Raising Funds for a Capital Project

A Congregation's Journey…

A congregation's journey toward a capital campaign begins like this! Perhaps no one has heard God's voice in quite the way the biblical writer describes Abram's experience here. And, more than likely, no one in the congregation has said anything recently about moving to another country. Those differences aside, however, the call to "do something" with the building is not unlike the nudge Abram received from God in this story. Perhaps the word of the Lord is something as simple as restlessness about the way the sanctuary looks; or a vague sense that "We really need to do something about our outdated kitchen if we hope to serve all those children in the Logos program." Or maybe an astute leader has noticed that all the classroom space in the building is full and there is nowhere to put the new Bible study group that the pastor has agreed to teach. Sometimes, the call is, like Abram's, to move to a new place-more likely a new site in the community than a different country-but the dynamics can feel the same. If, in another vein, this campaign is for the purpose of reducing debt, there were undoubtedly those who felt urgency about freeing the congregation from that burden in order to increase ministry and mission.

First Steps

The first step in a capital campaign is that call-or nudge-from God to make some changes. Through a process of task group appointments, building plan studies or consultations with architects, that vague sense of needing to do something has become a building plan or a debt reduction plan. Now it is time to put the congregation's financial resources to work in response to God's call. That means it is time for a capital campaign.

After all, the next part of the story reports, "So Abram went, as the Lord had told him." So go, as the Lord has told this congregation. Remember the promise: "I will bless you . . .so that you will be a blessing."

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