Capital Campaigns: The Path to Make Your Vision a Reality
Many churches have great visions, either to expand ministries, renovate facilities, build new structures, pay off debt, or other major projects to better serve church members, their community and the world. As we already know, these visions cost tremendous capital resources. How do we make these visions turn into reality? One effective way is to initiate a successful “Capital Campaign” with a clear vision, mission and purpose. To reach maximum capital campaign results, it makes sense to ensure that your vision connects with the congregation. However, everyone will not catch on to the vision. The capital campaign must have a strategy to promote effective communication. These efforts are to ensure that everyone is on the same page while possessing a spiritual desire to give. Whenever a successful capital campaign is implemented, churches can undoubtedly enjoy a life changing experience. It allows the church to concentrate on ministry! In addition, it can energize members to have greater church involvement! Others have indicated that it can create a culture of generosity when they better understand the church’s mission to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ!
Pastor John Hemming, Powhatan UMC, describes the results of combining vision with a strategic capital campaign:
“Powhatan UMC is a community blessed by God’s grace. For almost 230 years the Lord has worked in incredible ways through this congregation. Since 1983 this Body of Christ has expanded the church facilities three times. September 2017 began the third project which will create new space and renovate some of the existing structure.
Without a doubt, God is on the move to welcome more people into this exciting faith journey. Since welcoming is a gift embodied by this church, we harnessed that reality to share our need to build and renovate through a capital campaign. The title of our campaign was Welcoming You, and You, and You. It is our desire to make sure everyone is welcomed when they set foot onto the church property. We desire to welcome: men, women, and children; past, present, and future disciples of Christ; all ages, cultures, and backgrounds; the least, the lost, and the broken. We strive to make sure that happens within the bounds of this new facility but also beyond the four walls and into the world. Praise God for the life and ministry of Powhatan UMC – a place where we are building a better facility but more importantly we are striving to connect with Christ through the spiritual disciplines and embody His love in our community and around the world.”
What a great day, it will be to lead your church in making a greater impact through stronger ministry! Needless to say, it’s a wonderful feeling to have a healthy financial church! All of these feelings can play a role in church leadership making a decision to initiate a successful major capital campaign. The best capital campaign message is the excitement of Stewarding Potential to Build His Kingdom!
