“Impacting God’s World”

Launched with $1,216,600...from less than 30 pledges!

 “Today we are Kicking Off a new capital campaign called “Impacting God’s World.” The campaign will provide funds to allow us to continue to be about expanding our ministry for Jesus Christ and provide for the growth that God is placing before us. We’ve been calling this our Phase II Vision. Consistent with last April’s Charge Conference directive, the proceeds of this campaign will be used to first, pay off a smaller mortgage loan at the earliest date possible (it has no prepayment penalty) and second, pay off a larger mortgage loan early if financially advantageous to the church (this loan has a substantial prepayment penalty and it may not be to our advantage to pay it off before the  December 2016 due date). Paying off these outstanding debts is good stewardship of the tools that God has entrusted us with! Funds raised above this the loan total, approximately $1.7 Million (M), will be applied toward the Phase II Vision of a new sanctuary building. Over this past summer, our Capital Study Task Group obtained estimates for the following: a contractor quote of $9.63M for construction of the building plus $1.62M in estimates for parking lots, piano, organ refurbishment & expansion, furnishings and audio/visual needs. Adding the estimated capital campaign cost brings the total Estimate of Need to just over $13M.

There is no question that this is the largest campaign SUMC has ever attempted. And as such, it deserves a different approach than has been used in previous campaigns. Campaign visiting teams will be contacting each giver in the church to arrange a meeting at a mutually agreeable time and place. The campaign materials will be presented and you will have an opportunity to interact with comments and questions that you may have. At the conclusion of the presentation, you will be asked to prayerfully consider a specific pledge amount for the capital campaign. The amount may seem large, and it will no doubt stretch our thinking, but it will be consistent with realizing the full $13M vision in this single, 5-year campaign. Remember that we are dreaming BIG, and we WANT to be open to letting God show us what we can accomplish together!

It is important for each of us to understand that the “consider” amount is NOT an assessment… , nor is it a requirement; it is simply an additional piece of campaign information that we ask you to prayerfully consider as you think about how you will participate in the campaign. Only you and God can determine what you are able to contribute. Please know that we sincerely want you to be happy about the amount you are able pledge.

Your pledge for the capital campaign and for the annual operating campaign will be made using two separate pledge cards and a confidential, sealable envelope. The visiting team will not know your pledge amounts unless you choose to discuss them.

Will we be able to raise all $13M in one campaign? Well, the answer is that we simply do not know. But I want to remind each of us about some of the miracles God has provided since we embarked on this path 13 years ago. 

• 1. The “Multiplying God’s Love” capital campaign was launched in the fall of 1999 to provide funds to purchase property that had not even been located. Pledges totaled $1.1M for this land that we believed God would show us! More than one professional church fund-raiser has told us that such a campaign is nearly unheard of and rarely successful.  But we know from our experience that when dedicated people follow God’s leading all things are possible – Amen? Amen!
• 2. The property search went on for 2½ years. Finally, our prayers were answered, and in an incredibly complete way! When Joe Bishop, the previous owner of this property, heard what we wanted the land for he said “I always thought a church would look nice up on that hill.” Through Mr. Bishop, God provided the acreage we needed at a very affordable price (far less than we had dreamed of) and on terms that we could handle financially. He didn’t want a lump sum payment but wanted payments over time instead.  He acted as our bank and charged only the prime rate. We would have had to pay far more in interest to borrow that sum from a bank. God’s powerful hand was unmistakable throughout this process! – Praise the Lord? Praise the Lord!
• 3. The “Foundation for Faith” capital campaign, launched in the fall of 2005 to raise construction funds, received pledges totaling $1.6M and we gave thanks to God!  Still, as one of our Steering Committee members reminds us, moving from the Pearl Road building to this one was impossible from a business point of view – there were just too many obstacles to make it work. But God made it happen through His guidance and the hard work and creativity of the people of this church! He is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or image! What a joyous day it was to worship here on that first Sunday, Nov. 18, 2007! – Halleluiah? Halleluiah!
• 4. And what has happened since? SUMC has experienced the fastest growing worship attendance in the East Ohio Conference of the United Methodist Church! That is 780 churches my friends! Worship attendance is up 10% in the last 5 years and Sunday School attendance is up 44%! Our light is shining brightly! Thanks be to God? Thanks be to God!

God is truly blessing the many courageous steps of faith this church has made throughout our history. We have followed the Spirit’s leading! And we can’t wait to see what He has in store for this campaign. The Steering Committee is grateful for your support and will be thankful for whatever pledge total we arrive at. At the end of the “Impacting God’s World” campaign, we will know exactly where God has led. We are confident that SUMC will continue to be about ministry and spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ to the best of our abilities. May the name of the Lord continue to be praised through you and through our church!”

presented by Dave Thomas