This info taken from Advanced Prayer and Fasting Booklet, October 2008:
Vision of Faith (VOF) Building Campaign
“We lean to our own understanding, or we bank on service and do away with prayer, and consequently by succeeding in the external we fail in the eternal, because in the eternal we succeed only by prevailing prayer.” Oswald Chambers
“By faith he made his home in the promised land … For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.” Hebrews 11:9
“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” Galatians 6:9
The Vision of Faith Building Campaign is:
a movement of mercy and justice in Pen Lucy and Baltimore to bring spiritual transformation to people, families and neighborhoods through an expanded facility for educational, recreational, and supportive worship space
the redemptive influence and impact of the urban church on the city through the witness of unity, works of justice, and words of grace so that people might know Jesus
leaving a spiritual legacy that will impact future generations for the glory of God
Our Goal: Join God in the reconciling work of Jesus Christ for a greater Pen Lucy, Baltimore and world through an expanded educational, recreational, and worship facility by raising the needed resources to complete the building campaign.
A Brief History:
In 2004, FCF launched a VOF Building Campaign. The internal worshipping body of FCF with alumni and friends contributed close to $1 million dollars in sacrificial giving towards the estimated $5 million dollar project.
However, our external partnership support was not strong enough to fulfill the rest of our campaign needs. We also became more aware of our need to strengthen the organizational, administrative, and development areas of our church in order to faithfully address our growth and expanded ministry calling
For the past several years, FCF has been taking measures to strengthen BCS internal leadership needs and donor development. Now that PLAN has officially become a ministry of FCF, we expect, and have experienced, a stronger overall community development focus that will attract even greater support.
When it is believed there is sufficient external donor partnership to fulfill the needs of the campaign, we will re-launch the campaign and invite those who have never participated to join us
FCF Multi-Site Expansion
“Facing the formidable and largely unexpected task of evangelizing the whole world for the Messiah, the early church went to prayer, waiting for Jesus to pour out his Spirit to empower them for this task (Acts 1:13-14)… a vigorous missionary movement can only be maintained and expressed by unceasing prayer in the face of obstacles and persecution (I Thess. 5:17) “ Richard F. Lovelace, Renewal
"All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go 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 I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." Matthew 28:18-20
We seek to be faithful to make disciples of all nations beyond our Jerusalem and therefore seek God’s direction, leadership and resources for an FCF multi-site launch in the Towson/Hillendale region of Baltimore.
Over the last several years, FCF has sought God’s direction in expanding the mission and vision of the church through a multi-site church movement in which FCF would remain as one church while worshipping in two locations, with one board of elders and deacons, one pastoral staff team, one budget, one mission and vision, but applied in different locations. We have been exploring this for the following key reasons:
We seek faithfulness to God’s call to make disciples.
We seek faithfulness to our mission to work for the transformation of people into a community of grace-filled followers of Jesus for a greater Baltimore.
We affirm the value of urban renewal through the church. “The vigorous, continual planting of new congregations (which includes launching multi-sites) is the single most crucial strategy for the numerical growth of the Body of Christ in any city, and the continual corporate renewal and revival of the existing churches in a city.” Tim Keller.
We affirm that multi-site church planting makes good stewardship sense of Kingdom resources. “less cost, greater impact, new church vibe and big church punch, more need and more support, more outreach and more maturity”. Dave Ferguson
After extensive study, research, discussions, congregational meetings, small group meetings, and serious prayer, we concluded that God is leading us to be a multi-site church. The leadership has been clarifying the additional steps and benchmarks of strength needed before we launch the second site.
A multi-site plant of FCF would need to strengthen our mission and vision of a united church for a united Baltimore.
A multi-site plant would not detract from the completion of our building campaign, and would ultimately strengthen it.
A multi-site plant of FCF would be confirmed and encouraged by the wisdom of godly counsel and the Body of FCF.
It must be emphasized that this vision is not principally about a building expansion. It is about the expansion of God’s grace and blessing to the lives of more people in Pen Lucy, surrounding communities, and Baltimore City through the provision of additional educational, recreational, and worship ministry space. Because this is a bold spiritual enterprise we entreat your continued and faithful prayers.