One of our amazing African-American retired pastors in Missouri, Rev. Dr. Aubrey Jones, once said his goal in ministry was to leave every church he served with “more church” than there was when he got there. Watching and admiring Aubrey’s ministry for years, that meant “more church” in mission, “more church” in membership and attendance, “more church” in professions of faith and baptisms, “more church” in service to the community. What a great goal—what a great challenge for us as well!

I have enjoyed the affirmations and statements of how you have experienced “more church” through the vision, building, funding and sharing of the Christian Life Center, since its construction more than 5 years ago. Even larger than the original dreams of that needed space, the CLC now provides ministry space to groups, gatherings, classes and individuals that the original dreamers couldn’t have imagined.  

Think about it. Who would have imagined hosting a summer PhD program for MU, a two month Homeless Shelter, classes for hundreds of adults and youth to learn about their faith, the True/False Film Festival, feeding hundreds of families living in poverty, receptions for pastors and families, sports events for all ages, and many others in the CLC and MPR? God has richly blessed those who have so generously dreamed and given.

In the Spring of 2012, we will be wrapping up the second three-year Capital Campaign. Thank you to so many who have made and honored their financial commitment to pay down the debt on the CLC. At of the end of that campaign, as pledged commitments are kept, we will have almost 2.3 million dollars left to retire the debt on the CLC. In the variety of home visits, group gatherings and individual meetings I have had with many members of the church, there is a strong consensus that the congregation wants to retire the debt on the building in a third and final campaign so as not to impede on the vital ministry that is growing every day through the church.

Currently, from the generosity of those who have made and honored pledges from the two previous campaigns, we have been able to make $26,000 payments per month on a $19,000 monthly mortgage payment. There has been no impact on the operating budget of the church! With a third campaign, scheduled to run from Easter 2012-2015, and the full commitment of our congregation to be generous in its sacrifice and support of the ministries that flow everyday through our CLC, we can retire the debt, ensuring no future impact on the operating budget of the church.

Recently, a capital campaign committee, made up mostly of members of our Finance Committee, conducted a search and interview process to determine the best consultant and company for our upcoming campaign. Rev. Dustin Cooper with RSI was chosen as the consultant best suited to lead us in this upcoming campaign. RSI was the stewardship company who worked with the church in its renovation campaign years ago. Dustin is an elder in the Missouri Conference who, before becoming an RSI consultant over 6 years ago, served many congregations in Missouri, leading many capital campaigns.   
 
I had the privilege of working with Dustin at my last appointment as the congregation raised almost 3 times its operating budget for new construction and development. Dustin agrees that, with the faithfulness of this congregation and the exciting ministry flowing in and out of our CLC, we should strive to our goal of full debt retirement in this third campaign.

Of course, this can’t happen without you. Our gifts will be different, but we are all called to an equal sacrifice of supporting the church we love and assuring that there is “more church” because we’ve been here. In the coming months, you will be asked to find your place in this journey of stewardship and generosity, as a leader and giver. My family will join yours in letting go of some things we really don’t need so we can make room for God to bless us through our giving.   

We’ve been given the blessing of a dream to reach our community through the CLC. We have realized the blessing of watching that dream be supported by the generosity of those before us. Now it will be our turn. What do you say? Are you ready to make sure there’s “more church?”

See you in church on Sunday!
Rev. Amy