Why now?

  • Our Generosity Assessment and Feasibility Study in 2022 confirmed support and that the timing was right for moving ahead now.

  • Available space in Blacksburg is getting increasingly difficult to find - and more expensive.

  • Constructions costs continue to rise. Every year we delay means the cost of building or renovating increases.

  • Renting is not good stewardship of our resources over the long term. 

  • Our situation is tenuous. We are grateful for a good relationship with our current landlord, the Blacksburg First Church of God, but a change of circumstances could mean that with only 60 days notice we could be looking for a new place to worship.

 Why is The River conducting a capital campaign?

  • We desire to own our own space so that our ministries will not be disrupted by rental agreements or building restrictions that we cannot control.

  • We want to be prepared to move when God moves. Wherever God leads The River or whatever facility He provides for us will require a substantial financial investment. 

  • The most important reason is that we have felt God calling us to do this for several years. We feel compelled to step out in faith, knowing that God is faithful to those who are willing to heed His call.

Why do we need to raise money now since we haven’t identified a specific facility?

When a family decides to purchase a new home, they make a list of features they want in a home, prepare financially,  and engage in a search for a property. When they find the property that meets their needs - even though it might not meet all their ‘wants,” they can’t reasonably expect the seller to wait for years while they save the money for a downpayment. They need to be ready to move forward when they find their new home.

Similarly, The River needs to be prepared to move forward when God reveals the facility he has for us. The Imagine initiative is our preparation. 

As we prepare financially, we are also preparing our “wish list” so that we can evaluate options for our permanent home. At the recent Leadership Retreat, attendees were asked to dream about what we would want in a facility. There was great unity among leadership as we began to make our wish list and to imagine what our permanent home could be.