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The campaign is in its final stage of fundraising, with a goal of $5 million.
The Rev. Mike Lowry, executive director of new church development and transformation, said churches everywhere are finding creative ways to contribute to the campaign.
Money from the effort is to help with new church development, clergy training and support, land acquisition and new church startup kits. In June 2006, the Southwest Texas Conference voted to begin the capital campaign. The first phase—focused on major gifts—began in January 2007.
“(This is) about an act of love offering Christ to all…to our children, to generations yet unborn,” Lowry said. “That is why churches do what they are doing today. This is why new churches are started.
“This is the basic foundational claim of Christ upon us all. We are involved in something greater than ourselves. We are involved in the mighty acts of God.”
Lowry said congregations can give to the effort in three ways: by collecting individuals pledges, adding an amount to the church’s annual budget or trying a more creative solution, like its own fundraising effort.
Pledges must be turned into the Office of New Church Development and Transformation by May 15. They will be collected during a three-year period. The three-year period starts when a person writes the first check.
Pastors turned in their individuals pledges to the Bishop’s Office Ash Wednesday. The pledge was separate from the congregational pledge.
The campaign formally will be concluded by June, with the pledging running through May 31, 2011, Lowry said.
His office plans to help with:
> Financial support for new church pastors, including salary and benefits, estimated at $4.5 million.
> The education, training and assessment for potential new church development pastors and lay teams, including family health and wellness support, coaching, training, retreats and renewal, estimated at $100,000 (for 10 new church starts).
> Land acquisition to provide financial support for an initial down payment on land (goal is to purchase 10 acres of land or more for each church; gifts are welcome), estimated at $1 million.
> Resources for a new church “starter kit”—chairs, worship resources, technology, childcare equipment and a trailer for potential new churches, estimated at $1.2 million.
Lowry said starting new congregations is a vital need because the nation is “becoming increasingly less Christian.”
“While we are naturally focused on worldwide evangelism, we dare not forget the unchurched who are our neighbors,” said Bishop Joel N. Martinez. “When we offer Christ today, we ensure that our children and grandchildren will know the unspeakable joy of life in Christ tomorrow.”