Beyond Our Walls
In the spring of 2008 Grace Community Church embarked on a spiritual growth campaign comprised of three powerful initiatives; 40 Days of Purpose, 10 Year Anniversary Celebration, and the Giving Life teaching series that introduces our Capital Stewardship Initiative (CSI). It has been our fervent prayer that these combined initiatives would be a catalyst of unprecedented spiritual growth in our church. And we have seen God doing exactly that! We believe that this final initiative of the Beyond Our Walls campaign has the potential to be one of the greatest spiritual growth endeavors an individual can experience at Grace Community Church. Our prayer is that no one will miss out on participating in the Capital Stewardship Initiative.
To plan for the future of Grace Community Church and to continue the dream of extending God’s grace to our community, region, and world, the final initiative of the Beyond Our Walls campaign introduces a capital stewardship initiative. This program relies on 100% of our church hearing from the Lord and making “Over and Above” gifts and pledges in response to God’s leading. If each of us commits to making sacrificial, inconvenient, gifts we will easily reach the goal of $750, 000 dollars and see our church thrive.
The $750,000 goal, over a three-year period, will allow us to pay down the debt on the land we have purchased and position us to begin building a new facility in 36 months.
In addition, the campaign seeks to fund our missions programs over the next three years at a level beyond what we ever accomplished – $150,000.
Will you begin praying about what God would have you do?
Our Goals
Beyond Our Walls CSI
The Beyond Our Walls Capital Stewardship Initiative seeks to raise the funds necessary to secure the future home of Grace Community Church and the vision of ministry beyond our walls. We are praying that everyone, 100%, will come to a decision to participate in this initiative and trust God in new ways. We believe that God is using these powerful initiatives to bring unprecedented spiritual growth to Grace Community Church. Please join us in praying for spiritual growth through the Initiative.
The financial goal of the Capital Stewardship Initiative is to raise $750,000 dollars in one time gifts and three year pledges. An important part of the initiative is the support of our missions programs. 20% of funds received will go towards missions.
Capital Stewardship
A closer look at participating in stewardship
One way to describe involvement in a capital stewardship campaign is “Lifestyle Stewardship,” giving that affects one’s living. The challenge is to, boldly and prayerfully, find ways to let your giving touch the way you live!
King David declared, I will not offer to God that which cost me nothing. (2 SAMUEL 24:24) David understood the gift that would touch the heart of God must first touch the life of the giver! This is the spirit of Lifestyle Stewardship, if it is for my God, my gift must have meaning and value to me.
Often, Lifestyle Giving means sacrificing in one area so that you can give more of yourself in another. Three keys to Lifestyle Stewardship are: Re-assess Lifestyle, Re-arrange Priorities, and Re-allocate Resources.
Many Christians have been amazed at their ability to give “over and above” to the Lord’s work and the effect that has on their lives. In Malachi 3 we read of a time when the people of Israel were far from God which was evident in part by their lack of giving to the church. God goes so far as to call it robbery – understanding that all we have comes from Him. He asks them to return to Him and anticipates their question by saying “But you ask, ‘How are we to return?’” One part of the answer comes in verse 10: “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this, says the LORD Almighty, and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.” This promise to bless is echoed in the New Testament: “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” (Lk 6:38)
Below are seven ways to help you in Lifestyle Stewardship.
1. Practice priority budgeting
Many families will choose to rearrange their priorities, giving up something in their current budget in order to give more to a stewardship campaign. Priority budgeting may mean postponing a planned expenditure such as a new car, vacation, home remodeling, or major purchase. Many Christians giving to stewardship campaigns find a way to give through sacrificial commitments made in faith, coupled with priority budgeting.
2. Redirect present expenditures
Often, families have significant short-term expenditures for special needs. One example is the large expenditure a family incurs for a child to attend college. A family in Georgia realized that their daughters would be graduating from college during the three years of the stewardship campaign. Thus, they were able to increase their commitment the second and third years of the campaign by thousands of dollars by giving what they had been spending on their daughters’ tuition. Another example would be the cash flow that is freed up when a loan is paid.
3. Increase giving with increased income
Some people receive periodic increases in salary or bonuses from their employers. The natural tendency is for us to increase our lifestyle to fit the higher income. Another option would be to commit the full amount of salary increase to the campaign.
4. Give from your excess
In one case, a young man decided that two collector’s baseball cards worth over $20,000 he had been holding a number of years would be the most appropriate means of sacrifice for his family. Some families save money over a period of years for a special project. Giving from our excess is deciding that the immediate needs directed by the Lord are greater than our personal needs and committing the extra to the campaign.
5. Commit unexpected cash
Often, people pray for God to show them a way they can give beyond what they can presently see or afford. Sometimes, the answers come unexpectedly. A couple in Alabama had been praying for weeks about their commitment to their church stewardship campaign. Much to their surprise, they received an inheritance of several thousand dollars. They donated the inheritance as part of their three-year commitment, along with a commitment from their regular income.
6. Sacrifice your extra time
Some family members have extra time they may be willing to use in a part-time job to be able to participate with a commitment. This is particularly true for families whose children are grown and away from home and for semi-retired or retired couples. A man in New Mexico was in the process of retiring when his church entered a campaign. He and his wife secured new jobs and gave the first three years of their retirement income to the stewardship campaign.
7. Donate appreciated assets
Gifts of appreciated assets, typically investment securities or real estate, can be very advantageous to both the donor and to the church. Unlike gifts of cash that have already incurred an income tax, gifts of appreciated assets aren’t subject to capital gains tax. In addition the donor receives an income tax charitable deduction for the full market value of the asset. That, in effect, makes these gifts less costly to make.
If you have questions about the campaign, you can email campaign@gracecommunity.com
MY GIVING POTENTIAL
Each of us can give far more than we think by giving over a three year period. Here are some examples:
$ 10 a week x 156 weeks = $ 1,560 total 3 year gift
$ 20 a week x 156 weeks = $ 3,120 total 3 year gift
$ 30 a week x 156 weeks = $ 4,680 total 3 year gift
$ 50 a week x 156 weeks = $ 7,800 total 3 year gift
$ 75 a week x 156 weeks = $11,700 total 3 year gift
$100 a week x 156 weeks = $15,600 total 3 year gift
$150 a week x 156 weeks = $23,400 total 3 year gift
$200 a week x 156 weeks = $31,200 total 3 year gift
$250 a week x 156 weeks = $39,000 total 3 year gift
$300 a week x 156 weeks = $46,800 total 3 year gift
$400 a week x 156 weeks = $62,400 total 3 year gift
$450 a week x 156 weeks = $70,200 total 3 year gift
$500 a week x 156 weeks = $78,000 total 3 year gift
Imagine, if each person, 100% participation, at Grace Community Church would commit to giving $30 a week we would far exceed our goals!
If you have questions about the campaign, you can email campaign@gracecommunity.com
Frequently Asked Questions
Beyond Our Walls CSI
Here are some questions and answers that we have received so far.
- What is a capital stewardship campaign?
A capital stewardship campaign is a fundraising effort for an organization that goes toward their “capital” assets based on individual donations resulting from their “stewardship” of what God has given them.
- How much of the funds will go toward debt reduction vs. the purchase of land? Funds received will go to the down payment needed for the purchase of land and current mortgage payments. The land will be purchased as soon as enough funds exist to support the new mortgage.
- Will my pledge go entirely towards the campaign? All giving that is designated will go to the campaign and 20% toward the support of our mission programs.
- Where is the land located? The land is located on RT. 522 South near Admiral Richard E. Byrd Middle School. Take Rt. 522 South toward Stephens City. You will pass the Shenandoah Memorial Park (Omps Funeral home location). Go through the stoplight at the Paper Mill Road intersection with 522. Turn left onto Justes Drive, between the Shenandoah Mobile Home Park and the Jubilee Christian Center. Follow Justes Drive and the land is the lots on the right hand side before reaching Rosa Lane.
If you have questions about the campaign, you can email campaign@gracecommunity.com
