Building Capacity for the Next Decade

Why Desiring God Is Moving and How You Can Help

John Piper Gives 4 Reasons Desiring God Is Moving

Building Fund Progress

Summary: Desiring God has been given new facilities for $1 a year! All we have to do is outfit the building for our needs.

This, along with some necessary staff additions, will cost a million dollars. $691,584 has already been pledged.

Your one-time gift right now toward the remaining $308,416 will help us to begin operating virtually rent-free.

Why Is This Exciting?

Desiring God is moving from its present location to a building that's been named Hope Commons.

There are several reasons this is exciting to us:

1) The partners we are going to be involved with.

We're moving from our current location, which is "sort-of city" toward the inner-city, into a building that used to be a major hospital. It has six floors.

Hope Academy
On the first two floors is Hope Academy, where my twelve year old daughter goes to school. It is led by a former elder of Bethlehem who shares our God-centered vision. It is a multi-ethnic school that offers a classic K-8 education with a high school starting next year. And it is right here in the inner-city.
Teen Challenge
Teen Challenge, a drug-rehabilitation ministry that we love, is going in on the third floor. They have their main facilities elsewhere, but in Hope Commons they will be able to offer transitional help to the graduates of their program.
The Bethlehem Institute
Above that, on the 4th floor and part of the 5th, is The Bethlehem Institute (TBI), the seminary and college program offered by Bethlehem Baptist Church.
Desiring God
Finally, we will share the 5th floor with TBI and also be on the top floor.

So the first reason we're excited about this move is the inner-city, multi-ethnic, on-the-ground, gutsy ministry relationships.

2) $1 a Year: The price is better than right.

A man that God has blessed and who loves supporting the spread of the gospel with his wealth bought this old hospital outright and got an absolute steal on it because it had been vacant for years. Now he is leasing it for a dollar a year to us and these other ministries.

Obviously all of these ministries are going to benefit unbelievably from this gift. Too good to be true? Don't worry, we checked into this to make sure that it was absolutely real. We know most of the people involved, and we feel totally confident that this long-term lease is going to be a good thing.

3) We can create the space that will be perfect for us.

Now that this amazing gift has been given to us, our job is to build it out. That's what the money is being raised for. We have to remodel and, of course, pay for utilities and upkeep. So, while we don't have to buy a building or pay rent, there are costs both up front and ongoing.

The positive, exciting side of this is that now we'll be able to create the space that is going to perfect for us. We don't have to make our ministry fit into the design of a former owner or tenant.

Right now, our two floors of the building are gutted—the big heavy block walls are gone between the former hospital rooms. With the directors' and staff's input, it's being designed and built for exactly what we need.

4) Our leaders know that ministry is about people, not place.

If we were fired up about this opportunity because we have a new place, there'd be no real reason for you to be excited about this with us. But that's not why we're excited. Everything that's wonderful about the place is subservient to purpose and people.

Our purpose is to spread a passion for the supremacy of God in all things for the joy of all peoples through Jesus Christ. And when we say all peoples, we mean people in inner-city Minneapolis all the way to the ends of the earth.

Our particular emphasis as we try to accomplish this goal is to highlight the truth that God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him.

That's our mission. And it is for the sake of this mission that we're thrilled to have a place tailored for us, so inexpensive, and partnered with other ministries.

We're filled with gratitude to God for this opportunity. And we commend it as a possible investment for anybody who shares a passion for the mission of these ministries.

We're deeply thankful for any way that you can help, and we're very excited to continue in the gospel-spreading opportunities that you can help make possible.

The Numbers

So that you can know what we need to raise more specifically, here is a summary of the finances we need and already have.

Hope Commons Build-Out:	$850,000
Increased Staffing Capacity:	$150,000
Total Building Capacity Expense:	$1,000,000
Gifts Received or pledged:	$691,584
Remaining Need:	$308,416

Would you consider helping us fund this project by giving a special, one-time gift, over-and-above any regular support for Desiring God?

Donate Now: $

How You Can Give

Donate online
Donate stocks or securities.
Mail a check with "Building Capacity" as the memo to

Desiring God
PO Box 2901
Minneapolis, MN 55402

Thank You!

Thank you for taking the time to read this and for prayerfully considering us as you decide how to financially support the spread of the good news about Jesus.

If you have any questions, please contact: