Questions
What is the monetary goal of the EKG Campaign?
Successful capital campaigns are normally able to raise roughly two-times the annual budget of their church. For us that would mean that we should be able to raise around 1.5 million dollars. This would enable us to pay off the debt on our current facility, and have money available to begin the work on the next facility. We would then have to borrow the remaining funds needed to finish the new facility. It is important to remember that every dollar we raise is one less dollar that we have to borrow.
How do I decide how much to give to the EKG Campaign?
First and foremost through prayer. Pray that God would show you how you can best contribute to the EKG Campaign. For some of us that will be selling assets so that we can give the proceeds in a lump sum. For others that will mean going without some of those non-necessities we have in our lives. For all of us it will mean sacrificing in some way so that we can help Expand the Kingdom of God by continuing to reach out to non-religious and non-active Christians to help them become radical Christ followers, just as others did to help us enjoy this current land and building we use today.
I don't know that I can contribute much to the campaign. Should I give anything at all?
Every gift gets us closer to the completion of our new facility. It may not seem like it, but even the smallest gifts can have a large impact over time. Let's say you were to give up one dinner eating out once a week; a dinner that cost only $30 dollars. If you were to give that $30 every week for three years, that would be a gift of $4680! Even though it may seem like our gifts may be small, with all of us giving at the levels we are able, through the combination of our efforts, God will do amazing things through us!
Why are we doing this campaign now?
There are three primary reasons why we are doing the EKG Campaign now:
• Our current facility is no longer able to fully meet the needs of the people we currently have here at the church. Those of you who were with us on Ash Wednesday know that we are well beyond being able to have events in our current facility where the entirety of the church gathers at once.
• The space limitations we face in the current facility only become more pronounced as we continue to grow. New guests continue to come each week, and this area of Edmond is continuing to grow. The biggest factor which will significantly impact us is that Edmond Public Schools are planning to open an elementary school in August of 2012 and a middle school in August of 2013 directly adjacent to our south property line in less than three years. This means that the number of people who will be coming to Acts 2 will increase not decrease.
• We have been phenomenally blessed by being able to grow from roughly 120 the last week we worshiped at Cheyenne Middle School to now averaging 430 each weekend. This growth at times may seem overwhelming, but these aren't simply numbers. These numbers represent people whose lives have been impacted by growing closer to Jesus Christ. Just as we have been blessed by growing in our relationship with our Lord, we have a Biblical mandate according to Jesus in Matthew 28 to "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you."
What specifically will the new facility include?
The group which is responsible for this work is the Building Committee. This group has been created by our Administrative Council, and is comprised of key church leaders. It is their responsibility to listen to the wants and needs of the congregation and from that, do the detail work with the architects to create the specific plans. Ultimately the plan will be approved by the charge conference and the district board of church building and location to determine what the new facilities will be.
Who decides what will be in the new facility?
The group which is responsible for this work is the Building Committee. This group has been created by our Administrative Council, and is composed of key church leaders. It is their responsibility to listen to the wants and needs of the congregation, and form that, do the very detailed work with the architects to create the specific plans? Ultimately these plans will be approved by the church to determine what the new facilities will be.
Do I have to make my pledge on the All Church Commitment Weekend of May 21st and 23rd, or if I am not able to know at that time, can I turn it in later?
The specific work being done by the building committee to determine what the new facility will look like will begin when we have a better idea of what funds we have available. Therefore, we need to have the most accurate information possible of what we will raise in the EKG Campaign as quickly as possible. If you are unable to turn in your pledge on All Church Commitment Weekend of May 21st and 23rd, we would be able to accept it at a later date. Our hope is to have people who come into our community following celebration Sunday would have the opportunity to participate as well over the life of the 3 year campaign.
Can I give electronically?
Yes. We currently have several families enrolled in eGiving for their monthly general fund pledges. We will have the same eGiving option available for the EKG Campaign.
If you have other specific questions which have not been addressed here, please feel free to contact Rev. Kristopher Tate at k.tate@acts2umc.org or through the church office at 405-359-2287.
