Fasting
& Praying
What is fasting and how do I do it?
Fasting is the
practice of voluntarily setting something aside in order to create space to
seek God. There are several ways to fast, but we most often see people in
Scripture fasting from food. Some may fast from a single meal; others may fast
for a full day, drinking only water, or nothing at all. If fasting from food is
not possible for health or other reasons, consider fasting from something you
rely on heavily — social media, entertainment, or another daily habit. Whatever
you set aside, use that time to go to God in prayer. Fasting is not the goal in
of itself, but rather a means to remind us of our need and dependance upon God
and to focus our minds and spirit on His.
Why are we fasting?
Throughout
Scripture, we see the people of God coming together to fast in times of
tragedy, of great persecution, and before making major decisions. Although
fasting can be considered a spiritual discipline, it is also an act of
obedience, humility, and worship. When we fast, we are declaring that above all
else, we want more of God, more of His presence, more of His power, and more of
His glory as we seek to do His will.
What should I pray about when I'm fasting?
In addition to
praying through the prayer points provided, be open to whatever God may be
stirring up in you. He may be calling you to repent. He may be wanting to
affirm a special gift. He may want you to intercede or reach out to specific
people during this time. Whatever it is, we are confident that God will respond
when we seek Him and we encourage you to share with us your reflections from
your time of prayer via the form
on our website.
Will we fast and pray together during the next two
weeks?
Yes, although we are
primarily fasting and praying on our own throughout the next two weeks, we will
gather on Friday, May 22nd, 7-8pm here in the sanctuary to pray, worship and
share with one another. If you can't make it in person, thank you for joining us in spirit and please
share your feedback with us via
our website.
What happens if people sense different answers from
God?
This is to be
expected as we all have different
viewpoints, giftings, risk tolerances -the list can go on and on. We thank God that He has created everyone
uniquely and that each person's feedback will help give us a clearer picture of
the situation. Ultimately though, we
are not asking for a vote. We do not
want to set up sides against each other. Our desire is to have everyone share
what they believe God is saying, and then trust our leaders (the Pastoral Team,
Leadership Council and Board) to discern God's good and perfect will in light
of everyone's feedback and counsel to make a decision for the church.
Building
Issues
What's wrong with the building?
Our building was
built in 1817 -five years after Columbus was established as a city and
fifty-three years before The Ohio State University was founded! All that to say, it's an old building. But
despite that, most of the foundation and structure is still solid -according to
the latest structural engineering report.
However, when we bought the building, we knew that the south wall was
compromised and needed to be addressed.
Over time, this need has become urgent and we can no longer put off
repairs.
Other repairs,
although not as urgent, would include adding more HVAC (heating and cooling)
capacity and fixing sections of the roof or brick façade to prevent water
leaking from above. Also, as we mentioned before, we would like to add
restrooms on the first floor and ADA access to the building.
Why are we considering selling now?
There is an urgent
need to repair the south wall of the building.
This repair is quite costly and we recognize that our current funds are
limited. Additionally, we also understand that the ongoing cost of maintenance
and repair for older buildings are much higher than newer ones. Given our current size and budget, staying in
this building could become an unbearable burden. So we have contacted a few
real estate brokers to see how much we could possibly sell the building in this
current market.
Where will we go if we sell it?
We believe that if
God is calling us to move, He will also provide a location within the campus
area. We are aware of one building in the area that is considerably newer but
much smaller as well. However, we don't
want to get ahead of Him by planning our next location before we've already
confirmed His leading. Although we are
exploring the possibility, we are wanting to go through this time of prayer,
fasting, and discernment. If He says move, He will also show us where. But if
it's to stay, we trust that He will provide means do that as well.
Financial
Questions
Are we in financial trouble?
The short answer is
no. We recently shared our 2025 financial report and praise God -we have
operated in the black (meaning we are spending less than we take in). However,
we want to be good stewards and wise concerning our finances. We understand
that we are smaller than we used to be and the estimated cost of repairs given
by the architect could be a financial burden -not to mention future costs to
improve and maintain the functionality of our building. But even more important
than being wise and good stewards, we want to be faithful and obedient and not
motivated by fear. Whichever way God leads us, we know that the Lord will
provide.
Don't we already have a building fund?
Yes, we do.
Historically, the building fund was set up for the purchase of a building
-something that we've completed in 2021. We are grateful for the generosity of
all those who have given, but are still amazed by those that continue to give
faithfully to this fund over the years knowing that there will be future
repairs and remodeling that may happen. Because of God's faithfulness and your
generosity, we own our building debt-free and have been able to make
significant structural repairs to our building including rebuilding a portion
of the east wall, asbestos remediation, tuck pointing (masonry repairs), replacing old wiring and repairing parts of
the roof. Additionally we still have some funds earmarked for our initial
desires to see a bathroom built on the first floor and to have ramp/ADA access
to the building.
Will we do another building campaign to raise funds?
This was something
that we anticipated doing back in 2022 before Pastor Tim left. But due to the challenges of COVID and our
changing congregation we held off on the repairs and subsequently the campaign.
But we can no longer hold off the repairs and must make a decision. So, whether we stay or move to a new
building, we anticipate that we may need additional funds (either to start the
repairs or to possibly make up the difference between the purchase price of the
new building and the selling price of our current building).
Earlier this year,
we applied for a grant through the National Fund for Sacred Spaces, a program
that aims to provide financial and technical support to congregations who own
religious buildings across the country. If accepted, this competitive grant would
provide matching funds up to $320,000 to address repairs integral to the
preservation and longevity of the building. This is a matching grant meaning we
would still need to raise the funds. We submitted an application in March and
will find out if we made it past the first round of acceptance in June.
How much is our building worth?
We are currently
working with two commercial real estate brokers to assess our building and
provide an estimate of the property value in today’s market. The property's
religious use zoning and the condition of the south wall both limit the number
of potential buyers. A potential commercial buyer or developer would need to
rezone our property before they could convert the space -a process that isn't
guaranteed and may take a considerable amount of time.
Church
Leadership and Vision
How will the final decision be made?
ANCF has always
practiced a "modified episcopal polity". In this model the senior or lead pastor is
the primary spiritual and administrative authority and is locally accountable
to the Board in the matters of legal and financial governance. The Leadership
Council assists the Pastoral Team by providing council and sharing in the care and discipleship of the
church. This is the model practiced by many churches, including those in the
Vineyard of which ANCF joined in 2002. So even though ANCF is a part of
Vineyard USA, each Vineyard church is independently incorporated and maintains
local autonomy under pastoral leadership.
In general, our
leaders do not make decisions by voting. We recognize the diversity in voices,
perspectives, and experiences everyone brings.
However, we also recognize the need to pay careful attention to
under-represented voices. When consensus cannot be reached, we practice humble
submission to one another -deferring to the one who will be held most
responsible and accountable for the decision to be made.
In this case, the
Leadership Council will take everyone's feedback, pray and try to come to a
consensus. In the absence of consensus, the Pastoral Team will make the final
decision.
Who are the Leaders of ANCF?
ANCF is led by the
Pastoral Team, along with the Leadership Council, who provides counsel and assistance in
shepherding the church. The Board provides governance and financial
accountability. Together, they serve the congregation in leading and caring for
our church.
We are continually
seeking to develop and add to our leadership as the church grows. Currently,
the Pastoral Team is led by Pastor Vu Luong and includes Pastor Doug Coning.
The Leadership Council consists of Pastor Vu, Rebecca Andriani, Sam Borton,
Mary Brown, Julia Stahl, and Monica & Rick Haberkamp. The Board is made up
of Pastor Vu Luong (Chair) and Paul Nichols (Secretary and acting Treasurer).
Why is the location of where we meet important to us?
We’ve
always understood that a church was not defined by a building. Even before we
owned one, we were the church wherever we gathered. At the heart of our vision
is a calling to be salt and light in the campus area and, from there, to the
nations. Reaching college students—from OSU and surrounding schools—has always
been an important part of that calling. We’ve never set out to be a “campus
church" or "college ministry.” Instead, we desire to grow into a
multi-generational community that recognizes the unique season of life college
students and visiting scholars are in, while faithfully ministering to the
broader, diverse community around us by remaining present and accessible.
Next
Steps
How can I share what I've heard in prayer or any
feedback during the process?
We are offering an
online place where you can share your feedback with us via
our website. Additionally, we will gather on Friday, May 22nd, 7-8pm here
in the sanctuary to pray, worship and share with one another.
When will the church know what the final decision is?
After the 14 days of
fasting is finished, the Leadership Council will come together to prayerfully
consider everything that has been shared - online, in person, and among
themselves. A decision will then be communicated to the full congregation soon
after -some time in June. If you haven't already, you can subscribe to our
newsletter at https://www.ancfchurch.org/contact-us/lets-connect.
Once the final decision is made, is that it?
Not necessarily, the
final decision marks the direction we will move forward in faith. Whichever
path we take, the Board will provide financial and legal oversight as we
navigate challenges and take the necessary, practical steps. The Leadership
Council will continue seeking God’s guidance, helping to clarify the path
forward—even if that means pausing or changing course along the way.
