The Fiery (and Outdated) Furnaces

George Ulrich

Our church building has greatly evolved over its 30 year lifetime, beginning with an eye to an unknown, yet hopeful and faith-filled, future. After five major construction projects, we currently have 15 furnace units that deliver heating and cooling, including equipment original to the building. Some units do not work properly, use older inefficient technology, consume more energy, and cost us extra expense in day to day operation, maintenance and repairs.

The #2 priority of our 2015 Capital Campaign is to improve our facility (after debt reduction). Meeting our campaign goal will make building changes possible and pay a dividend toward our future ministry. Reduced operating and energy costs will enable our resources to be used in other ministry areas as well. The possibilities are endless!

If you had a car with a noisy muffler, worn out springs, or was rusted out, you would need a sizable investment to afford replacing your old clunker. Your pledge to the Capital Campaign is a special investment that enables the church to use its resources efficiently, recover future funds, and continue to be a place of welcome and hospitality.

Please sign up to receive a visit and learn the full story of how your hopeful and faith-filled generosity can be magnified for the future in ways that we can’t fathom today.

Together, We Can Do More! 

Thanks to Bob Dennistoun and Greg Nonweiler for contributing the idea and content for this post.

Urgent and Important

By Chris Smith, Senior Pastor

Years ago, management guru Steven Covey divided the tasks of life and work into two categories, urgent and important. Things can be urgent but not important (la ringing telephone that turns out to be a sales call) and important but not urgent (like saving for retirement in your 30s). Covey urged readers to pay their closest attention to what is both urgent and important. Where the urgent and the important intersect, that’s the spot that matters most. Our Capital Campaign is about what matters most.

It’s urgent AND important: 

1. Debt Elimination – SOTV still has debt from building programs from decades ago. Every dollar spent on interest (it’s a lot!) is a dollar not going to SOTV’s mission and ministry. Yes, we all benefit from our bricks and mortar, but it’s time to retire debt and move on to the important and urgent work of Christ here and around the globe. 
2. Renew and Enhance Facilities – There are portions of SOTV’s facility that need help – especially the parts constructed in the 80s. These parts of the building are simply worn out from decades of wonderful use. Heating and air conditioning, water leakage, and a host of others issues have become urgent and important. 
3. Expand Outreach Support – Giving and serving for the sake of others is what the mission of Jesus is all about. SOTV has mission partners who do amazing things with the dollars we give them. More than that, they can help engage us in meaningful relationships and connections with those they serve. It’s important and urgent to direct a growing portion of SOTV gifts to serve more and more. 

Let’s join together to do what matters most: prepare Shepherd of the Valley for generations to come. Please make time before the end of May to sit down with a campaign visitor to learn more, ask questions, and pray together. Visits are the best way to receive the full information about the campaign.

Visits are between 30-40 minutes and can be in a private space at church or in the privacy of your home. You do not have to make a pledge during your visit. Here are some other answers to frequently asked questions. 

Together, We Can Do More!