A Church for ALL
Beginning in the spring of 2025, Grace Avenue UMC launched a three-year Capital Investment Campaign called “A Church for ALL.” The campaign seeks to embody Grace Avenue’s mission of “Eradicating Homelessness in Whatever Form it Presents Itself,” and follow through on the 2022 Strategic Plan, “Grace Upon Grace.” The campaign will be established on three pillars – Hope, Accessibility, and Transformation. Focusing on these three pillars, we will raise funds over and above operational giving to expand our current programs and enhance our church facilities to ensure that every person has access to our ministries regardless of ability, background, or life circumstance.
Hope
This pillar of the campaign focuses on people’s hopes and dreams for our church over the next three years. A major emphasis will be placed on how we provide greater spiritual, emotional, and physical access to people across our mission field. We want to design plans to reach people who have given up hope on finding a church that might address their spiritual, emotional, or physical needs.
“Hope is where joy meets the struggle.” – C.S. Lewis
Accessibility
We have two entrances off of Main Street. One leads directly to our property, but we share another entrance with the Frisco Family YMCA. When you turn at the light on Main Street and Kyser Way, you will need to go left to enter our This pillar of the campaign attempts to lay out specific plans regarding where we will invest our time, energy, and resources. To do this, there will need to be assessments done across our ministries, but especially as it relates to our physical facilities. Some of these plans will include an assessment of what has and has not yet been accomplished in the 29 initiatives laid out in the “Grace Upon Grace” Strategic Plan. (the YMCA is on the right). Once you’re here, you can park in whatever lot is closest to where you need to go. We have three parking lots – North, West, and East. These are marked by flags on the light poles in each lot.
Spiritual
Creation of new multisite community Design and development of a columbarium
Emotional
Establishment of a special needs ministry Next steps for A Center of Grace
Physical
Greater physical accommodations for our facilities inside and out Purchase and installation of Solar Energy Producing Equipment Expansion of Building the Bridges nonprofit Facility debt service and reduction
Transformation
This third pillar is where the campaign plays out over the next three years as we implement and monitor the progress of the accessibility initiatives. A special emphasis will be placed on regular updates of the progress on certain projects, but more importantly, telling the story of how these changes are transforming lives. It is important to remember that these accessibility projects will happen throughout the three years of “A Church for ALL.” None of them will begin until after we begin receiving regular contributions after June 1, 2025. We also are reminded that the work of the Holy Spirit will often lead us to refine and modify some of these projects. Our ultimate goal is to see lives transformed as we strive daily to be “A Church for ALL.”
"Transformation is an ongoing process that tends to appear ordinary, when, in fact, something extraordinary is taking place." – Suzy Ross
What is the cost?
In the Grace Upon Grace campaign, we pledged just over $ 2,000,000. Our goal in the “A Church for ALL” campaign is to surpass that by raising $2,250,000. The proceeds of the three-year gifts in this campaign will be distributed into four different categories. They are as follows:
$1,200,000 to the Grace Avenue Home Fund
This fund helps to reduce debt and service debt on our current buildings. It also creates a Maintenance Reserve account for major repair to our buildings over the next three years.
$250,000 to the Spiritual Accessibility Fund
This will fund the Columbarium project and provide seed money for a New Multi-Site Ministry.
$150,000 to the Emotional Accessibility Fund
This will provide seed money for an Intentional Special Needs Ministry.
$650,000 to the Physical Accessibility Fund
This will fund the lifts, the curb cuts and the solar energy project.
Every gift to the “A Church for ALL” campaign will be divided proportionally among these four funds. Consideration will be given to any major gift that might be given to a particular fund or project in its entirety.
What can I do?
Do not let the details of the campaign, the structure of the finances, or the influx of information distract from doing the work of the heart. Let’s join together and answer the call that God has placed on us to ensure that Grace Avenue is “A Church for ALL.”
Pray
All generosity is grounded in gratitude and revealed in prayer. Begin praying “God, what do you want to do through me?” throughout your day.
Engage
Participate in opportunities to engage with your church as we gather, learn, and serve together. Plan to attend one of the Informational Gatherings listed below and mark your calendars for Commitment Sunday: March 30 – Informational Gathering April 3 – Informational Gathering April 7 – Informational Gathering May 4 – Commitment Sunday
Respond
We are asking that you boldly and sacrificially respond to how God is calling us as we look toward the future of our church and our community. Every circumstance is different. God does not call us to equal gifts, but to equal sacrifice. Every dollar will support Grace Avenue’s work. Only God can lead you to the commitment that makes sense for you. Need some creative tips for how you might maximize your gift? Read our Creative Strategies for Giving.
Are you ready to make your Commitment to “A Church for ALL?”
If so, you can do so online using the button above. You can also complete a paper card and drop it in the offering plate or bring/mail it to the church office. Cards are available at the church and will be mailed to the congregation.
Email finance@graceavenue.org with questions.
Download the Campaign Guide Read letters from our campaign leaders and more about the projects in this campaign period.
