A Place to Gather.
A Place to Grow.
Our vision for stewarding our space to make disciples in RTP.
ABOUT The Project
Stewarding our space.
As we reflect on all that God has done since September, we praise Him for raising up the people and resources to accomplish the good works he’s prepared for us. He has shown He can do far more than we could ask or think (Ephesians 3:20-21)!
One expression of God’s generosity was the provision of our facility. Church plants aren’t supposed to have buildings! And yet in God's kindness, this home and hub for ministry has already enabled us to worship together, enjoy fellowship, and serve the community.
As Luke 12:48 says, to whom much is given, much is required – and we’ve been given much! Like all tools, our building must be stewarded well, and the elders believe investment in our building will demonstrate our rootedness in the community and better serve our growing church family.
On this page, you'll find an overview of the plan approved by the congregation to affect these goals. Working with our architect, we emphasized ministry readiness over luxury, and these designs represent months of effort toward that end.
You’ll also see the estimated budget and a giving goal for our church family. We are grateful in advance for your financial investment to make this vision a reality, and trust God will provide through the sacrificial gifts of His people.
This is an exciting season for Parkside, and we can’t wait to see all God will do in the months ahead!
A Place to Gather. A Place to Grow.
A Visual Tour of Proposed Updates
Updated Entry
The exterior of the building will be painted and the main entrance will be refreshed to create a welcoming first impression for our members and guests.
Refreshed First Impression
The lobby will be updated with new floors and finishes and the two single doors in the main lobby will be moved to help the flow of Sunday mornings as we gather.
A Place for Hospitality
There will also be a new coffee bar that will provide plenty of space for us to host well on Sunday mornings and throughout the week as we make use of this space for ministry.
The Elevator: Making Our Building Accessible
One of the most exciting aspects of the project is the installation of an elevator that will enable all of our members and guests to make use of the whole building!
THE Budget: Three Big Numbers You Need to Know
How much will this project cost?
$695k
TOTAL ESTIMATED COST
This is the total
estimated
project cost.
$452k
AMOUNT RECEIVED
This is how much has
already
been given toward the project as of April 28, 2025.
$243k
AMOUNT REMAINING
This is the amount remaining to our goal as of April 28, 2025.
Give By Check
Checks can be made out to Parkside Baptist Church and given on Sunday mornings or mailed to 1515 Clermont Rd, Durham, NC 27713.
Please put "Renovation" in the memo line.
Give Online
One-time and recurring donations can be made online by credit card, debit card, or ACH.
While there is a processing fee, an option is available to offset those costs.
Stock Donations &
Donor Advised Funds
Parkside can receive gifts of stock as well as gifts from donor advised funds.
FAQs
Below are answers to some common questions related to the project.
What's the background behind this project?
The main section of the building was originally constructed in the 1960s, and the education wing was added in the 1980s. We're so thankful for how the previous church that occupied our building invested in its upkeep, including completing their own modernization a few years ago. However, when we were given the building, we were aware that more work may be helpful in the future, and the generosity of our sending church enabled us to contract an architect to explore potential updates.
Additionally, our building does not have an elevator. Because we knew an elevator would serve our whole church family, including the elderly, families, and those with mobility issues, we prayed that God would supply the dollars necessary to install an elevator. We were astounded when God answered through a financial gift that covered the entire cost!
During the exploratory phase and given the provision of the elevator, we prayerfully started to consider what scope of work would help us steward our building well while taking advantage of the savings that comes through work being done simultaneously with the elevator installation. It was this process that led us to the scope of the project.
What are the next steps?
After the congregation approved the project and budget in Februrary, we engaged our contractor to apply for permits and to begin moving forward on plans for the most involved portion of the project, the elevator.
We have set a giving goal of May 31 to receive funds and/or acknowledgements of intent to give; once funds are received, we will work with the contractor to begin work.
What is the timeline for the project?
Once the funds are raised and a construction start date is set, we're estimating the entire project may take 6-9 months. However, please hold this loosely as things can quickly change in a project like this.
How will construction affect our worship gatherings?
Based on our initial conversations with our contractor, because of the straightforward nature of the improvements to the sanctuary and lobby, we're optimistic that we can facilitate construction without significant interruption to our Sunday gatherings.
With that in mind, we are aware that the installation of the elevator will require temporary adjustments to our space. We have a plan to continue our ministries, but accomodations may be necessary to ensure an efficient construction process.
Why not spend our discretionary dollars?
God has been very generous to Parkside through the support of partnering churches and the generosity of the congregation. While we do have discretionary dollars available, as a church plant, we do not yet have much data on giving trends, ministry expenses, and facility expenses; therefore, we are purposefully retaining our discretionary funds as reserves to cover the expenses of the church in the case of emergency or for big-ticket building expenses that may arise that are not a part of this project. For example, HVAC systems alone are $35-45k apiece, and we have 5 of them!
Part of the fundraising toward this project includes dollars that will go to our facilities fund to cover future building expenses. This will free up other ministry dollars, including discretionary dollars, in the future.
