Six months after planting FOS we began preparing for our first building campaign. While most churches wait several years before begining the process of raising capital funds, our decision to start early has payed off greatly. On our pledge day the church committed $1.1 million which was more than four times our annual budget at that time. Looking back over the past three years, I believe that beginning a capital campign within the first year of our exsistance was one of the best decisions we have made.
Here are several ways that raising capital has helped our new church:
1) It has helped us grow in our faith as we have seen God provide. We have raised about $750,000 in 22 months.
2) It has given us an opportunity to teach our church about sacrifical giving.
3) It has helped us obtain a valuable piece of property that is increasing in value.
4) It has helped us cast the vision of reaching our community for Christ.
5) It has helped us get new people involved in serving. We enlisted about 80 people on our campaign team.
6) Next spring when we move, it will help our church experience numerical growth.
7) It has helped us raise the necessary cash to allow us to purchase land.