Building campaign helped unify, strengthen congregation, Mineral Wells pastor testifies_40504

Posted: 4/02/04

Building campaign helped unify, strengthen
congregation, Mineral Wells pastor testifies

By John Hall

Texas Baptist Communications

MINERAL WELLS–Members of Fairview Baptist Church identified a problem they are glad to have: Their sanctuary is too small for them to carry out their mission.

The congregation worked cooperatively to address the issue, said Pastor John Tunnell. Members understand their mission is to reach the 600 homes located within a five-mile radius of the church. Fairview Baptist is the only evangelical presence in the area.

Church members frequently “prayer-drive” streets and neighborhoods in their community. They are familiar with the spiritual lives of many people in the area, and they see the potential for church growth.

But the congregation must make room for the people. Its sanctuary is full with the 120 worshippers in the congregation. The church needs to expand, Tunnell said.

“I think everyone agrees. We love our church. We love our church family. If we're going to reach this area, we've got to expand. There's no choice.”

The Baptist General Convention of Texas Church Facilities Center helped the church design a building that would meet its needs. Then the congregation entered a United We Build campaign with the help of the BGCT stewardship office.

Joyous stewardship is one of the 11 characteristics of a healthy church identified by the Baptist General Convention of Texas.

The church formed several teams to garner excitement about the fund-raising and building campaign.

One team went into other members' homes to explain the need to build. Prayer vigils were held.

Ivan Potter, the BGCT's director of United We Build, led a weekend seminar to help the church prepare spiritually for the campaign. A harvest team went to homes to find out how much each family pledged to give.

Finally, the church celebrated the members' sacrificial pledging. Believers promised to give $200,000 toward construction of a new sanctuary. Weeks later, members gave the largest offering in the church's history.

Though the church has to raise more funds to build its facilities, Tunnell said Fairview is heading in the right direction. The building campaign is helping prepare the congregation for God to bring large numbers of people to the church, he noted.

It has built excitement and strengthened unity in the congregation, he said.

The pastor acknowledges he initially was nervous about a building campaign, but the congregation is stronger because of it.

“There's no way we could have a successful United We Build program without (Potter's) help and all the resources BGCT provides.”

For design help with new or existing buildings, contact the BGCT Church Facilities Center at (214) 828-5134. For help with building campaigns, contact the BGCT stewardship office at (800) 231-5096.