APRIL UPDATE
🏗️ Building Update
Southern Hills Baptist Church
Good Afternoon, Church Family,
We hope you are doing well! We had an incredible Holy Week here at SHBC, culminating in a powerful Easter Sunday. We’re continuing to pray for the seeds of the gospel that were planted as we welcomed approximately 2,200 people for worship. Praise the Lord for what He is doing!
We’re excited to share a new update on our building progress. Work is continuing to move forward, and we are beginning to see more visible progress across campus.
✅ Recent Progress
Here are some of the key updates since our last report:
•Building pads on both the south and north sides have been completed and passed inspection
•The southwest entrance (old playground entrance) has been covered
•Approval has been received to relocate the water line and fire suppression system into the main building (expected completion in the next two weeks)
•A new permanent easement plan has been approved
•Underground plumbing rough-in for the new lobby restrooms has been completed, inspected, and covered
•Concrete has been cut and removed at plumbing tie-in locations (north and south)
•The south end wall has been opened into the southeast preschool room
•Preschool ministry spaces have been adjusted to allow for construction:
oKindergarten Sunday School has been relocated upstairs to the Children’s area
oA temporary construction wall with a door has been installed in the preschool area
•Additional concrete work is underway to connect plumbing from the existing building to the new south addition
•A restroom between two preschool rooms on the north side has been removed to prepare for future updates
🚧 Coming Soon
Here’s what you can expect in the next phase:
•Continued concrete cutting to connect plumbing for new classrooms and restrooms
•Excavation of footings, rebar installation, and form setting on the south end
•Installation of underground electrical conduit for new power feeds
•OG&E will install a new transformer and relocate the power pole along Penn
•Concrete slabs will be poured on the south end
•Interior design samples and mock-ups (walls, flooring, etc.) will be presented soon, with a meeting planned by the end of the month
🙏 Thank You
Thank you for your continued prayers, patience, and support during this exciting season of growth. God is clearly at work, and we are grateful to be part of what He is building—both in our facilities and in the lives of people.
We’ll continue to keep you updated as progress continues!
– SHBC Building Committee
Southern Hills Baptist Church
Good Afternoon, Church Family,
We hope you are doing well! We had an incredible Holy Week here at SHBC, culminating in a powerful Easter Sunday. We’re continuing to pray for the seeds of the gospel that were planted as we welcomed approximately 2,200 people for worship. Praise the Lord for what He is doing!
We’re excited to share a new update on our building progress. Work is continuing to move forward, and we are beginning to see more visible progress across campus.
✅ Recent Progress
Here are some of the key updates since our last report:
•Building pads on both the south and north sides have been completed and passed inspection
•The southwest entrance (old playground entrance) has been covered
•Approval has been received to relocate the water line and fire suppression system into the main building (expected completion in the next two weeks)
•A new permanent easement plan has been approved
•Underground plumbing rough-in for the new lobby restrooms has been completed, inspected, and covered
•Concrete has been cut and removed at plumbing tie-in locations (north and south)
•The south end wall has been opened into the southeast preschool room
•Preschool ministry spaces have been adjusted to allow for construction:
oKindergarten Sunday School has been relocated upstairs to the Children’s area
oA temporary construction wall with a door has been installed in the preschool area
•Additional concrete work is underway to connect plumbing from the existing building to the new south addition
•A restroom between two preschool rooms on the north side has been removed to prepare for future updates
🚧 Coming Soon
Here’s what you can expect in the next phase:
•Continued concrete cutting to connect plumbing for new classrooms and restrooms
•Excavation of footings, rebar installation, and form setting on the south end
•Installation of underground electrical conduit for new power feeds
•OG&E will install a new transformer and relocate the power pole along Penn
•Concrete slabs will be poured on the south end
•Interior design samples and mock-ups (walls, flooring, etc.) will be presented soon, with a meeting planned by the end of the month
🙏 Thank You
Thank you for your continued prayers, patience, and support during this exciting season of growth. God is clearly at work, and we are grateful to be part of what He is building—both in our facilities and in the lives of people.
We’ll continue to keep you updated as progress continues!
– SHBC Building Committee
BUILDING UPDATE
THAT THE WORLD MAY KNOW
“ . . . but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings
like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.” Isaiah 40:31
Dear Southern Hills Church Family:
Those wonderful words of Scripture remind us that the Lord’s timing is always right and our
objective is to seek Him with all our heart and join Him where He is at work.
In October of 2023 the church approved a plan to build additional Preschool and Children’s
space, an indoor playground, as well as a new and enlarged entrance on the south end of our
current building. In addition, a new driveway from Pennsylvania Avenue would be constructed
to better facilitate traffic flow and provide a safer entrance and exit for our families.
The church approved a budget of $9.8 million for the entire project which would be paid through a
combination of current building funds and money given or pledged for this project.
As the economy fluctuated throughout 2024 it became evident that the project costs were
increasing to around $11 million plus. At that time, we decided to look at some design changes
to cut costs, while keeping the desired planned spaces.
The primary change in the update,
which presents a significant price reduction, is to build an outdoor, completely-covered
playground. We will still have the same space and equipment that we would have had in the
indoor playground, only the outdoor playground will not be completely enclosed or
cooled/heated. This plan still adds the same amount of additional preschool and children
classroom spaces as well as a beautiful new and spacious entrance into the south end.
Our general contractors have been working hard over the past several months to find cost
saving possibilities and the Lord has blessed.
The total project cost is now under $9 million.
Over the next month we will be sending you updated information on the project as well as
renderings of the buildings for you to prayerfully consider. Our goal is that on Sunday evening,
September 21, we will have an opportunity as a church family to vote on the redesign and be
ready to pursue completion of the fund-raising aspect of this vital project.
May we all join our hearts together in seeking the Lord’s will and His timing. Please be in prayer
and be watching for weekly updates along the way. If you have any questions or thoughts, I
truly desire your counsel and wisdom. I look forward to a great month of seeking God’s will.
In Christ,
Douglas O. Melton
Pastor
“ . . . but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings
like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.” Isaiah 40:31
Dear Southern Hills Church Family:
Those wonderful words of Scripture remind us that the Lord’s timing is always right and our
objective is to seek Him with all our heart and join Him where He is at work.
In October of 2023 the church approved a plan to build additional Preschool and Children’s
space, an indoor playground, as well as a new and enlarged entrance on the south end of our
current building. In addition, a new driveway from Pennsylvania Avenue would be constructed
to better facilitate traffic flow and provide a safer entrance and exit for our families.
The church approved a budget of $9.8 million for the entire project which would be paid through a
combination of current building funds and money given or pledged for this project.
As the economy fluctuated throughout 2024 it became evident that the project costs were
increasing to around $11 million plus. At that time, we decided to look at some design changes
to cut costs, while keeping the desired planned spaces.
The primary change in the update,
which presents a significant price reduction, is to build an outdoor, completely-covered
playground. We will still have the same space and equipment that we would have had in the
indoor playground, only the outdoor playground will not be completely enclosed or
cooled/heated. This plan still adds the same amount of additional preschool and children
classroom spaces as well as a beautiful new and spacious entrance into the south end.
Our general contractors have been working hard over the past several months to find cost
saving possibilities and the Lord has blessed.
The total project cost is now under $9 million.
Over the next month we will be sending you updated information on the project as well as
renderings of the buildings for you to prayerfully consider. Our goal is that on Sunday evening,
September 21, we will have an opportunity as a church family to vote on the redesign and be
ready to pursue completion of the fund-raising aspect of this vital project.
May we all join our hearts together in seeking the Lord’s will and His timing. Please be in prayer
and be watching for weekly updates along the way. If you have any questions or thoughts, I
truly desire your counsel and wisdom. I look forward to a great month of seeking God’s will.
In Christ,
Douglas O. Melton
Pastor
PLEDGE CARD
WAYS TO GIVE
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"This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His Will, he hears us."
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OTHER GIVING OPTIONS
Foundational Gift
Donation of Stock
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Life Insurance Policy or a Qualified Retirement Plan
In-Kind Donations
"This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His Will, he hears us."
ONE-TIME GIFT
You can make a one-time gift by physical check or online by clicking this link
RECURRING GIFT
You can set up a recurring gift online by clicking this link
OTHER GIVING OPTIONS
Foundational Gift
Donation of Stock
Planned Giving through a Bequest
Life Insurance Policy or a Qualified Retirement Plan
In-Kind Donations
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
That the world may know
