Dream Big Work Hard, With God All Things Are Possible 1 · could consider: Chapel, Dome for Chapel, enlarged Bell Tower, windowed Clerestory form on top of Banquet Hall, enlarged

1 Dream Big Work Hard, With God All Things Are Possible.

2 Dream Big Work Hard, With God All Things Are Possible. Rev 6/9/2020

God Has Given Us A Vision To Expand From very humble beginnings in a small church hall on Justin Lane, Austin, Texas, in 1985, Transfiguration Greek Orthodox Church has grown to a beautiful beacon high on the hill of St. Stephen’s School Road. The magnificent icons and Byzantine art are a testament to the devotion and love parishioners share here as we spread God’s love. While many of our church mem-bers are of Greek origin, many more are also con-verts having found the beauty and fullness of the Greek Orthodox faith.

It took great faith and big dreams to build our Byz-antine Church Sanctuary and Iconography.

Transfiguration Church is now a vibrant, growing parish of over 200 families. Our growth requires us to expand to meet the needs of the people God sends to us now and into the future:

• Classrooms suitable for the religious education of our children

• Banquet Hall in order for parishioners to hold receptions on our church grounds

• Administrative Facilities for Clergy, Parish min-istries, bookstore, meeting rooms, and storage.

• Parking to accommodate our growing parish and so our members are not challenged to walk up the hill

Long term we plan to maximize property space uti-lization to support future decades for our Parish with a Recreation Center and Parking Structure while expanding Orthodoxy in Austin.

In this pamphlet you will see the progress to date from the 2018 launch of our campus expansion pro-ject. A vision for the facilities we believe are needed to move forward the work of Transfiguration Church. A bold challenge to provide for the Ortho-dox ministry to the Austin community for years to come.


New Mount Tabor Project Progress through Q2 2020

Better Together: Feedback from our Parish Assembly meetings, Town Hall informational meetings and Surveys is telling us Pa-rishioners agree that we must address these needs: Classrooms, Kitchen, Hall, Administrative facilities and Parking.

Long-term Campus Solution: Parishioners agree that our expan-sion approach should be a long term solution. Our Church Sanc-tuary opened in 2004 has a capacity of 300. Our new communi-ty center should meet the needs for that size Parish. TGOC stewardship families are increasing each year. Austin area popu-lation growth is among highest in United States.

Town Hall Meetings : Our members attended informational meetings at Parishioner homes. The dialogue covered the con-ceptual architectural plans, cost estimates, project financials, fundraising and pledge program. Parishioner groups volunteered input on finances, Orthodoxy, byzantine design, interior design, Sunday School, commercial Kitchen, acoustical and lighting.

Community Center Plan Options: Parishioners attending the Town Hall meetings requested Contemporary and Traditional concepts and detailed cost estimates on options so that members could consider: Chapel, Dome for Chapel, enlarged Bell Tower, windowed Clerestory form on top of Banquet Hall, enlarged sec-ondary Banquet room, redesign balcony-banquet hall exteriors.

Fundraising initiated : Our Pledge Sponsor program is estab-lished. To date Parishioners have submitted pledges totaling $1.32M. Thanks to pledges received and additional sources of funds (festival, gala, golf, etc..) through April 2020 we have $1.4M in cash allocated to the New Mount Tabor project. This is in under 2 years, a significant accomplishment. Every parish member is integral to our fundraising success, and each family is asked to consider making a pledge to the best of their ability.

Parish Parking: We are very appreciative that we are being allowed to park on the Armory Base for our Sunday and our Spe-cial Event activities and services. The base provides an important temporary solution. The need to permanently address the park-ing situation remains and requires and requires the utilization of the space currently occupied by the existing Mt. Tabor Hall.


Transfiguration Greek Orthodox Church a Vibrant and Growing Parish

1991: TGOC first outdoor Divine Liturgy on our property

1993: Mount Tabor Hall completed, serve as Church, kitchen, offices and classrooms.

2004: Byzantine Church Sanctuary opens, 2013 Sanctuary mortgage is eliminated

1998: Parishioners pay off Mt. Tabor Hall mortgage. Demonstrate maturity to build the new sanctuary.

2016, Metropolitan ISAIAH of Denver consecrates Transfiguration Greek Orthodox Church.

2006 , 2012 and 2016, Iconography Projects funded and completed.


TGOC Current Facilities, Activities, Needs and Projected Growth

• Our Mt. Tabor facility has been in place since 1993. Mt. Tabor is used for essential Par-ish requirements: our Priest Father Vasileios Flegas, Administrative office, our Educa-tional and Ministry programs, our Kitchen and Fellowship Hall facility. Mt. Tabor is 5550 square feet (4475 sq. ft. down and 1075 sq. ft. up). We have outgrown the facility. The facility needs of our children/youth/adult parishioners is 18,000+ square feet for our Priest, Education, Fellowship Hall, Kitchen, Admin, Bookstore and Storage.

• In 2004, our magnificent Byzantine Church Sanctuary opened. In 2006, the first phase of Sanctuary Iconography was completed. In 2011, beautiful and comfortable sol-id wood pews were installed. In 2012, the Iconography Dome Project was completed. By 2013 our Parish mortgage was fully paid off. In 2016, our beautiful Parish Walkway was completed. On November 5, 2016 , Transfiguration Greek Orthodox Church was Consecrated by His Eminence Metropolitan ISAIAH

• From 2009 to 2019:, TGOC stewardship families has increased 51%, from 140 to 212 and pledges collected increased 154%, from $184K to $467K. This TGOC growth is projected to continue.

• In 2019, Austin area population growth is among highest in United States. Population increased 34% in the last 10 years and is forecasted to increase 32% in the next 10 years.

• Our current Sunday School facilities are inadequate to support our growing Parish. Our year end Sunday School program enrollment is 160 an increase of 40% from 2012.

• Our current Banquet Hall is 2,600 sq. ft., capacity of 175 people, less if space is used for dancing. Current Kitchen is 245 sq. ft. Both are inadequate to meet Parish needs.

• We will have potential new sources of income for our Church. A new community cen-ter Hall and Kitchen creates a wonderful atmosphere for the frequent TGOC weddings, baptisms, gatherings, large and small meetings, and celebrations. Also the possibility for parochial schools, and other organizations to use the classrooms

• The need for parking has expanded as our Church has grown. We currently have 87 marked parking spaces. We appreciate that we are being allowed to park on average 30 vehicles on the military base for every Sunday and for our Special Event Services. After our New Mount Tabor is completed, our plan includes replacing the current Mt. Tabor hall with 55 surface parking spaces. A future Recreation Center and Parking Structure project for the site is envisioned.


New Mount Tabor • Our Parish expansion project will be completed in major phases and may take several

years. This approach maintains control over scope, cost, risk from start to completion.

• The Parish General Assembly in 2017 approved $25,000 for architectural concept drawings of a new TGOC New Mount Tabor with Educational Classrooms, Admin-istration, Main Banquet Hall and separate Parking facility for the site.

• Our “New Mount Tabor” two story building.

• Total building 18,000 sq. ft. One elevator.

• 1st Floor: Secure Lobby Reception area, Priest office, Admin office, Conference Room, M/F restrooms, 5 Classrooms (meeting room), Café, Bookstore, Banquet Hall for 280-320 with elevated stage, 3 Balconies, Pantry/Prep/Cook/Clean Up.

• 2nd Floor: 9 Classrooms (meeting rooms), Storage, M/F restrooms

• Traditional elements are incorporated into the Contemporary design: arch win-dows and arches on balconies; complement our Byzantine Sanctuary with an ap-propriate economically scaled building.

• Parish Parking • We have 87 marked spaces and will continue overflow parking at the military

base. We will lose 10-20 parking spaces lowering the New Mount Tabor building to the ground and then gain 55 surface parking spaces by replacing the current Mt. Tabor Hall with a Parish parking lot.

• Future Parking Garage Project : Is envisioned, 75-90 Grade and Upper level spots. • Future Recreation Center Project : Is envisioned 2 Athletic Courts, Bleachers, M/F

Restrooms, Lockers, Showers, Equipment storage, (2) Office/Meeting rooms.


• Traditional elements to complement our Sanc-tuary including arch windows, columns, and exterior stone.

• Sunday School Classrooms. Our New Mount Tabor will have 14 classrooms and meeting rooms. Our 2019 Sunday School program en-rollment is 160 an increase of 40% from 2012.

• Banquet Hall with Elevated Stage. Our new banquet hall in the community center is 4,200 sq. ft. and can accommodate over 300 people. Using this hall, we can host events such as the Gala, Baptism, or a Wedding reception.

• Kitchen Facilities. Our new 620 sq. ft. Parish kitchen with pantry/prep/cook/clean-up will meet commercial kitchen standards and re-quirements. Our current kitchen is 245 sq. ft. and is inadequate to meet Parish needs.

• Offices and Workrooms for our Ministries. Our Church and New Mount Tabor is a won-derful way to continue to bring our members together - youth ministries, Philoptochos, Greek School, Religious education, Retreats, and Community nights.

• Sources of income for our Church. New Mount Tabor, Banquet Hall, Kitchen and Rooms cre-ates a wonderful atmosphere for weddings, large and small meetings, gatherings, celebra-tions, parochial schools, and organizations.

Educational Classrooms, Admin, Banquet Hall


New Mount Tabor Admin Center and Main Banquet Hall

Secure Lobby Reception area, Priest office, Admin office, Banquet Hall for 280-320 with elevated stage, 3 Balconies, Multifunctional Rooms for dining, Pantry, Prep, Cook, Clean Up.


Fifteen (14) class-rooms (optional Meeting Rooms and Offices) on 1st and 2nd floor, M/F Restrooms, Café, Bookstore, Storage

New Mount Tabor Educational Center


New Mount Tabor Project Financing Assessment

Total Project Cost: New Mount Tabor: $6.1M.

• Detailed cost estimate Bailey Elliott Construction to build the two story New Mount Tabor is $5.48M. An escalation to start deadline in 2021 is applied.

• Additional costs include 0.62M for Engineering drawings, Furnishings, IT Communi-cations, and Permits.

Pledge Sponsor Program Goal: New Mount Tabor: $3.4M by 2021. To June 2020 Parishioners have pledged totaling $1.32M, leaving $2.1M in additional funds needed.

Mortgage Payment Set Aside: 0.7M by 2021. from Mortgage accruals, Gala, Luncheons, Golf, and Festival

Mortgage Loan: New Mount Tabor: $2.0M. Based on Transfiguration’s current and fore-casted revenue, quantity of families, value of the building, as this is an amount that will help our Parish achieve our needs without jeopardizing our financial future. This conclusion was developed in partnership with our bank utilizing standard credit-loan evaluation methods. Mortgage Servicing Strategy: New Mount Tabor: TGOC has been preparing to support $2.0M loan, that will require mortgage payments of $14K/month. During 2019 we have set aside $8.5K/month. For 2020 we are asking our Parishioners for a 6% increase in steward-ship. This will result in mortgage set aside of $10K /month in 2020, which will rise to the required $14K/month as the project begins. We are showing ourselves that we are ready to take on mortgage servicing obligations.

During our history TGOC has a demonstrated fiscal maturity:

• 1998: Mt Tabor Hall $146K raised, $139K mortgage paid off. • 2002-2006: New sanctuary and Icons: $2.1M ($400K loan) 150 families (significantly

less than our current Parishioners) raised $1.3M. • 2011: $78K raised instantaneously for pews • 2011-2012: Phase 2 Icons, lighting, sound, rugs: $336K, 170 families raised $370K. • 2013: Sanctuary loan is paid off. • 2016: Consecration and Walkway 140 families raised $515K • 2018-2020 Q2: New Mount Tabor Project through April 2020 we have $1.4M set aside

from Fundraising and Pledge received, mortgage accrual and net income from Lunch-eons, Festival, Golf and Gala.


New Mount Tabor Pledge Sponsor Program Goal

Christ Himself tells us, “From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.” (Luke 12:48)


Take A Moment

Please take a moment to reflect that because the Church is God’s home, even referred to as His “bride”, it naturally becomes an extension of our own homes.

Many of us have family members whose spiritual begin-

ning was in this church after receiving the sacrament of

baptism. Many of us will witness the marriages and bap-

tisms of our children in this Church and celebrations in

the new Mt. Tabor Hall. Our growing ministries for

Religious Education, Philoptochos, Folk Dance, Greek

School, Encore, Young Adult organizations, Orthodox

Christian Fellowship, GOYA and JOY/HOPE are ready

to use the new Mt. Tabor Hall. We will all celebrate Gala

events together, our feast days together, and receive Holy

Communion together. And when the time arrives when

we are finally called by the Lord, we will say our final

goodbyes in this Church and Hall.

Yes, there is no doubt that for a believing Orthodox Christian, our church is an extension of OUR OWN HOME!

1993: Mount Tabor Hall completed

2004: Byzantine Church Sanctuary

2016: TGOC is consecrated

New Mount Tabor Hall


Contact Us Transfiguration Greek Orthodox Church

414 St. Stephens School Road, Austin, Texas 78746.

Phone: 512-329-6363

Email: [email protected].

Web: https://transfiguration.org/.

Proistamenos: Father Vasileios Flegas.

Parish Council President: Mr. George Gianakopoulos

Church secretary: Ms. Yanna Petty

mailto:[email protected]

https://transfiguration.org/


In gratitude for God’s blessings, I/We offer the following financial commitment.

Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again. Luke 6:38

Name: ______________________________ Date:____________

Address: _________________________________________________

City:___________________ State:___________ Zip:____________

Telephone: ___________________Email:________________________

Please make checks to: Transfiguration Greek Orthodox Church: Building Expansion

Pledge contributions can be made through EGiving, using https://transfiguration.org/.

Please contact us if you will consider fulfilling a portion of your pledge gift though a transfer of stocks, bonds, or retirement assets.

This form is a pledge. It is not a legal binding obligation.

Donations are tax deductible as provided by law.

Signature:___________________________

Date:________

Please prayerfully consider doubling your existing Pledge/Gift to meet our New Mount Tabor Pledge Program Goal.

Total PLEDGE/GIFT through 2022 $

Total paid to date (Parish office can provide this upon request) $

Total balance: $


Dream Big Work Hard, With God All Things Are Possible 1 · could consider: Chapel, Dome for Chapel, enlarged Bell Tower, windowed Clerestory form on top of Banquet Hall, enlarged

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