Marc Weinstein, Lisa Levy
Spring, O'Brien & Co.
(973) 267-8800
[email protected]
[email protected]

One of the Largest of its Kind in New Jersey; Offers Significant
Economic, Service and Cultural Benefits

MONTCLAIR, N.J. (June 30, 2003) Christ Church, a Montclair, NJ-based non-denominational, multiracial Christian congregation, plans to develop a Family Life and Community Center at the former headquarters of Agilent Technologies at 140 Green Pond Road in Rockaway Township. The development of the 58-acre facility on the 107-acre site is expected to be completed in May 2004 after Rockaway Township grants a use variance. The facility, one of the largest of its kind in New Jersey, is currently zoned as "Conditional Use" for a church.

The Family Life and Community Center is designed to help ease Christ Church's growth demands in serving its congregation of 5,000 members in Montclair, where the church has been located since 1994, as well as to offer significant economic benefits and community services to Rockaway Township businesses and residents. Since its inception in 1986, Christ Church has been widely recognized for its ongoing commitment to serve and support communities in the region.

"We are extremely fortunate to acquire the former Agilent property for developing our state-of-the-art Family Life and Community Center," said Dr. David Ireland, senior pastor of Christ Church. "The site will provide us with the space needed to accommodate our vision of uniting people to God and people to people."

Rockaway Township shopping areas, malls, restaurants, gas stations, and other service providers will benefit from the infusion of new and vigorous purchasing activity from between 2,000 and 5,000 Christ Church parishioners. According to an economic impact study of the site, based on the church's eight years experience in Montclair, the center is expected to generate between $5 million and $6 million annually for Rockaway Township businesses.

"Our objective is to strengthen Rockaway Township with a concept plan designed to offer substantial financial benefits as well as increase services to the community, and enhance overall quality of life," said Dr. Ireland. "Christ Church's philosophy is to be an inherent benefit to any community in which we reside and the acquisition and development of the Agilent property will empower us to fulfill this vision."

The campus will include a 40,000 square-foot sanctuary, which will seat 3,000 parishioners and house a wide array of community-based programs and services created to educate, enrich, and support Rockaway-area residents of all ages. The sanctuary will be designed in a stadium seating format featuring state-of-the-art media technology and theatrical lighting. These features will facilitate the church's commitment to integrating 21st century technology with old-world art and music, timelessly depicting the message of God's love for people. The campus will have many theological symbols throughout, using landscaping and water designs along with a variety of tasteful visual art, including sculpture and paintings. This campus will feature meditation gardens offering an aesthetically pleasing fusion of ancient serenity and futuristic contemplative splendor.

The campus also will include recreational facilities designed to enhance the quality of life for Rockaway Township residents. Residents will be welcome to utilize the site's baseball and soccer fields, tennis and basketball courts, fitness center, and a state-of-the-art gymnasium. The Church's Rockaway campus also will offer a number of community services to help residents address numerous vital life issues and challenges. Some of those services include:

• Free legal and medical consultation;
• Support groups such as The Overcomers Group, which helps people tackle their life-controlling habits, and DivorceCare, which assists men and women recovering from the pain of divorce;
• Marriage and family enrichment seminars;
• A counseling center for the congregation and community, and

Educational services include Trinity Academy, an elementary school, The Learning Center, offering tutorial assistance to children, and a specialized multi-media library.

The Family Life and Community Center also will contribute cultural benefits to the Township, including The Trinity School of Performing Arts, which is dedicated to the development of children through its music, dance and theatre divisions, and The Music and Performing Arts Ministries, comprising an adult choir, a young adult choir, and choirs for both children and teens. This arm of Christ Church also offers an orchestra, liturgical dance and pageantry, drama, music recording, and dance teams.

Plans also call for the construction of a variety of meeting rooms, reception halls for weddings and funerals, plus a small museum. An on-site bookstore will promote personal spiritual development through a wide array of music, books, and other religious items. With over 875 parking spots and over 800 to be added, the campus is expected to easily accommodate the use of its estimated 300,000 square feet of buildings.

Christ Church is a non-denominational Christian congregation located in Montclair, NJ. The congregation is comprised of members from diverse racial, cultural, and ethnic backgrounds, representing over 25 nationalities. Since Christ Church was planted in 1986 by senior pastor Dr. David Ireland, his wife, Marlinda, and six other members, the church has enjoyed steady growth. Currently, Christ Church has a congregation of 5,000 members. Services are also broadcast every Sunday on cable television and on daily radio stations, penetrating a quickly expanding audience of over 50 million homes. Dr. Ireland also is a noted author of several books, including "Failure is Written in Pencil" and "What Color is Your God." For additional information on Christ Church, go to www.christchurchnj.org.