IT IS TIME TO

Continue The Story

MAKE A COMMITMENT    MAKE A GIFT


The story of Christian Chapel started in a small apartment near 61st & Peoria in 1974. Jon & Janice Wakefield planted the new church with few resources, little support, and big dreams. They dreamed of a local church that would prioritize missions, glorify Jesus, embrace the work of the Holy Spirit, and emphasize biblical preaching, contemporary worship, and next-generation ministry. Christian Chapel grew quickly and met in rental facilities throughout south Tulsa. We met in apartments, office parks, and schools. Each move created new opportunities for the members of Christian Chapel to participate in exciting things God was doing through the body of believers. 


In the 1980s, Pastor Richard Exley led Christian Chapel through the process of purchasing land on 76th St and constructing the first portion of our current facility. This $2 million undertaking was a massive step of faith for a church comprised almost entirely of young families and young adults. The building was completed in 1985 through the sacrificial giving of many of our founding members. The church took massive steps of faith to provide a permanent home that the generations after them have continued to benefit from. 


In 1997 and again in 2009, Christian Chapel undertook significant building campaigns to accommodate a growing congregation, increased ministries, and prepare for the future. Once again, members of all ages prayed, gave, and sacrificed to see these projects completed. Throughout each building project and season of ministry, Christian Chapel maintained our commitment to missions, glorifying Jesus, embracing the work of the Holy Spirit, and emphasizing biblical preaching, contemporary worship, and next-generation ministry. 


In 2024, we celebrated God’s faithfulness over the last 50 years. Now, we have the opportunity to Continue the Story in our generation and for those coming after us. In the pages to follow, you will learn about the upcoming building expansion and renovation plan at Christian Chapel. We will explain the need, highlight solutions, and invite you to consider how you can help Continue the Story of what God has done, and what He will continue to do at Christian Chapel.



We have enjoyed multi-generational growth throughout our history, but have seen an explosion of young families planting themselves at Christian Chapel over the last five years. This growth has been prayed for, welcomed and celebrated. Our growth has created building needs across every generation and in most ministries. Over the past three years, we have adapted ministries, reimagined schedules, added services, and renovated portions of the building to accommodate God’s many blessings. However, we are nearing capacity in many areas of our current facility.



GROWN BY 100% IN THE PAST 10 YEARS

2014 AVERAGE ATTENDANCE 317 2025 AVERAGE ATTENDANCE NEARLY 700

1000 - 1200

PEOPLE CALL CHRISTIAN CHAPEL THEIR HOME CHURCH



Sanctuary Expansion

Build an 8,000 square foot expansion off the north side of the building. This will increase our seating capacity from 350 to 692. It will also include a smaller stage to maximize seating, improved lighting, new HVAC, new LED wall, larger and clearer side projection screens, new fire suppression system, and a ceiling mounted, roll down room divider to decrease the footprint of the room for Chapel Youth use on Wednesday nights. Additional handicap parking will also be added along the north side of the building to allow for easier building access. Additional behind-the-scenes infrastructure improvements will be made to bring the building up to code and help future-proof the sanctuary. This expansion will enable us to move to two Sunday morning worship services and utilize the space more effectively for Chapel Youth and Chapel Young Adults.

West Wing Expansion

Chapel Youth

Build a new Youth Lobby on the 1st floor West Wing. This large community space will serve as the focal point of the new 1st floor Youth Center. It will feature two large exterior entrances, and connections to the existing classrooms. Chapel Youth has nearly outgrown the existing 2nd floor Youth Center, with average attendance between 100-120 on Wednesday nights during the school year. Chapel Youth will use the main sanctuary for worship services on Wednesday nights, giving them ample room to grow over the coming years.

2nd Floor

Chapel Kids Center

As we expand the sanctuary and move to two Sunday morning services, our current Chapel Kids Auditorium will no longer comfortably accommodate our elementary age kids. Additionally, the current Chapel Kids layout is spread across multiple parts of the building, with numerous interior and exterior access points. Moving Chapel Kids to the 2nd floor will create a new, updated, secure, Kids Center featuring a 112-seat auditorium, numerous classrooms, and kids-only restrooms. A hallway will also be built from the elevator on the 2nd floor to the Adult Classrooms adjacent to the new Kids Center. This will create easy access for adults, while maintaining safety for our Chapel Kids.

Nursery/ Preschool

The Christian Chapel nursery is exploding with babies! We will nearly double the footprint of our nursery and preschool areas by converting our existing Prayer Room, Offices, and Conference Room into a Chapel Nursery & Preschool Area featuring a secure check-in, three bathrooms, and a mothers room. The Mothers Room will be located in the current Prayer Room. Preschool Rooms will be located off the gym lobby, and the Nursery will feature 5 separate rooms to allow for fewer babies per room and more age-appropriate equipment and activities. Kids Check-In will move to a new user-friendly station right outside the new nursery and preschool interior entrance.

1st Floor Lobby

The existing Chapel Kids Auditorium will be removed and replaced with a large, open-concept coffee area. The small hallway between the current Community Space and Gym Lobby will also be removed, allowing for a single, large open space that extends from the Gym Lobby through the Community Space and into the lobby outside the Sanctuary. A new fire suppression system will enable us to eliminate the need for fire shutters and extra doors, making the space easier to use and ready for any future changes or additions. This new space will double our Wednesday dinner seating capacity.

Offices & AdultDiscipleship

The current nursery will be remodeled and reconfigured as a smaller and more efficient office space. The main office entrance will move to the West Entrance. This allows for easier building access during the week for staff, members, guests, vendors, contractors, and deliveries. Christian Chapel’s original stained glass windows will find a new, more prominent display in the new offices.New Men’s & Women’s Restroom will be added in the 2nd Floor Adult Discipleship area by converting one existing classroom into two restrooms. This will provide easier access for adults on Wednesday nights and will enable the 2nd floor Chapel Kids Area to be more secure. The hallway built to provide elevator access to the Adult Discipleship rooms will also improve building flow and child security.

West Entrance Covered

Drop Off

A covered drop-off area will be constructed on the West Entrance. It will cover the entire driveway and be large enough to accommodate multiple vehicles simultaneously. This will improve building access during inclement weather. It will also provide a more obvious building entrance on weekdays for guests, contractors, vendors, and deliveries.


Continue The Story

The total cost of the expansion and renovation is $3.5 million. Through God’s faithful provision and wise direction, we have identified a path to a debt-free project. 

Over the course of the 18-month project, we will pay $1 million from our reserve fund due to the generosity of Christian Chapel members and the foresight of our Board of Deacons. We believe the remaining $2.5 million will be provided as each of us take time to pray and ask God what part we can play to help Continue the Story at Christian Chapel. The generations who have come before us engaged in building projects that have grown the kingdom and brought tremendous benefit to us and to our families.


Will you please join us in praying about your participation? As you do, remember Paul’s words in 2 Corinthians 9:7-8. “Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.”

After you have prayed, and decided what to give, please complete the online commitment card below. We are receiving up to 2-year commitments for this project with the hopes of all giving being completed by the end of 2027. 


If you have additional questions, please email info@christianchapel.com or speak with any of our Pastors. Thank you for doing your part to Continue the Story God is writing at Christian Chapel.


Make A Commitment       Make A Gift

FAQ's

HOW MUCH WILL IT COST?

$3.5 million. We will pay $1 million in cash over the life of the project and hope to fundraise the balance. Financing for 80% of the Project has been approved through Busey Bank. We will only borrow as much as needed to complete the project.


WHAT IS OUR FUNDRAISING PLAN?

We have already raised $1,100,000 during a quiet fundraising phase as we worked through the project. We will have the opportunity to make 2 year commitments (to be fulfilled by the end of 2027). As we all give what God directs, a debt-free project is a realistic possibility. 


HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE?

18 months. Our projected start date of September 2025. The project will be completed in phases. 1. Sanctuary and West Wing additions. 2. Existing Offices converted to Nursery/Preschool. 3. Existing Chapel Youth converted to Chapel Kids. 4. Lobby Renovation. 5. West Wing Drive Through and Adult Classrooms Bathrooms will be completed at any time. We will move to 2 Sunday morning services (services times TBD) as soon as the sanctuary is usable and we have adequate nursery & kids space.


WHO ARE WE WORKING WITH?

Our General Contractor is Ascend Construction. Our Architect is 1Arch. Both are locally owned companies with local church building experience.


WILL THIS IMPACT OUR KINGDOM BUILDERS GIVING?

No. We will not reduce our missionary support, or stop hosting missionaries and supporting their projects. Christian Chapel has invested more in missions than building and grounds and we do not plan to stop. We believe this building campaign will increase our capacity to support Kingdom Builders.WILL THIS IMPACT


WILL THIS IMPACT OUR CURRENT MINISTRIES OR STAFF?

No. Even if we had to finance $2.5 million, the payment would be well within our budget. Our monthly cash flow exceeds the potential payment.IS CC TRYING TO BECOME A MEGA CHURCH?No. The only thing we are trying to be is faithful. Our growth has been healthy, organic and free of marketing campaigns or the result of disgruntled church members moving over in mass from a church split.


WILL THE STYLE OF THE SANCTUARY AND COMMUNITY AREAS CHANGE?

Not significantly. We will continue the same style in the sanctuary - paint, carpet, chairs, and look of platform. The themes through other community spaces will also remain very similar. The sanctuary will receive a new, larger center stage LED wall. The existing LED wall will be covered to two separate side screens. These changes will increase visibility in the back of the room with the added depth of the addition.


HOW DOES THIS COMPARE TO OUR LAST BUILDING PROJECT?

We opened the gym, office spaces, RFK Room, and adult classrooms in 2010. That project cost was approximately $2.2 million. We raised $1.2–$1.4 million and financed just over $1 million, which was paid off by 2019.


WHAT IF WE OUTGROW THIS NEW BUILDING?

Over the last 3-4 years CC has grown between 8-12% per year. If that rate continues, it would be 7 years before we would reach capacity in the new sanctuary and kids spaces in 2 services. At that time, we would trust God to reveal our next steps (additional building options, planting churches, adding services, etc).


WILL WE HAVE ENOUGH PARKING?

Yes, we will lose 15-20 spots on the north side of the building. However, we added a significant number of spots during our last addition that are currently not used on Sunday mornings. We may ask staff, band, and others serving in both services to park on the east side of the building. We also have the outdoor basketball court and lower access road that can be used for additional parking if needed.


DO WE HAVE ENOUGH OFFICE SPACE?

Yes. We are decreasing our office foot print, but utilizing an open work concept with semi-private work spaces. We also have plenty of additional space throughout the building for staff and volunteers to find quiet spaces to work during the week.


WILL WE UPGRADE THE OUTDOOR PLAYGROUND?

Not as part of this project. Once we have completed the interior renovations and have a good idea of our financial standing on this project, we will consider a timeframe for renovating and replacing portions of the outside playground.