Restoring the Heart of the Community
We are purchasing the Cedar Crest Community Center, a 50-year staple of the South Oak Cliff community previously owned by The Salvation Army. This eight-acre property includes a 20,000-square-foot community center, a 4,000-square-foot church building, and a full-size football field and playground area. The property is perfectly situated for our families and has more than 1,000 teens and children in the neighborhood who attend the elementary and high schools within a quarter mile of the property. This community center can once again fill a critical vacuum as the premier – and only – destination for supportive activities like sports and enrichment for a huge portion of South Oak Cliff.
The ownership and renovation of the Cedar Crest property will allow Behind Every Door to grow past previous limitations to ensure necessary services remain in the community, create steady revenue streams for the future of our ministry, and provide a platform to teach other organizations how to replicate our model. We will continue to serve the two apartment communities where we have established meaningful relationships and life-enhancing programs, even as we move into a new home in the heart of this South Oak Cliff community, eagerly awaiting our arrival.
With plans and early donor support, we are now ready to take the next step in making this vision a reality through a capital campaign to raise $6 million for the property purchase and three phases of renovations that will be necessary and instrumental to our success:
We are beginning with the Chapel because it requires the least amount of work and will allow us to begin some programming immediately. In addition to basic cosmetic improvements, audiovisual enhancements will support prayer sets, conferences, events and recordings, and allow for students to learn the operations. Additionally, the audiovisual set up will allow us to produce high quality content for both community programs and the training and ongoing support modules for replicating our model.
The Community Center will be the hub of activity for Behind Every Door and the community we serve. Beyond necessary building renovations, the existing basketball gymnasium will be repaired and updated. We also plan to provide 3-4 rooms for art, literacy, activities, etc., a living room/lounge area, counseling space (private and play therapy), tutoring rooms, a fitness room, and a commercial kitchen.
Reaching our youth and community through outdoor sports and activities will be an instrumental element of our ministry. Our vision calls for the conversion of the football field to integrate a Little League baseball diamond that will expand the sports interest and ministry opportunities.
Through the success of a capital campaign, we aim to complete each of these three phases over the coming 12 to 24 months. Each phase will be initiated and completed as funding is available through the generosity of donors who will help Behind Every Door make this Cedar Crest vision a reality. Because of the significant investment required, we are actively seeking support from those with the passion for our mission and capacity to help. We know through God’s Word that whether time, talent, or treasure, to whom much is given, much will be required. So, we will stand in God’s faithfulness by actively seeking the provision He will provide for His work in Cedar Crest.
Together, we can come alongside this community to show them that they are not forgotten. Together, we can invest in this neighborhood to help raise up healthy, literate children, strengthen families, and develop independent adults. Together, we can see Cedar Crest thrive.