While performing a wedding for two of our students this summer, I heard the bride’s father talk about his first impressions of PLBC. Mr. Rogers (that’s his name!) was not very flattering when he described our neighbourhood. His daughter was convinced she had heard from God before selecting our school but when the parents accompanied her all the way from Ontario to set up her dorm room they had second thoughts. The dad reassured her daughter that it wasn’t too late to turn around and go back home. Fortunately they stayed long enough to meet our staff and faculty and that was all they needed to convince them that looks aren’t everything!
But looks do matter. When the students walk into the new RKM Centre, they take pride in their surroundings. The college enrolment has grown largely by their word of mouth. When we tell them there are people from across North America who care deeply about them and their call to ministry, they believe us. They see the sacrifice and care that went into this beautiful new building.
After a successful completion of Phase 1 (building a $1.7 Million Academic Building), PLBC has launched into Phase 2 (renovating and upgrading the dormitory building). The cost of Phase 2 is estimated at $600,000. Watch this video to find out more about Phase 2 - Building Leaders Capital Campaign.
Unfortunately the old dormitory undermines our reputation of being a progressive college. It looks a little lost in the early 70’s. The dated chalet style roof, the old moss-covered shakes, the peeling wooden soffits, and mismatched exterior surfaces provide an incongruent first impression to students and their parents when they visit our campus.
The next phase of our development plan is less ambitious than the RKM Centre but just as important to the growth of our college. The current dormitory, while renovated inside, needs a dramatic facelift on the outside. The new look will help attract and accommodate more campus students, including our new PELI (Pacific English Language Institute) program, along with summer conventions. This in turn will expand our influence as a college and boost revenues year-round. It will set the stage for the next more aggressive project of building a second dormitory for our female students.
While we welcome large investments, the refurnishing project will allow for individuals or church groups (kid’s churches, youth groups, home groups, etc.) to sponsor rooms for $2500 each. We did that earlier with the ladies dorm rooms and plaques identifying the donors have been placed on their doors. These signs remind our students of the people who cared enough about their pursuit of God’s call that they refurnished the room they are living in. What an encouraging and ongoing testimony of support!
The exterior renovation of the current dorm will cost approximately $500,000. There will be some additional interior renovations (mainly washroom improvements) of $60,000, and furnishings for the men’s dorm rooms of another $40,000 for a total project cost of $600,000.
Building Leaders Capital Campaign
"Our tools are ready at hand for clearing the ground of every obstruction and building lives of obedience into maturity." 2 Corinthians 10:6 - The Message
With rapidly expanding programs and corresponding enrolment growth, the current facilities are no longer adequate to meet the needs of our campus student body and our broader constituency. Space limitations have imposed a ceiling on growth. Plans for new programs and increased enrolment are entirely dependent on the construction of new facilities. The Master Plan for the 40 acre campus includes at least four phases accommodating 300-400 students:
Phase 1: Learning Centre (100% of $1.7 Million Completed) 12,000 sq. ft. of new space, providing six classrooms, an expanded library, and student lounge areas. This lower floor of a three-story academic wing, built in partnership with Regent Christian Academy, can be finished and furnished for $1.1 million.
In September 2005 we launched the first year of a brand new 2 & 4 year program of training youth ministers. The Youth Ministry Institute (YMI) is quickly growing and looking forward to releasing its graduates.
www.pacificlife.edu/ymi
Building Leaders: Phase 1
The Building Leaders Campaign is a three year capital campaign dedicated to the building of the Rolf K. McPherson Centre. Find out how to give, watch videos, and find out more here...