We believe this is a timely opportunity to respond to what God is doing at Southview. The expansion is about creating more space to better serve our church family and to open new opportunities to engage and bless our wider community. This includes additional ministry and classroom space, a gym, and a dedicated youth area for both church and community use. 

The multiplication piece is about asking how Southview can help strengthen local churches and support renewed ministry in places where churches are facing challenges. 

Yes. Southview’s pastors and elders are in unanimous support of this project. We are not entering into this lightly. After prayer, discussion, and discernment, we believe this is the direction God is leading us, and we are trusting Him to provide what is needed. 

There are two parts to this vision. 

The first is multiplication: exploring opportunities to plant or partner in additional ministry locations across Calgary, especially in communities where churches may need support to become healthy, vibrant places of faith and community. 

The second is expansion: creating dedicated space at Southview where children, youth, young adults, ministries, and community groups can gather, grow, and experience a greater sense of belonging and ownership. 

One part looks beyond our walls as we seek to join Jesus in bringing new life and hope across our city and the other strengthens ministry here at Southview. 

Our leadership and elders did explore the possibility of building a new sanctuary to create more weekend seating and potentially converting our current worship centre into a gym. However, after prayer and discernment the board and leadership sensed clear unity that a large sanctuary project is not what God is calling us to pursue at this time. 

Instead, we believe this expansion better addresses our current ministry needs and allows us to invest in both Southview’s future and broader ministry multiplication. 

Yes, we believe this expansion will significantly relieve the pressure we are currently experiencing in our weekend children’s ministry spaces. While no building project can anticipate every future need, we believe this will provide meaningful additional capacity for many years to come. In the short term, we are working on plans to address space constraints while we wait for construction to be completed. 

This is an important concern. Any multiplication effort must be paced wisely and supported appropriately. Before making commitments, we will need to carefully evaluate staffing, leadership capacity, volunteer strength, financial sustainability, and the overall health of Southview’s current ministries. 

A key part of the expansion is the addition of a gym and multi-use gathering space designed to serve both Southview ministries and the wider community throughout the week. This space would create opportunities for community sports programs and recreational activities. The gym will also provide dedicated space for our student ministries, creating an environment where students can gather and develop a stronger sense of ownership and community. Our hope is that this expansion becomes a welcoming and active space that serves both our church family and our city in meaningful ways. 

If God provides, our desire is to pursue both the multiplication vision and the building expansion without taking on debt. However, if the full project cost is not received through the funding campaign the Board of Elders is willing to take on appropriate debt to complete the project. Any decision to proceed with debt would require approval through a vote from our members at Southview.