Invest in the future of Northside
We exist to bring people to Jesus and learn to follow Him together.
BACKGROUND
The story of Northside
Established
Beginning in 1968
Attendence
Over 1,500 per Weekend
The story of Northside began in 1968, when a group of believers felt called to plant a church in the northern suburbs of Syracuse. Over the decades, God has blessed Northside with growth — in worship, in discipleship, and in outreach to our community. Families have been changed, lives have been transformed, and generations have been reached with the gospel.
Now, after much prayer and planning, we believe the next faithful step is to expand our campus with a new worship center and reimagined children’s spaces. These updates are not about buildings, they are about people. They are about making room for every child, every family, every neighbor God is bringing to our community to encounter Jesus and grow in faith.
OUR LEGACY
God at Northside
For more than 55 years, God has been at work through Northside Church. From a small chapel near Route 57 and Route 31 to today’s ministries, His faithfulness has been clear. Generations have discovered Christ, grown in their faith, and been sent out on mission.
The story of Northside has never been about buildings. It has always been about people meeting Jesus and learning to follow Him together.
WHY NOW
The challenge with our current space at Northside
God has been growing His church at Northside and with that growth comes a challenge. Our facilities are limiting our ability to welcome the people God is bringing.
Weekend Worship
Our sanctuary seats 700, but weekend attendance averages above 1,300. Services are crowded, and holidays like Christmas and Easter push us far beyond capacity, leaving limited room for guests.
Children
Our nursery is separated from the kids’ wing, creating a disjointed experience for parents and volunteers. The space we do have is not arranged in the most useful way for classrooms, discipleship, and security. This limits our ability to serve families with excellence.
Upward Sports
While more than 750 kids participate in basketball, soccer, cheer, and flag football, many basketball players are placed on waiting lists each year because there is not enough gym space to accommodate them.
Fellowship & Ministry
The space is too small to handle transitions between services. Many of our ministries are maxed when it comes to facility space. Large events like conferences stretch our campus beyond what it can hold.
OUR DREAM
A campus for people
The building is not the goal. The people are the goal. The building is the tool. We envision a campus where every person has room to encounter Jesus:
Worship
A new 1,400-seat worship center so people can gather, hear God’s Word, and respond to the gospel without barriers.
Children & Families
Reconfigured classrooms and nursery space designed to disciple the next generation in safe, welcoming environments.
Sports & Outreach
A larger gym to expand Upward basketball, soccer, and flag football, creating touchpoints where families connect to Christ and the church.
Everyday Ministry
Spaces repurposed for ministries, discipleship opportunities, and community events to serve as a hub of gospel activity seven days a week.
OUR DISCOVERY
We're at the limit
We believe Northside is currently at or near capacity in many areas of ministry. Worship services are crowded, children’s space is disjointed, and Upward Sports regularly turns kids away. Even with only normal year-to-year growth, our current facilities would not be enough to keep up with the ministry God is giving us.
But it’s not just about us. Our community is also growing. With the Micron project expected to add 50,000 jobs and an estimated 156,000 new residents over the next two decades, thousands of new families will be moving into our backyard. Many of them will be looking for connection, community, and hope — and we want to be ready to point them to Jesus.
If we do not act now, we risk missing opportunities to reach the very people God is bringing to us. This discovery makes one thing clear: now is the time to prepare for the future God is bringing.
ALL ARE WELCOME
OUR PLAN
Made for More capital campaign
This campaign is not just about a building, it’s about creating space for people to encounter Jesus. Together, we are stepping forward in faith to prepare Northside for the future God is bringing.
Purpose
Make room for more people to worship, grow and serve.
Financial Goal
$3.5 million in pledges over 3 years toward a $10M project.
Construction Timeline
Site prep begins Spring 2026; completion anticipated by Summer/Fall 2027.
Church Financial Fitness
- Currently debt free
- Annual budget: $2.2 million, consistently met/exceeded
- Operating surpluses, even during COVID-19 pandemic
- $1.2 million already set aside for the building fund
WHAT YOU CAN DO
Pray
Prayer is the foundation of this campaign. Before we build walls, we want to build in faith, seeking God’s wisdom and provision every step of the way.
- Pray for Guidance — Ask God how He is leading you and your family to be part of this vision.
- Pray for Provision — Lift up the financial needs of the campaign, trusting God to provide through His people.
- Pray for People — Intercede for the children, students, families, and neighbors who will one day come to know Jesus because of the space we create together.
When we pray, we remind ourselves that this campaign is not about buildings — it’s about God working through His church to reach people.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
Give
Your generosity fuels the mission. Every dollar given to the Made For More campaign is an investment in people — in children learning about Jesus, in families finding hope, and in neighbors discovering community.
- Commit to a Pledge — Prayerfully consider a three-year commitment above your regular giving.
- First Fruits Offering — Make an initial gift to launch the campaign with strength.
- Creative Giving — Beyond cash gifts, consider stock, assets, or other resources God has entrusted to you.
Through sacrificial giving, we can create space for more people to hear the gospel and grow in Christ.
QUESTIONS
Rationale, numbers and answers
What is Northside’s current financial position?
We are grateful to be debt free. We consistently operate with a budget surplus and have $1.5 million already set aside for the building fund. God has provided — and He will provide again.
Will Northside take out a loan or go into debt?
Yes, we anticipate using financing as part of this project. Just as families use a mortgage to purchase a home, we will use wise, manageable debt as a tool to move ministry forward. With no current debt, strong financial health, and $1.2 million already saved toward the project and more in reserves, we are positioned to borrow responsibly while continuing to operate with strength and stability.
Who is our building architect?
We are working with RisePointe, a trusted partner with experience in designing ministry-focused spaces.
I don’t have much money. How can I give?
Pray!
Financially, every gift matters. Whether large or small, your generosity — when combined with others — makes a lasting impact. Many families will give sacrificially over three years, above their regular giving.
What if we don’t raise the money?
We will adjust the project scope and financing plan accordingly. But we believe God is calling us to step forward in faith and will provide through His people.
What happens to our current worship center?
Our current worship center will continue to serve as a multipurpose facility, just as it does today. It will still host many of the ministries that already thrive here — youth, young adults, kids, and Upward. In addition, classrooms will be added to the back of the space, creating even more opportunities for discipleship, teaching, and ministry throughout the week.
Shouldn’t we spend this money on missions or our local ministry partners?
We agree that missions and serving others are core to who we are. By making more room for worship, children, and outreach programs like Upward Sports, we are multiplying our ability to reach people in our community and send more resources into missions in the long run. The building will actually multiply that impact, allowing us to train, send, and mobilize even more people for ministry both locally and globally.
Why build? Why not just focus on ministry?
The building is not the mission — people are the mission. But without space, ministry is limited. This project is about removing barriers so more people can encounter Jesus.
Is it wise to take on this commitment in today’s economy?
Yes. Northside has no debt, operates with healthy surpluses, and has already saved $1.2 million toward this project. We are moving forward from a position of financial strength and faith.
How will this affect our ability to support ministries?
The building fund is separate from our regular ministry budget, so weekly giving continues to fuel ministry as usual. In fact, the expanded space will allow us to strengthen and expand ministries long-term. We expect it to strengthen them. More space means more people reached, discipled, and mobilized for ministry.
What’s the plan if our church stops growing?
Even if growth slowed, the project still addresses current overcrowding and creates healthier space for existing ministries. We are already at capacity.
Why don’t we plant more churches instead of building?
We believe in church planting and will continue supporting it. But God has clearly called Northside to make room here in Liverpool for the people He is bringing to our community.