LIVING THE VISION Sermon Series

Over the last five years, our church has dreamed and imagined all the great opportunities and blessings that would be ours as we completed and took possession of our new worship facility. In some ways, we have been anticipating a "finish date" when, in fact, our transition to Northwest Boulevard could more honestly be seen as a "start date." In our journey to this point, we have gone to great effort and expense to plan, design, and create the space for the vision God has given us... and in the next few weeks, we will prepare to live that vision.

Check out our Living the Vision Video

 

Living the Vision Q&A

 

How did the Living the Vision campaign come to be?

In 2007, the congregation answered God’s call to expand the circle of Grace by deciding to relocate to a 20-acre site on Northwest Boulevard.   The land was a generous gift from an anonymous church family and the capital campaign to fund construction of a new worship facility was called Expanding the Circle of Grace.

 

The vision is for a larger, more attractive worship facility in which we can offer vital ministries to people of all ages, especially to those who are not currently active in a church.  We envision this new space as a mission outpost or a ministry center from which grace can radiate out into the world around us.  With the move to the new location imminent, we have some work left to do.  We need to significantly reduce the debt on the new facility so that our resources can go to ministry.  Just imagine what God can do through us as we live into the vision He has prepared for us!

 

What is the objective of this campaign?

The objective is to increase our stewardship awareness and provide us the greatest opportunity to share God’s love, both within the walls of our new church as well as with those in the community around us.  This is not just a financial campaign.  Through Living the Vision, we are being called to reflect on our membership vows of prayers, presence, gifts, service and witness.  In addition to being asked to make commitments in each of those areas on Commitment Sunday, December 4, we will be asked to make financial commitments in two areas:  1) our annual “pledge” of financial resources to support the ongoing operation and ministries of the church; and 2) a three-year financial commitment toward debt reduction.

 

Why are we focusing on reducing debt now before we have even moved into the new building?

The three-year pledge period of our first campaign, Expanding the Circle of Grace, is drawing to a close at the end of this year.  Our plan all along was to run a second campaign to reduce as much of the remaining debt as possible.  Our beautiful new location offers many opportunities to reach out to people and draw them to Christ.  By demonstrating God’s love through our activities, ministries and services, we can help deliver the message of hope and renewal to people in our area who do not have a church home or who are not active with a church.  And there are many, many of these people who need a place of grace in their lives like we enjoy.  The more we are able to reduce our debt now frees us to move forward with life-changing ministries in our new space.

 

 

Why is debt reduction important?

For every dollar we give to reduce debt in this Living the Vision campaign we will actually be saving the church $1.58 over the term of the note. This is important because the money saved will be used for expansion of our ministries and community outreach. This is the ultimate fulfillment of God’s vision for Grace. 

 

How much was raised in the Expanding the Circle of Grace campaign?

Pledges in the first campaign totaled more than $1.647 million.

 

What is the timeline for the Living the Vision campaign?

This three-year financial commitment period for debt reduction starts January 2012 and ends December 2014.  There are several significant dates to note as part of this campaign. Watch your mail and email for more information about these upcoming events:

November 13, 2011 – Gratitude Sunday

November 19, 2011 – Jubilee Celebration (Saturday)

December 4, 2011 – Commitment Sunday

January 8, 2012 – Celebration Sunday

 

Who is leading this campaign?

The Living the Vision campaign is guided by a steering committee of about 40 church members, the pastors and our consultant John Laster of Horizons Stewardship Company.  Campaign co-chairs are Kevin and Carol Kaplan and Mike and Marcia Kelly. 

 

If you have questions about the Living the Vision campaign, please submit them to Kevin and Carol Kaplan at kkaplan@stx.rr.com or to Mike and Marcia Kelly at mkelly4@stx.rr.com.  They will expedite an answer for you.  An updated Living the Vision Q&A section is on our website at www.ccgrace.org.