Success Stories

New Hope Community Church
Situation:  After 13 years of ministering in the South Bay community without a facility of their own, New Hope Community Church of Chula Vista, Calif. was given the opportunity to purchase a six-acre lot in a large development designated for a Community Purpose Facility.  After completing a self-led campaign, Pastor Russ Cox realized the demands of campaign administration were an unnecessary burden over and above his daily ministerial responsibilities. 

Solution:  Strongtower Stewardship consultant Bill Leathem partnered with Pastor Cox to help lead and administer two consecutive campaigns, including the Pastor’s most successful, in the spring of 2003.  During that campaign, the 375-member congregation was able to raise $1.1 million, 2.4 times their annual income, for the construction of their new worship facility. 
“We had a very positive experience working with Strongtower Stewardship and in particular, with Bill Leathem.  I would strongly recommend them to anyone seeking to raise funds for their church.” – Pastor Russ Cox
 
Outcome:  The leadership team effectively communicated the ministry’s untapped potential to the New Hope community.  After the completion of the first campaign, New Hope had sufficient funds to purchase the six-acre site, and in light of their 2003 campaign success they broke ground in October, 2006.  

First Baptist Church
Situation:  Two years after their worship center was destroyed in a fire, First Baptist Church of Dallas, Ga. decided it was time to replace their home in order to more effectively minister to the community.  While in leadership transition, the interim pastor decided to partner with Strongtower Stewardship to help the church family through the capital campaign. 

Solution:  Consultant Bill Leathem worked closely with First Baptist, comprised of 450 members; the challenges of working with an interim pastor were easily overcome as the church leadership came together under his guidance.  During a three-year-period, the church exceeded all commitments and raised more than $1.7 million, 4.2 times their annual income. "Bill went above and beyond our expectations throughout the scope of the campaign and afterwards.  He started every meeting with prayer and used his leadership abilities to guide us through a time of transition.  We would recommend him without hesitation." – Art Cartee, Campaign Team Leader

Outcome:  The church was newly unified through the campaign, as individuals gave to reach their goal.  Since the summer of 2004, the Church has been blessed with a new pastor, Gregg Potts, and broke ground May 1, 2005 on their three-level worship facility, scheduled to be completed in January of 2007. 

Point of Grace Christian Fellowship
Situation:  With 180 members, Point of Grace Christian Fellowship Church of Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. had outgrown their current facility.  After leasing a new building, Pastor Kenneth Gibson realized they needed the help of Strongtower Stewardship to raise money for the necessary tenant improvements.

Solution:  In January of 2006, consultant Gary Williams helped Point of Grace implement a campaign that raised more than $386,000, nearly twice their annual budget. “Gary was very clear in his presentation of what we could expect during the program, and most noteworthy he was always prayerful and courteous in his interaction with our campaign team.”
- Pastor Kenneth Gibson

Outcome:  The training and spiritual emphasis of the campaign allowed the church to discover new leaders and expand their ministries.  The renewed facility will be completed by the end of 2006.   

Standing in the Gap Ministries
Situation:  Standing in the Gap Ministries Inc. in Kissimmee, Fla. had been holding gatherings in different buildings destroyed by four hurricanes within several consecutive years, and was looking to get into a permanent building of their own.  After being misled by other builders/developers during the course of eight years, they began to lose momentum.  They turned to Strongtower Stewardship after receiving direction from the Build to Minister Program through Arks Inc., an architecture and development company.

Solution:  Although there is a strong trust between the church leadership and the congregation, the lack of past momentum had discouraged church families from pledging realistic giving amounts.  Strongtower Stewardship consultant Alex Dunn worked with Bishop S.C. Johnson and the leadership team at Standing in the Gap Ministries to position them to buy out their “lease to purchase” contract within a three-year-period.  After a capital stewardship campaign, with guidance from Dunn, the giving period began in July 2006.  “Alex Dunn did a wonderful job aiding our ministry with a stewardship campaign.  My staff and I appreciated Alex for his kindness and willingness to provide assistance throughout the campaign.” – Bishop S.C Johnson 

Outcome:  With their facility currently under construction, Standing in the Gap Ministries expects to raise nearly twice their annual income and be able to buy out their lease agreement within the three-year campaign.  With visible progress toward completion, the motivation to grow spiritually and financially has increased with guidance from Strongtower Stewardship and Alex Dunn. 

Shiloh Baptist Church
Situation:  A man of God, Alvin White, Jr., accepted the call and began his tenure as pastor in July 2001, at the Shiloh Baptist Church of Orlando in Florida.  God has blessed Shiloh with a pastor who has embraced, enlightened and enhanced this congregation and community by simply sharing God's love and goodness.  Pastor White came to Shiloh with a vision to expand the church in a unique way.  By building a new multi-use facility, new ministries could be developed that would bring honor to God, a blessing to the community and more souls into the Kingdom.  Stewardship campaign funds were necessary to support Shiloh in their $3.7million ministry project.

Solution:  Strongtower Stewardship consultant Bill Leathem teamed with the church leadership in this 100-year-old, 400-family congregation.  After an exciting campaign process with three months of inspired activities, God raised up $900,000 of pledge commitments, which has grown subsequently in two years to exceed $1.5 million in commitments.  This pace reflects a commitment of 2.6 times the church’s annual income. 

“Bill allowed himself to be fully used by our Savior.  His enthusiastic, God-fearing manner focused our congregation on the Lord and not our limitations.  If it had not been for the Lord, Bill Leathem and his staff working on our side, we would have been in a different place.” – Pastor Alvin White, Jr.

Outcome:  In light of their 2005 campaign and the loan provided by Strongtower Financial, the new facility is now complete.  This state-of-the-art building will provide for new youth ministry activities, a commercial kitchen for feeding the needy, a basketball gymnasium which will be the practice facility for the NBA’s Orlando Magic’s visiting teams, computer training labs and a disaster shelter complete with generator power.