Capital Campaign: Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why is SOTV doing a capital campaign? 
A: Our Vision calls us to invite all people to experience the welcome, transformation and sending of Jesus Christ. The purpose of the campaign is to help us live into our vision.

Q: How will the capital campaign do this?
 A: By addressing the three major priorities identified last fall at the 25 congregational dialogues: eliminating debt, improving our facility, and expanding our outreach.

Q: How is the campaign being conducted? 
A: Through visits with each household. We believe it is important for every SOTV household to receive the same accurate information with a personal, confidential visit conducted by a trained volunteer.

Q: How long will the campaign last? 
A: Our goal is to conclude all visits by the end of May, but the campaign will not end until we make certain every household has been contacted for a visit.

 Q: Why do I need a visit? 
A: To make certain you receive accurate information and have the opportunity to ask questions about your participation.

Q: How long does a visit take? Where can I have my visit? 
A: Visits can be done in 30 – 45 minutes in the privacy of your home or at the church.

Q: Do I need to make a commitment to the campaign during my visit?
 A: Once your visit has concluded, you can either make a confidential commitment at that time or you can take time to consider and pray about your pledge and make your confidential commitment a few days later.

Q: Who will know what I pledge?
 A: What you pledge is entirely confidential. Only the SOTV Finance Office and our campaign consultant will know your pledge, because they are required to track all pledges. Your visitor will not know.

Q: Who should I contact for more information or to schedule my/our visit?
A: You may contact any of the visitors listed on our website, or call the church office at 952-432-6351.

Starting a Tough Day with a Smile

So far this school year, Zone 45 children (in Grades 4 & 5) have packed and donated 600 breakfast bags for Ronald McDonald House. These bags contained a total of 3,000 food items (cereal, juice pouch, granola bar, fruit cup, and a beef stick).

The Ronald McDonald House (RMH) provides a “home away from home” for families of seriously ill children receiving treatment. Sometimes it can be uncomfortable, even frightening, to be with a family member who is sick or in the hospital. Families staying at the RMH there can grab a breakfast bag on their way to the hospital or clinic in the morning. Getting through a tough day can be a little easier with a good breakfast!

Each year, RMH serves more than 4,000 families – some from across the region and others from across the globe – at three Twin Cities’ locations. Families are never asked to pay for services at RMH– which include lodging, meals, schooling, and activities – so they rely on the compassion of community efforts like Zone 45’s breakfast bag project.

The Apple Valley McDonald’s provided us with Happy Meal bags, napkins, and spoons for the Breakfast Bags. The rest of the breakfast items came from Zone 45 families! Thank you to all the children and parents for their energy and generosity during this project. Special thanks to the Bachman family for helping deliver the bags last month (Pictured are Lindsay and Brian Bachman).

Serving Opportunities this Month

• There will be one more packing event for 200 additional bags on Wednesday, April 1 during Zone 45 sessions. This week, crew leaders passed out the final Breakfast Bags card. We will need to have all food items at SOTV by Wednesday, March 25.
  
• Zone 45 will also have a Feed My Starving Children service event on Friday, March 6 from 6:00 – 7:30 pm. Meet at the Eagan FMSC location. Please register online.
  
• Children of all ages can help their families “Pack the Pews” all throughout March for Our Daily Bread food shelf right here at SOTV. Fill a grocery bag with non-perishable food items and bring it to church anytime in March. Or bring a bag every week! See our most needed items this week.
  
• Families and individuals of all ages are invited to our next  ServeTogether on Saturday, March 7 beginning at 9:30 am. We will make 800 sandwiches; assemble Hug Bags and make cards; and do (cold) meal prep for several local charities.

Looking for more? Check out this week's News for the Flock.

Jenni Berg, Zone 45 Coordinator poses with the bags being dropped off at the Ronald McDonald House.

Servants to God Alone

By Craig Bane,
Capital Campaign Steering Committee Member

One of three primary objectives of Shepherd of the Valley’s capital campaign, Together We Can Do More, is the elimination of our existing mortgage. Most of us have used a mortgage to purchase a home or other property because we didn’t have sufficient resources to pay in cash. The same was true for SOTV, dating back to 1985 (the original construction) through the 1998 construction of our current sanctuary and additional infrastructure up to that point in time. Our last endeavor to raise capital, the Imagine Campaign, completely paid for the construction of the chapel, narthex expansion, and additional classroom space.

The current building fund is used solely to pay down our old accumulated mortgage debt, and to complete necessary building repairs. As it stands, most of the building fund goes towards servicing interest on our debt. The church’s tax - exempt status prevents writing - off mortgage interest like a homeowner is able to do. Therefore this means the church mortgage is a 100% expense to the church budget.

No one can serve two masters.
-Matthew 6:24a

When we borrow, the lender puts conditions on the loan and this makes us a servant to the lender. We are to be servants to God and to God alone. As Matthew 6:24 reminds us,

“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.” 

The Bible does not prohibit the use of debt, but everywhere debt is mentioned, there is a call to action to resolve the indebtedness. The main reason for this is because it makes us a servant to someone other than God.

Every pledge made to the capital campaign is significant. The campaign is not about equal giving, it’s about equal sacrifice. Please accept a visit from a campaign visitor to learn more about the campaign. I hope you will prayerfully consider making a pledge once you have the facts. Because, together we can do more!