Frequently Asked Questions

The name “For Austin” reflects our desire to shift the focus of the church from what we are against to what we are for. We want to be known as a church that is for people, for our community, and for the next generation. While we will be based in Leander, “Austin” represents more than just the city limits—it’s about the entire Greater Austin area, which includes five counties and 22 cities. We believe this building project will enable us to better serve not only our local community but the broader region of Greater Austin. By building this new facility, we can extend our reach and impact, living out our mission in ways we’ve never been able to before. This building will be a place where people, no matter where they live in the area, will experience purpose, growth, and a sense of belonging. That’s why we’re calling it “For Austin.”

The total cost to build out our new facility will be approximately $5 million. Out of that, we are contractually obligated to cover $500,000. This covers the necessary improvements (TI) to build out the space to meet our specific needs, creating a welcoming environment for all.When it comes to FFE (furniture, fixtures, and equipment), our new building will be 65% larger than our current one. While we are committed to being good stewards by reusing as much as we can from our current building, the expanded space will still require significant investment in new equipment and furnishings. This is especially important as we uphold our value of creating irresistible environments for kids, students, and adults—because details speak to the value we place on leading them well.

Lastly, the pre-development costs represent all the financial commitments we’ve made over the last 18 months. These expenses include architects, working with the city of Leander, securing permits, and preparing for the project. As a church, it is wise for us to reimburse the $500,000 we’ve already paid from savings to ensure we maintain strong financial margins as we step into this new chapter. This financial margin will allow us to navigate this project responsibly while continuing to pursue our mission.

TOPO is a well-regarded, full-service commercial real estate development company based in Austin, TX. They specialize in developing dynamic, community-focused properties and have a proven track record of success with destination-based projects, such as Springdale General and Canopy in East Austin. Their projects thrive because they focus on integrating community needs while maintaining high design and functionality standards  

The biggest asset we bring to this partnership is the land we purchased back in 2018. This land gives us about 25% equity in the project, providing significant value. TOPO will lead the entire development process, from financing and construction to city permits, which is a huge advantage for us as it reduces the complexity and risk on our end.

Moreover, we have worked closely with TOPO to pre-negotiate the types of tenants that will occupy the other nine buildings in the development, ensuring that their values align with ours as a church. This partnership will also generate an annual return of approximately 25% off project returns, which will not only offset our lease payments (making them lower than our current payments despite the new building being 65% larger) but also provide additional funds to enhance our ministries and increase their effectiveness.

Finally, we’ve also negotiated first rights of refusal to buy out the entire project over time, positioning us for future ownership and potential expansion of this model across Greater Austin. This partnership aligns with our mission and vision, allowing us to maximize the impact of our new building while remaining financially responsible.

We finalized our partnership with TOPO in October, and after 18 months of pre-development work, we are ready to break ground within the next 30 days. The first phase of construction will focus on the parking lots and our building, which is the priority. While the remaining nine buildings in the development will be built alongside ours, our church building will take precedence, ensuring it is ready for us as soon as possible.

We expect the shell of our building to be completed by early fall of 2025. After that, the internal build-out will take place through the fall and early 2026. By late spring of 2026, we’ll add the final creative touches, including furniture, fixtures, and equipment (FFE), to ensure it reflects the high-quality environment we envision.

Even though there may still be some construction happening on the other buildings when we move in, the parking lots will be ready and available for our services. We anticipate holding our first service in the new building in late spring or early summer of 2026. This timeline allows us to step into this new chapter prepared, while construction on the rest of the development continues around us.

Our current building, which we moved into in 2015, has served us well, but by 2017, we began feeling the strain of being at capacity. Then COVID happened, which impacted church attendance across the board, including ours. However, God has blessed us with remarkable growth since then—growth that has now exceeded even pre-pandemic levels across all areas: kids, adults, students, and small groups.

Every Sunday, our space is stretched to its limits. We have people in overflow seating in the foyer, we’re swapping kids’ rooms to make more space, middle schoolers are crammed into tiny offices, and we’ve even had to rent additional space offsite to accommodate small group meetings. This new building will relieve those capacity issues, giving us the room we desperately need to continue growing and providing a better experience for everyone.

Not only will this larger space allow us to accommodate more people comfortably, but it will also provide the resources we need to expand our staff. With dedicated leadership in key ministry areas, we can offer more personalized and impactful experiences for kids, students, adults, and small groups, all while engaging the community in more meaningful ways.

Additionally, this new building will enhance our Marketplace Ministry, which allows us to use our facility for community events from Monday to Saturday. This includes business trainings, parties, school functions, chamber of commerce meetings, and more. These events offer our community a chance to engage with our church in a non-traditional way, and often lead people who may not typically attend church to feel welcomed and cared for in ways they didn’t expect. It’s a strategic way for us to fulfill our vision of making Jesus relevant for everyone in Greater Austin.

This new building will be much more than just additional space—it will be a catalyst for deeper connection, purpose, growth, and outreach, allowing us to serve our church family and our community like never before.

In 2018, the For Austin campaign raised just shy of $3 million to purchase land, cover pre-development costs, and begin building a new facility. With a term sheet from the bank and city permits in hand, we were ready to move forward—until COVID hit, and the bank backed out. This forced us to pause and rethink our strategy.

Looking back, this setback became a blessing. The land we purchased more than doubled in value, positioning us for a much more impactful opportunity with TOPO. What we couldn’t see in 2018 became clear over time—this journey has brought us to a stronger position as a church that aligns perfectly with our strategy of being For Austin.

Because of the 2018 campaign, we are now poised to move forward with a project that will create an even greater impact on our church and the community we serve.

When you give to this building campaign, you’re not just funding a physical structure—you’re investing in something that can transform your life and leave a lasting legacy. Generosity is powerful. Research consistently shows that giving leads to greater joy, purpose, and fulfillment. When you give, you open the door to experiencing more joy in life by aligning your heart with God’s mission and making a tangible impact in the lives of others.

By contributing, you become part of a larger story—one that will shape the future of our church and community for generations. This building will provide the space for countless people—kids, students, families, and friends—to encounter Jesus, grow in their faith, and build lasting relationships. Your generosity enables us to create environments where people feel welcomed, valued, and loved, and that’s a legacy you can be proud of.

Moreover, giving shifts our focus from ourselves to something greater. It deepens our faith, reminding us that we trust in God’s provision, and it cultivates a sense of purpose by allowing us to participate in His work. As Jesus said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35). When we give, we receive the blessing of seeing our resources make an eternal difference.

In short, giving to this campaign isn’t just about building a space—it’s about building people, building community, and building your own sense of purpose and joy in God’s greater plan. Your gift will echo far beyond today, shaping both your life and the lives of those we’ll serve in the future.

We’re not asking for a specific amount from each person or family. Instead, we encourage everyone to prayerfully consider what God might be asking you to give. Generosity looks different for each of us, but what’s important is that your giving reflects both your heart and your ability. This campaign is about everyone participating together—whether that’s a large gift or a small one, each contribution matters and helps move us closer to our goal.

The key is to give in a way that stretches your faith and reflects your desire to invest in the future of our church and community. Your gift, regardless of size, will play a vital role in providing the space and resources needed to impact lives and further our mission in Greater Austin.

If we don’t reach the full $1.5 million, we would need to pause and reconsider how best to move forward. While there are certain financial obligations that must be met to begin construction, achieving the full amount is vital for ensuring we have the margin and flexibility needed for the project to succeed. The remaining funds are essential for things like furniture, fixtures, and equipment (FFE), as well as for maintaining the financial margin that will allow us to manage the project responsibly.

Without the full $1.5 million, we may face delays or adjustments to our plans, as moving forward without adequate funding could impact the quality and readiness of the building. Every contribution helps us move closer to our vision of creating a fully equipped, welcoming space that serves our church and community.

Our long-term strategy is to create destination-based locations throughout Greater Austin, starting with Leander Union as the proof of concept. These hubs will not only feature restaurants, retail, coffee shops, and fun spaces that draw people in but also offer essential services like mental health care, education, and medical services. By weaving these strategic areas into a lively environment, we will engage the community in new, impactful ways.

Revenue from these projects will allow us to subsidize many of these services, making them affordable and accessible. This model reflects our commitment to being for people, for the community, and for the next generation—living out what it truly means to be For Austin. By replicating these hubs across the city, we’ll make Jesus relevant to Greater Austin, providing both spiritual and practical support that transforms lives and communities.

The best place to stay up to date on all things related to our For Austin building campaign is at ForAustin.com. There, you’ll find progress updates, pictures, answers to frequently asked questions, and the latest news on the campaign. We’ll be regularly posting new content to keep everyone informed.

As always, if you have any specific questions or want to connect with us personally, feel free to reach out to our staff at npaustin.com. We’d love to hear from you and help in any way we can!