St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church ELCA

FAITH FORWARD

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The following summarizes the beginning of our journey

FAITH FORWARD.

FAITH FORWARD – Paths to Discipleship
             “He Leads me in right paths for his name’s sake.” – Psalm 23:3

St. Paul’s Lutheran Church has been moving Forward In Faith through the Holy Spirit-led project of our congregation to build new spaces and renovate existing space for gospel ministry. Visioning started back in 1992 and like the branches of a tree, each branch developed different tasks and goals. There was a Long Range Planning Task Team, a Self Study, Cottage Meetings, Leadership retreats, Great Things 2001 and a Strategic Site Task Team – all part of the visioning.

In January 2003, the Land Acquisition Task Team began negotiations with Mrs. Doris Paschal, our neighbor. By the summer of 2003, final plans were made to buy and lease the Paschal Property.

The Ministry and Facilities Committee developed a “Ministry Plan Priorities” list and the following priorities were overwhelmingly passed by a vote at the congregational meeting in December 2003:
1. Finalize land purchase
2. Erect new multipurpose space to accommodate education, fellowship, youth ministry, and community outreach
3. Renovate non-sanctuary portion of existing structure to accommodate administrative and some educational/meeting needs
4. Renovate existing sanctuary
5. Erect a new sanctuary


FAITH FORWARD – Building Committee
In the year 2004, The Building Committee and the Capital Campaign Steering Committee were created. By the end of that year, the members of the Executive Committee and the chair of the Land Acquisition Committee joyfully closed on the first step of the buy/lease plan of the Paschal Property. One Acre and the Vicarage were purchased at a cost of $50,000, which has subsequently been paid off. A congregational celebration was held at this site. We are also leasing the remaining acreage, approximately 4 acres ± for $750 a month.

This year (2005), the Building Committee has been hard at work – interviewing, selecting, and now working with Robert Sotolongo of DTW Architects, translating the needs of our congregation into potential “bricks and mortar” solutions. We have posted several preliminary drawings and site plans in the foyer over the last weeks and if you have taken notice, they too, have evolved over these weeks.

The goal of the building committee is to have a master plan for all of St. Paul’s property and drawings of our initial expansion and renovation ready by the time of our congregational meeting on Sunday, September 11 at 10:00 am.

Please feel free to contact members of the Building Committee with comments or questions: Barbara Anderson (co-chair), Bob Bacher, Pat Cashwell, Bill Daniels, Barbara Ellertson, Betty Hinshaw, Tim Hoke, Matt Jenkins, Kaaren Johanson, Jenifer Johnson, Larry Lloyd, Brad Redfoot, Will Sampson (co-chair), Eric Staehle, and Doug Whitfield.


FAITH FORWARD – Capital Campaign
In the coming weeks and months you will also be hearing about our Faith Forward Capital Campaign. Faith Forward is our capital stewardship program to secure the money our church needs to move wisely toward its mission and goals.

RSI is the Stewardship Consulting Firm we have hired to lead us in our Faith Forward. While we know our church and its ministry opportunities very well, RSI knows the structure and procedures of an effective campaign. For the coming three years, they will be our stewardship partner.

Each member of St. Paul’s will be asked to study with us what the Bible teaches about stewardship and giving and for each person to prayerfully consider how he or she may make a financial commitment over and above regular giving for the next three years.

When the opportunity arises, volunteer to serve. The leadership teams are already beginning to contact additional members for their teams to ask them to make telephone calls, work with the hospitality team, help plan our special event on November 13, 2005, etc. Some of our leadership team members are listed below.

Please pray for our church, the leadership team members, and for the campaign.

Leadership Team Members

Minister - Rev. Dr. Thomas N. Colley
Advance Commitment Leaders - Dr. David Franzen, Dr. Mark W. Dewhirst, Mrs. Nancy Dewhirst
Campaign Leaders – Mrs. Doris B. Dilley, Ms. Linda Foreman, Mr. Terry Wilson
Children’s Activity Leaders - Mrs. Renee Staehle, Mrs. Lori Scarlett
Contact Leaders – Mrs. Lois M. Kinzie, Mrs. Gretchen Wilson, Mrs. Janet Ravert
Coordinator – Ms. Susan R. Esposito
Enlistment Leader – Mrs. Katherine Walker
Financial Reporter – Mr. Virgil A. “Gus” Holshouser
Follow-Up Leader – Ms. Roberta Lloyd
Hospitality Leaders – Mr. William (Bill) Jewett, Mrs. Sharon Demorest, Mrs. Pat Cashwell
Information Leaders – Mrs. Ellen Lavery, Mrs. Shirley Bacher, Mrs. Tina Bessias
Major Gifts Leaders – Ms. Ann Sundberg, Mr. Bill Anderson
Prayer Leaders – Mr. Jeff Anderson, Mrs. Alice Barnes
Print Communications Leader – Ms. Cheri Vigna
Response Leader – Mrs. Carol K. Sackett
Special Event Leader –Ms. Shawn Sease
Student Activity Leaders – Mrs. Diane Archer, Ms. Joan Albright
VisionResource.Net Managers – Mr. Curtis Chi and Mrs. Maria Chi
Visual Communications Leader – Mr. Todd Shoemaker


Congregational Forum
August 21, 2005