role of the church to train, test, and affirm equipped men for gospel ministry. One of the primary means by which we train these upcoming leaders is through Sojourn’s Pastor’s School, which is an ongoing, ten-month training program. This School exists to train men to serve, lead, and plant churches or to work within the context of the local church. So far, we have seen approximately 100 men go through Pastor’s School that are serving as church leaders, pastors, or church planters across the globe.

Recently, some new changes have been added to the Pastor’s School format. It has been a longtime goal for us to partner with the local seminary for students to receive credit through Sojourn’s Pastor’s School. Starting this semester, we are seeing these goals come to fruition. According to our estimations, around 25-30 credit hours can be received through Sojourn’s partnership with Southern Seminary here in Louisville over the next year. This allows men to be trained within the church while leading out within a local body of believers. Through such training, we believe men will be better equipped to serve God and the church in the present and the future. During the fall semester, six credit hours will be available through a Leadership Seminar within Sojourn’s Pastor School, under the direction of Dr. Michael Wilder. Also, credit hours for Leadership and Family Ministry, a course at Southern Seminary with Dr. Timothy Paul Jones, will be available.

We are extremely excited about the direction of Pastor’s School and continue to examine further ways to fulfill our responsibility to train up the next generation of pastors here at Sojourn Community Church!

For more information about how to get involved check out the Pastor’s School page on midtown.sojournchurch.com