In November 2005 I asked our members to give a cash offering and make a 36-month giving commitment to the Enlarge Our Hearts Building Fund Campaign. Our future building needs include a worship center, preschool and children’s Sunday School space, adult Sunday School space, parking, etc. The month preceding that year’s commitment Sunday was filled with prayer, church-wide fellowships, special worship services, and a spiritual growth campaign. Many of you have commented on how spiritually enriching that time was in your life and in your family’s life.
God has done miraculous things in our church over the last three years through your faith and generosity. You have already given over $884,000 toward the building fund!
Now What?
Phase 1 of our Master Plan is a Preschool and Children's Education building, a Welcome Center, increased restroom space, and 407 paved parking spaces. Phase 1 construction is already underway and will cost an estimated $2.8 million. This cost is too great for only a few to carry. We must each continue to give our share and do our part. Your church needs your commitment now like never before. For this reason, I believe God wants us to do it again! God wants us to give a cash offering and make 36-month giving commitments for the Imagine A Place...building campaign. We have already raised almost half of the cost of this new expansion project. With expanded facilities in Phase 1 we will be able to reach hundreds of more people with the Gospel of Jesus Christ! We need to complete the task so we can be debt free and move on to the next phase of God's plan for FCBC. Here is what I need you to do:
1. Keep the faith. Jesus said, “According to your faith it will be done.”
Don't allow the circumstances of life to shake your faith in our mighty God. He wants to do something through each of us that will bring Him glory. Remember, "Without faith it is impossible to please Him" (Hebrews 11:6).
2. Stay the course and follow through. “Now you should finish what you started. Let the eagerness you showed in the beginning be matched now by your giving. Give in proportion to what you have. Whatever you give is acceptable if you give it eagerly. And give according to what you have, not what you don't have”(2 Corinthians 8:11-13; NLT).
3. Make a commitment. Some of you did not or could not get involved in the earlier campaign that began in November 2005. This is your chance to join us on this journey of faith. On November 9th you can join the rest of our church family in making a sacrificial one time cash offering and you can make a 36-month commitment (between you and the Lord) for the building fund that represents an amount over and above your regular giving.
4. Give sacrificially. A sacrifice means to willingly give the best I have for a greater purpose. We cannot all give equal amounts, but we can all give sacrificially. Don't give based on reason; give based on revelation. Reason asks the question, "How much can I give based on what is left over each month?" Revelation inspired giving asks the question, "After much prayer and soul-searching, what would God have me to give?" This is your opportunity to make a difference with your money, to do something that will outlast your life, and will leave a legacy for future generations!
"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life" (John 3:16).
