Woodlake United Methodist Church
Greater Things Capital Campaign & 2010 Operating Budget
Resources
Commitment Card (Printable version)
Make an Online Commitment
2010 Financial Planning Worksheet
Weekly Prayer & Devotional Guide
Greater Things Campaign Brochure
Greater Things Newsletter No. 1
Greater Things Newsletter No. 2
Events Timeline
The Amazing Task at Hand
As we enter into this new stewardship journey, let’s take a minute to look beyond the horizon. The plan for Woodlake UMC is to move into a new, all-inclusive facility on the Hampton Park Campus during Christmas 2012. The vision includes having a new sanctuary, office spaces, discipleship building, and family life center all on one campus. It is an aggressive plan, but it addresses the many challenges we currently face. There will be room for everyone in our growing congregation, we will be on one campus, and we will be able to move all of our services from the Woodlake sanctuary and Cosby High School to our new sanctuary!
Phase I of our Greater Things capital campaign will not do all of this directly. Instead, Phase I will address what we believe to be the most critical part of this plan. We are currently four million dollars in debt. That is not so bad, considering that the cost of our Hampton Park Discipleship building and land was approximately eight million dollars. Through your generosity during our past two campaigns, we have reduced that debt to four million dollars.
Our goal in this two-year campaign is to raise 2.5 million dollars. Five hundred thousand of this will fund our early planning work and two million will go to reduce our debt. If we can reach this goal in the two-year timeframe allotted, we will be on target to begin Phase II of this campaign, allowing us to build most of the facilities we need at Hampton Park. As you can surmise, this campaign is the hinge point of our journey. The entire future venture swings on the success of these next few months. Even though this campaign will not build the new facility, it is absolutely essential before any new work can be done...
The Constant Growth
As we have followed the call to connect people with Jesus Christ, God has faithfully grown this ministry, and we have grown beyond what this facility can sustain. Through this growth, in His timing and on His terms, the Lord has always given us the tools we have needed to keep up with Him. The results have been immeasurably more than we could ever have imagined. Having a vision to see people connect with Jesus Christ and become fully developed followers of Him—Greater Things—is another opportunity to watch God accomplish His work through this church.
With the blessing of continued growth comes responsibility from the church. You are the church. Woodlake United Methodist Church is not a structure of concrete and brick; it is a fellowship of people—a body of believers who have faith in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. We are all called to make disciples and accomplish the work of Christ. That’s what we do at Woodlake United Methodist Church. As a member of God’s family, you play a part in the growth that takes place here. Your time, talent, and resources will have a significant impact on this stewardship journey that the Lord has called us to make.
Therefore GO and MAKE DISCIPLES of all nations,
baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son
and of the Holy Spirit. Matthew 28:19
As we embark on this awesome task at hand and give our time, talents and resources to this journey laid before us, it is also a time to seek the Lord for His direction on how each of us can make a commitment to this vision. Each of us has the ability to give at a different level, so it is important that you pray and carefully consider your resources as you determine your commitment. You will see God’s provision as you give sacrificially and trust that He will be faithful. Not equal gifts, but equal sacrifice from everyone defines this journey of stewardship—this journey of changing lives.
with the Next Generation...
...and touching them with the love of Christ so that the leaders of tomorrow and the future of our country will have their foundation in the truth of God’s Word. Our Preschool, Children, Youth and Adult ministries seek to fulfill this vision. Imagine your loved ones, friends, co-workers and neighbors joining you in worship, and sharing in the joyful life that salvation brings—discovering for themselves the opportunity to grow in their faith...
Imagine the Possibilities...
For so long, we have been gathering and working in rented spaces, double wide trailers, nurseries and a sanctuary that do not satisfy our needs. For our entire history, multiple times each week, we have said to our people, our guests, and our community, “We are sorry, we just don’t have the space…”
Can you imagine what we could do if we did? God has “Greater Things” in store for us as a congregation. At this very moment, we are making decisions that will affect the future of this congregation for decades to come. Even though we are just reducing this debt for two years, remember, we cannot build those spaces without all of our generous and sacrificial participation.
Let’s continue this good work together to accomplish fulfilling the needs of growth here at Woodlake United Methodist Church and making room for developing more disciples. Furthermore, let’s make a giving decision that honors God and watch Him work in and through us. We look forward to this journey together as God does “Greater Things” through all of us!
Frequently Asked Questions:
Q: Why is a debt reduction campaign so critical right now?
A: Our current outstanding debt of four million dollars limits our borrowing capacity. By reducing our debt, we will have the ability to work with our bank to obtain the funds for the next phase of our construction at Hampton Park.
Q: At the end of each pay period, I have no money left. How can I find the extra funds to pledge to this campaign?
A: Good question! Amazingly, by making small sacrifices (e.g. 1 Starbucks coffee per week, 1 weekly movie rental, 1 less dinner out per week), substantial savings can be realized. Please refer to the Personal Stewardship Planning Worksheet enclosed for other ideas in helping you reach your commitment.
Q: I'm not in a financial position to give as much as I did in the last campaign. What can I do?
A: The theme of "Not equal gifts, but equal sacrifice" describes our understanding of stewardship. This phrase restates the Biblical principle of proportionate giving. Not everyone has the same financial resources, yet every person can make a prayerful, sacrificial gift. We encourage an equal sense of commitment and sacrifice throughout our congregation, with each person prayerfully determining his or her own gift.
Q: Who can I contact should I have questions about this campaign or my financial commitment?
A: We welcome the opportunity to speak with you about the Greater Things campaign and the vision of our church. Please feel free to contact either of the Co-Program Leaders: Alvin and Jill McLean (at 739-9852 or ajmclean@verizon.net) or Dwight and Kathy Hargrave (at 739-3069 or jdkcharg@verizon.net) or our Senior Pastor, Rev. Dr. Pete Moon at 739-4535 or pmoon@woodlakeumc.org. For questions regarding your financial commitment, please contact Shirley Huffman, Treasurer, at shuffman@woodlakeumc.org or 739-4535, ext. 26.
Questions to Consider
There is no formula, no quick accounting, no percentage target for your commitment to the Greater Things Journey. This will be a very personal journey for everyone involved. One person might make a million dollar gift without changing his or her lifestyle, while another will give $10 a week and have to radically adjust his or her spending. So how does anyone figure out what is right for them to do? We offer these questions as you pray through your decision.
✢ Do I have a heart to see others come to Christ? Am I willing to invest so that my friends and family have a greater
opportunity to know God?
✢ Is this a decision I am willing to take time to pray about, genuinely seeking God's guidance in how He might work through me?
✢ Will this giving decision involve a sense of sacrifice in my life? Do my priorities reflect my commitment to God and to my church?
✢ Am I discovering a new joy in giving as I embrace the vision? There is something freeing and deeper about the life of grace that we never experience until we learn to give as freely and deeply as God gives to us.
The Act of Generosity
It is the hope of the Greater Things Prayer Team that you will give a meaningful portion of your time to being in conversation with God—seeking His agenda for our church and for your life. William Ramsey once described prayer as being in the presence of God with what is on your heart. How to express thankfulness and to explore God’s generosity and His will for how we return thanks, may be a new area of prayer for you. Below you will find several quotations that might stimulate your thoughts and reflection and help you enter that sacred space of conversation with the Lord.
“Out of freedom from worry that God’s generosity provides, comes an impulse toward simplicity rather than accumulation.” John Piper, pastor and author
“Remember this – you can’t serve God and money, but you can serve God with money.” Selwyn Hughes, English pastor and author
“The world asks, ‘What does a man own?’ Christ asks, “How does he use it?” Andrew Murray, South African evangelist and writer
“At its best, giving is an act of worship” Cornelius J. Dyck, colonel under the command of George Washington
“It is possible to give without loving, but it is impossible to love without giving.” Richard Braunstein, author
“The only investment I ever made which has paid consistently increasing dividends is the money I have given to the Lord.” James L. Kraft, Kraft-Phoenix Cheese Corp. chairman
"Earn as much as you can. Save as much as you can. Invest as much as you can. Give as much as you can." John Wesley, English evangelist and founder of Methodism
For more information, contact:
Pam Johnston, Director of Stewardship
pjohnston@woodlakeumc.org, 804-739-4535, ext. 23