This summer, a team was formed by dedicated First Pres members to create a Campaign for Our Future, considering the role of faith and stewardship as described in Hebrews 11:1-3:
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Indeed, by faith our ancestors received approval. By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was made from things that are not visible.
The purpose of the team is to discern how our growing congregation should invest in our ministries, facility, and community. In this effort, we have been guided to think not of ourselves (although we are deeply committed to our present work) but of how we can ensure that this congregation, and this place, serve the grandchildren of our present members and friends. For over two hundred years, Evansville’s first congregation has boldly planned for a long future, investing in people and a place welcoming all of God’s people. We have always believed in the assurance of things hoped for and yet not seen to benefit the future.
That period of discernment has led us to the Campaign for Our Future, which we will be discussing over the next several weeks. This campaign will span three years of giving, and we will ask you to commit to maintaining and enhancing our ongoing ministries through a three-year commitment to your regular pledged giving while also giving to help do a number of things hoped for. It has been a while since we’ve done a multi-year stewardship campaign, so we hope you will engage deeply in the meetings, information, and prayerful consideration of our faith in the dreams not yet seen. We believe that we will raise 2.5 million dollars over the next three years.
At the core of our request, beyond regular pledged giving, is a gift to the Campaign for our Future for the Highest and Best Use. More specifically, we hope:
- That the Historic Sanctuary Fund ($300,000) will set the stage for the renovation and restoration of our historic sanctuary. We need to work on keeping water out of the sanctuary and discerning enhancements that will make the space more comfortable and flexible for the variety of ways the sanctuary is used for worship and the community. Water intrusion and plaster restoration are just the beginning of that work.
- That the Accessibility and Improvement Fund ($300,000) will allow us to make necessary repairs and enhancements to our whole historic facility and to ensure its accessibility to ALL in our community. An elevator, desperately needed roof repairs, and the addition of accessible family restrooms are just some of the items we must address.
- To invest in our people through the Professional Ministry Fund ($200,000) – supporting our unparalleled music programs, our compassionate mission outreach, and our thoughtful preaching to us and the community.
- And for those of you so inclined, we hope to discuss legacy giving to our Endowment Funds ($200,000) to make sure that the welcoming place that embraces us now is playing that same role decades in the future.
It takes faith to invest in things that some of us may not ever see – in things our children may not even see – but someone did that for us. Someone dreamed about all the changes that have been made within our congregation and to this historic building for over two centuries. We hope you will be excited to participate in this work with joy and faith. Engage, get your questions answered, don’t hide for fear of being asked for money. We have faith in the future and in you.