Eagle Brook Church

2008 and Beyond

1991•For the first time, the term ‘world wide web’ was used to describe what most of us now call the internet.

1991•For the first time, the term ‘world wide web’ was used to describe what most of us now call the internet. •At the time, Bob Merritt, new pastor at First Baptist Church in White Bear Lake, predicted that his new fangled Selectric electronic typewriter would never be improved upon –

1991•For the first time, the term ‘world wide web’ was used to describe what most of us now call the internet. •At the time, Bob Merritt, new pastor at First Baptist Church in White Bear Lake, predicted that his new fangled Selectric electronic typewriter would never be improved upon – that thing was slick!

1991•For the first time, the term ‘world wide web’ was used to describe what most of us now call the internet. •At the time, Bob Merritt, new pastor at First Baptist Church in White Bear Lake, predicted that his new fangled Selectric electronic typewriter would never be improved upon – that thing was slick!

•He also said, “there’s 50,000 people out there who need Christ and need a good church”

1991•At First Baptist Church of White Bear Lake:

•13 people were baptized

•They had to extend the choir platform to make room for new choir members

1991•At First Baptist Church of White Bear Lake:

•13 people were baptized

•They had to extend the choir platform to make room for new choir members

•Matt Berry, 15, started dating Heather Vik, daughter of current board member Duane Vik. “No daughter of his was going to date someone whose goal in life was to be in a rock band”

1991

•First Baptist Church was a fairly progressive church for the times, but still:•Bob wears a suit and tie to church every Sunday (there was no Saturday church)•The organ was used every week

1991

•First Baptist Church was a fairly progressive church for the times, but still:•Bob wears a suit and tie to church every Sunday (there was no Saturday church)•The organ was used every week•There was a bulletin•Everyone who came had their own nametag

1991

•First Baptist Church was a fairly progressive church for the times, but still:•Bob wears a suit and tie to church every Sunday (there was no Saturday church)•The organ was used every week•There was a bulletin•Everyone who came had their own nametag•Every chair had a hymnal•Contemporary music at the time meant only singing three of the six verses in How Great Thou Art

Average attendance was 1,800 39 people were baptized 398 members

Average attendance was 1,800 39 people were baptized 398 members Four major priorities were identified:

Biblical truth preached with relevancy Reach lost people Believers learn to Know, Grow, Serve, and

Share Christ Integrity and Authenticity in everything we do

Opened our new worship center Bob ‘mails in’ the annual report by

cutting and pasting his remarks from the 1997 report into the 1998 report

In 1999, when worship attendance was just over 2,000, we decided that: We feel that God is calling us to be a large

church, well over 10,000 in weekend attendance

In 1999, when worship attendance was just over 2,000, we decided that: We feel that God is calling us to be a large

church, well over 10,000 in weekend attendance

We feel we will eventually move from our present site because it will not be able to contain all that God wants to do

In 1999, when worship attendance was just over 2,000, we decided that: We feel that God is calling us to be a large

church, well over 10,000 in weekend attendance

We feel we will eventually move from our present site because it will not be able to contain all that God wants to do

God will continue to provide growth at present levels for the foreseeable future

In 1999, when worship attendance was just over 2,000, we decided that: We feel that God is calling us to be a large

church, well over 10,000 in weekend attendance

We feel we will eventually move from our present site because it will not be able to contain all that God wants to do

God will continue to provide growth at present levels for the foreseeable future

These were major crossroads moments for Eagle Brook!

Staffing Goals that we set to support Vision2000: That we should aggressively work to

increase and develop staff in the areas of Speaking Worship TechnicalChildren’s Facilities

Speaking In 2000, Bob Merritt was our only staff weekend speaker

Speaking In 2000, Bob Merritt was our only staff weekend speaker

Today, we have three full time staff weekend speakers

Attendance remains steady regardless of who is bringing the message

We have a much stronger process in place

Worship In 2000, Eric Johnson was our only weekend worship leader

Worship In 2000, Eric Johnson was our only weekend worship leader

Today, we have five staff worship leaders who work with numerous musicians and instrumentalists to provide excellent worship experiences at three sites every week.

Technical Staff In 2000, we had:FT Technical Director (Dale Sahlin)PT Audio Engineer (Randy Gildersleve)PT Video Engineer (Bryan Carey)

Technical Staff In 2000, we had:FT Technical Director (Dale Sahlin)PT Audio Engineer (Randy Gildersleve)PT Video Engineer (Bryan Carey)

Today, we have more technicians and engineers than we can count who provide service in three sites throughout the weeks and weekends

Children’s Ministry Staff In 2000, we had:Children’s Pastor (Luanne Oklobzija)2 FT Staff Associates (Amy Landvik, Sara Richards)

Children’s Ministry Staff In 2000, we had:Children’s Pastor (Luanne Oklobzija)2 FT Staff Associates (Amy Landvik, Sara Richards)

Today, we have a staff of 13 FT people whose main purpose is to help children find and develop a relationship with Jesus

Facility Staff In 2000, we had:One Facility Manager (Larry Aden)One custodian (Jerry Olson)One Facility Supervisor (James Grewe)One Maintenance Person (Dave Kuhl)

Facility Staff In 2000, we had:One Facility Manager (Larry Aden)One custodian (Jerry Olson)One Facility Supervisor (James Grewe)One Maintenance Person (Dave Kuhl)

Today, we have 16 FT employees in the facility management area, including a FT Groundskeeper

Expansion Goals we set in 2000:That we should make it a top

priority to find property of at least 80 acres within 7 miles

Expansion Goals we set in 2000: That we should find and enlist the help of top

notch partners

Expansion Goals we set in 2000: That we should find and enlist the help of top

notch partners Sheehy Construction brought the last five major projects on line early and under budget, every time

BWBR Architects has become an indispensible partner in helping us define the look and feel of Eagle Brook

Expansion Goals we set in 2000: That we should remain open to God’s

leading, and refine our direction as he opens and closes doors

Expansion Goals we set in 2000: That we should remain open to God’s

leading, and refine our direction as he opens and closes doors

The journey that ended in December, 2005 with the opening of the Lino Campus was a journey of faith and commitment

That faith and commitment remains critical as we move forward

Other assumptions we made in 2000:

That we could continue to grow by 20% per year

Other assumptions we made in 2000:

That we could continue to grow by 20% per year

This meant that we could be almost 550% bigger by 2008 than we were at the time, almost 13,000

Other assumptions we made in 2000:

That we could continue to grow by 20% per year

This meant that we could be almost 550% bigger by 2008 than we were at the time, almost 13,000

One of our Management Team members left the church

That we could continue to grow by 20% per year, making us a church of 13,000 by the end of 2007.

Actual results from 2007: September-December, 2007 11,663 October-December, 2007 12,148 November-December, 2007 13,202

Yes! Responses Over 4,500 formal Yes! responses

The nation-wide average church response rate for this decade would be about 10

Many of these people have been personally prayed for at a Yes! table and given resources to get them started on their journey

Baptisms Nearly 1,650 baptism since 2000

Virtually every dream we had ten years ago has been realized, and then some!

Virtually every dream we had ten years ago has been realized, and then some!

When we’ve taken the risk of shooting for unattainable goals, that’s where God shows up

Virtually every dream we had ten years ago has been realized, and then some!

When we’ve taken the risk of shooting for unattainable goals, that’s where God shows up

Our commitment is to reach people – that’s the goal not to be the biggest not to get the notoriety or attention not to have dozens of buildings, hundreds of

staff, or thousands of volunteers

Virtually every dream we had ten years ago has been realized, and then some!

When we’ve taken the risk of shooting for unattainable goals, that’s where God shows up

Our commitment is to reach people – that’s the goal not to be the biggest not to get the notoriety or attention not to have dozens of buildings, hundreds of

staff, or thousands of volunteers But if that’s what it takes to reach people, we’re

in

GRACE: People saying YES this year  1,300 506 38.9%  

GROWTH: Participation beyond the weekend  9,500 6684 70.4%  

GROUP: People in small groups  5,000 3534 70.7%  

GIFTS: Number of people serving  3,300 3105 94.1%  

GENEROSITY: Households tracking at $5k  700 487 69.6%  

The Facts

•Over 100% of capacity at 11am in all campuses for peak weekends following Easter

•Over 94% of capacity at 11am YTD in all campuses through end of April

•Statistically, attendance will rebound to Spring levels in Fall 2008 and grow from there…if there’s room

•Our options for future growth without adding seats are very limited

Attendance trends continue to be very strong. If current trends hold true, we will experience the following:

2008 Average total attendance 10,763 (up 34.4%)

2008 September-December total attendance 12,314 (assumes 30% growth)2008 Christmas total attendance

22,820

Worship Center Capacity levels will be as follows:2008 Average worship attendance vs. capacity 67.2% (now)2008 September-December vs. Capacity

77.8%2009 September-December at 10% growth

85.5%2010 September-December at 10% growth

94.1%2011September-December at 10% growth

103.5%Note: 80% average capacity is extremely hard to maintain in one campus, let alone three!

People are searching for purpose and meaning in life 84% of people believe there is a God 80% of all people profess to agree that “The

role of churches is to help form and support moral values”

Clearly, the hunger for the kind of church that Eagle Brook tries to be is strong.

When Christianity is presented in a real and relevant way, people come Eagle Brook Church has seen an average

growth rate of over 20% per year for the last seventeen years

The Spring Lake Park campus, opened only 6 months ago, is FULL on Sunday and almost FULL on Saturday already

The White Bear Lake campus is growing at a rate of nearly 20% over last year

Overall, EBC growth rate this year is 30.1% compared to last years attendance

Multi-Site works Even without live speakers in the room,

people are coming in large numbers The biggest churches are successful with

large multi-site campuses A strategy that capitalizes on the

resources that are hardest to find Excellent Teachers Excellent Organizational Leaders

Financially, Bigger is Better Compared financial variables for facilities that

can seat 500, 1,000, 1,500 and 2,000 seat facilities Wanted to find if there was a ‘right-sized’

option that would be the most efficient and effective use of staff

Ideal functionality and efficiency of personnel takes place at or above 1,500 seats

At this size, the financial break-even point can come with as little as 2 full services

Leaves excess capacity that provides excess $$ for future growth strategies

Looking for sites that will support seating in the 1,000-2,000 range Looked at about 20 sites in areas encompassing

Maplewood, Lake Elmo, Oakdale, and Woodbury, Arden Hills, Shoreview, Vadnais Heights, etc…

Focusing on demographically similar communities

Looking at open land and commercial property Remain open to other areas and/or

opportunities One in particular has promise…

Goal - to start by raising seed money in the next 30 days Hire critical staff and begin training them Determine location and begin process

Design Funding City process Leverage results of this night (including others

unable to attend) to raise additional funds needed

“2001 will go down in the books as the year Eagle Brook stepped over the edge and obediently followed God in faith. And I believe the miracle that follows will show up in the form of thousands who will be saved for all eternity. I believe a whole generation of people will look back on 2001 and praise God for those who were willing to risk all, for their sake”

Bob Merritt, 2001 annual report

Here, in 2008, we find ourselves at another crossroads…