A Building Feasibility Study Committee met for the first time on July 27, 1995, to tour the church, investigate the possibility of purchasing properties adjacent to the church, and to gather information about other potential locations for church expansion.  A study dated December 13, 1995, was prepared by Mann and Company, Architects and Planners of Hutchinson, Kansas, to address the question of whether to rehabilitate the existing facilities or to relocate and build a new facility.  A survey was taken in July of 1996 in which 90 of 174 respondents chose the option of a phased program of improvements and repairs over either a major remodeling of the present church or the building of a new church.

At the November 26, 1996 church conference, a proposal “to build a new church” was defeated by written ballot, 175 to 59; but a motion to “remodel and upgrade our present church buildings” was approved by voice vote.  Doug Higbee was elected to chair the Building Committee.

On August 28, a resolution to purchase the property at 211 South 6th Street was approved.  This property was renovated for use by Rev. Gary Brooks and his family.  Rev. Denise Hygh was appointed as associate pastor with responsibility for youth ministry after concerned members raised the money to provide for such a position.  Denise and her son occupied the parsonage on North 8th Street. 

Jeannie Brooks, with Louise Hayse, established a bell choir, the Jubilation Ringers, in 1996.
With the leadership of Rev. Brooks, average attendance reached 341 in 1998, the highest it had been since the ministry of Rev. Simmons in 1977.

A proposal from the Building Committee was considered at the March 14, 1999, church conference.  The Committee recommended enclosing the space between the Education and Sanctuary Building, integrating the two buildings into a single structure.  Alternatives, presented by Charlie Carter and Don Aitken, were also considered.  No action was taken, except to refer the various options back to the Building Committee.  A second church conference was held on April 25, when a resolution to purchase the property at 201 South 6th Street for the amount of $92,000 was approved.

On November 2, 1999, Bill Newkirk, Chair of the Building Committee, brought three plans to the church conference.  Plan 1 would include major renovations of existing buildings at the current location.  Plan 2 called for construction of a new sanctuary and fellowship hall across the alley from the church.  Plan 3, recommended by the Building Committee, included the construction of a new fellowship hall across the alley and the remodeling of existing buildings.  Those attending the conference adopted Plan 3 by a vote of 77 to 6.

A final plan was submitted to the congregation on May 21, 2000 and approved overwhelmingly, 166 to 6.  Upon the recommendation of Alan DeFever, chairperson of the Building Finance Committee, Resource Services, Inc. was chosen to assist with the capital campaign.

There were frequent church conferences called during 1999, 2000, 2001 to facilitate the work of building Wesley Center and renovating the existing buildings.  Wesley Center was designed by John Heckman and built by General Services of Oswego.

Rev. Jack and Marilyn Gregory were appointed to Independence First United Methodist Church just in time to help consecrate Wesley Center on August 11, 2002.  The building  provides ground level facilities for the pre-school; a large industrial kitchen; two meeting rooms and a large fellowship hall.  A stained glass window at the north end reminds all that this is space to be used for the glory of God.   Storage space and restrooms complete the building.

A report from the Vision Team was adopted in August 2002 and encouraged laity to take leadership in the life of the congregation, recommended more accountability in committee work, called for the creation of a Discipleship Committee and a return to an organizational structure with both a Council on Ministries and an Administrative Board.

On Easter Sunday, April 19, 2003, the congregation carried the altar, pulpit, hymnals and Bibles to Wesley Center and the next day, the work of renovating the sanctuary was begun by Karl Lang Construction.  The 1970's turquoise carpet, pew cushions and draperies were replaced; the chancel area was lowered and extended to the kneeling rail eliminating the walkway between the altar rail and the ‘stage’; center steps were created to the chancel area and the two small doors on either side were eliminated; the existing pulpit was converted to a new altar table with a granite top and an older pulpit from the church’s early history was refinished for use, again, as a pulpit; brass screen framed in oak replaced the turquoise curtain behind the choir loft; the center aisle was widened and several pews were removed or shortened to accommodate wheel chairs; new chairs were purchased for the choir loft; the room in the southeast corner was converted to a comfort room for parents with small children; and new lighting and a new sound system were installed.  With creamy yellow paint, gold accents, burgundy carpet and pew cushions, the sanctuary was completed by September and the congregation returned to worship there on September 28, 2003.  This completed the first phase of the building project.

Work on the second phase began in September, 2004, by General Services of Oswego.  Sunday School classes were displaced.  Chris Doring, the Administrative Assistant, and her volunteers shared cramped quarters in Room 201.  The early service, usually held in the chapel, was moved to Wesley Center.  And for several months, there was no elevator to the sanctuary.  It was an inconvenient time. 

The results, though, are wonderful.  A new elevator system reaches all five levels of the Sanctuary and Education Buildings.  The hallway to the alley entrance was widened and the door to the alley was made more welcoming.  What had been Gault Hall, with a stage area to the south is now Gault Chapel with a chancel area at the north. Beautiful new stained glass windows were crafted by Wally Hutchison in memory of Dan and Katherine Thiessen’s children.  Tracy Alban handcrafted the altar table, pulpit and kneeling bench after drawings made by John Heckman.   The chapel has an excellent sound system and media center.  The parlor was moved to what had been the Scout Room to the west of Gault Dining Room.  The kitchen and dining room were refurbished.  The first floor of the Education Building was remodeled to accommodate offices for the pastors, Administrative Assistant and volunteers.  The floor of the Chapel of the Cross was raised to ground level and that space is now a classroom.  A nursery, with restroom, was constructed on the sanctuary level of the Education Building and  access from the Sanctuary balcony to the third floor of the Education Building was created.  Additionally, new restrooms were installed throughout the buildings.

The Building Committee included, at various times, Bill, Newkirk, Nell Updegraff, Don Aitken, Roy Martin, Galen Palmer, Tom Richardson, Ed Epp, Phil Newkirk, Peggy Coder, Karen Heath, Sandra Dodson, Vic Gorman, and John Craig.

In the end, three capital campaigns were held, “Building the Future” in the fall of 2000; “Finish the Race” in the fall of 2003; and “Count Our Blessings” in the spring of 2007.   The cost for both phases of construction and renovation amounted to $2,273,247.76 according to Church Treasurer, Bill DeMoss.  The debt was retired in the summer of 2007.  Because of a generous gift from the estate of Gladys Clubine, the window wall of the Education Building was replaced by Countryside Glass.  Monies from the Clubine Estate and the estate of Murel Simpson funded repairs to the brick exterior and the front steps of the Sanctuary Building.  A dedication of Wesley Center and a rededication of the Sanctuary and Education Buildings was held on November 18, 2007.

During the same period, the congregation developed and adopted (in April, 2005) a Mission Design Plan which describes First United Methodist Church as a community in which we grow in relationship to God through Jesus Christ; in which we proclaim the good news of God’s love for the world, revealed in Jesus Christ; through which we love the people of the world as God loves them.  The plan set three primary goals: strengthening worship; a deeper, more intelligent understanding of the Christian faith and the Bible; increased opportunities for individuals to grow as followers of Jesus.  Every Sunday morning, the congregation reaffirms its purpose: “We come to know God and go to love people.”