7 April 2008
Future Grace Phase 2 Gathering
Giving campaign officially launched;
Vision cast for Future Grace Phase Two
Click here for event audio.
by Chris Turner
The best way to honor God for past grace is to trust Him for future grace, a nearly packed crowd was told during last night’s introduction to Grace Community Church’s upcoming financial giving campaign. Future Grace Phase Two, as it is called, is a three-year commitment to raise $2.5 million for the construction of additional educational space. The honoring God statement was familiar to those who’ve been part of the church during the past four years.
“If you remember four years ago when we launched our first Future Grace campaign, you know that’s how I started that opening.” said Scott Patty, pastor of Grace Community Church. “We say thank you to God for everything He has done in our lives…we say thank you by stepping into the future and obeying the Lord. That’s the way the Christian life is. We walk with him by obedience in faith into the future knowing He will sustain us by grace.”
It was also four years ago (2004) when Grace mapped a course that has led to phase two, which is constructing building space to serve primarily as educational space for children. Patty said it was part of the master plan Grace submitted to government entities when it purchased the property on which Grace is located. Pledges for the initial phase were for $1.2 million over three years, 100 percent of which was received.
Future Grace Phase Two is a six-week campaign that will focus on discipleship and seeking God’s guidance to determine how each person of Grace Community Church might contribute. An offering will be taken and pledges made May 4; the amounts of each will be announced May 11 during morning services. A celebration concert featuring Grace musicians will be held at the church that evening at 6.
“In all of this we say, as the Scripture admonishes us to say, ‘If the Lord wills,’” Patty said. “We acknowledge the sovereignty of God, and we acknowledge the need of His grace, and if the Lord wills this is what we will do for the next six weeks.”
Patty said the vision for phase two is rooted in a long-term vision that’s been part of Graces DNA from the beginning, but certainly since 2004.
“We want to continue the calling of this congregation to give now for future generations of Grace,” Patty said. “We looked ahead and said a generation is about 20 years. We asked the Lord if we could help provide for at least five generations, for 100 years down the road. The key purpose of this giving campaign is to continue that calling.”
Other reasons Patty gave for the campaign were the practical need of educational space, to fund the project, to include more people in the discipleship ministry of the church and to grow in faith in God.
Included in a packet received by those in attendance was an informational brochure outlining the details of the next six weeks, a 28-day devotional guide focusing on discipleship, a prayer team commitment card, a financial commitment card and a listing of Wednesday night Community Groups. Discipleship will be the theme of Community Groups over the next month. All of the information is available and downloadable on the Future Grace web site.
Patty emphasized seven principles guiding the giving campaign.
- Trust in the Lord
- Not equal giving but equal sacrifice
- Potentially large donors will not be approached
- He will not know amounts pledged or who in the church has pledged
- All gifts are confidential
- All gifts are valued
- Everyone can give something
“I know committing to a campaign like this can cause fear and this is what I want to say to you,” Patty said. “Don’t fear. God will provide. Let’s just do what He tells us to do and be at peace.”
Patty also encouraged people to reject feelings of guilt over the amount being given, especially if someone feels the amount is too little, and encouraged them to commit to “walking through the process.” He said that spiritual opposition will often rise during endeavors such as this, and said others will be offended that money and giving is even being discussed. He reassured the church that the focus will not stray there.
“Our focus will remain on God, the Word, grace, the cross, ministry, missions, discipleship, community, care,” he said. “That’s our focus and it is going to stay that way.”
Patty closed the time by encouraging people to “go through the process for six weeks,” pray, ask questions and give as God leads.
Category: Event Summaries.
