|
Introduction
In 1983 God led a rag-tag group of
culturally diverse believers with meager financial resources
to a spacious facility on East 42nd Street in Baltimore. Over
the course of the past two decades, Faith Christian Fellowship
has worshiped, done justice and pursued unity in this
place. We have seen the Father use this body to reconcile
lost sons and daughters to Himself and to grow them up
in Christ. And we have sent many out from here to bear
the fragrance of the reconciling Gospel all over the globe.
Our vision is to see God's grace and blessing
expanded to the lives of more people in the Pen Lucy neighborhood,
the surrounding communities and Baltimore City. To that end
we are seeking to build a gymnasium/multipurpose center
and school expansion and make needed renovations
on our current facilities to better carry out God's call to
serve in this place.
|
 |
|
Why is FCF pursuing this
building vision?
The facility that was so spacious twenty
years ago is now bursting at the seams. Our worship, education and
recreation space is maxed out. The building has also become too
cramped for the Christian
community development ministries housed at FCF that exist to
promote the spiritual transformation of people and families
in a neighborhood facing great need. These ministries include...
- Baltimore Christian School (BCS) provides families in
and around Pen Lucy an excellent Christian education regardless
of economic means. It presently serves 80 children in grades K-5.
Our dream is to expand to accommodate grades K-8 and
serve up to 200 youth with a new gymnasium and classroom space.
- Pen Lucy Youth Partnership (PLYP) provides recreational
and educational support opportunities for the youth of Pen Lucy
through sports leagues and tutorial services.
Our dream is to expand these ministries to neighborhood
children through the proposed gymnasium/multipurpose facility
and an expanded after-school facility.
- Summer Youth Ministries (SYM) has served the Pen Lucy
Community for over a decade through a summer camp program including
recreation, sports, music, computer instruction, field trips,
Bible instruction and service projects.
Our dream is to enhance the learning and recreational opportunities
of SYM and extend them to more children through the proposed gymnasium/multipurpose
facility and an expanded after-school facility.
How much money is needed?
We two overall fund-raising goals for this
project:
- $5 million for building the gymnasium/multipurpose
center, school expansion and building renovations.
- $3 million for an endowment for
Baltimore Christian School. The endowment will provide scholarship
funds to allow the expanded school to reach more
We are currently in phase
one of the building project, which
will cost $900,000. This will allow us to create six new classrooms
on three floors, with rest room facilities and an elevator/circulation
core, and a new school entrance.
Where will the money come
from?
Ultimately, we are trusting our Heavenly
Father to provide for all our needs, including this building. We
believe He has called us to pursue this vision in obedience to His
call, and He has promised to give His people "an abundance
for every good deed" (2
Corinthians 9:8, NASB). We believe God has been going before
us in our building vision to let us enjoy something "immeasurably
more than all we ask or imagine" (Ephesians
3:20, NIV). This is how we perceive His provision:
- A foundation believes in our vision and has partnered
with FCF to see our dream become a reality. The foundation has
committed $400,000 so far.
- An additional $900,000 has been contributed or committed from
other sources. Individual donors include members
of the congregation and other friends of our ministries.
- Our fund-raising team, under the leadership of FCF Pastor
Craig Garriott, is currently pursuing other major funding
sources.
- We invite you to join with us in making
this vision a reality!
Why is this project needed
in this neighborhood?
The Pen Lucy neighborhood is one of the most economically depressed
areas of Baltimore City. Pen Lucy is also one of Baltimore's
drug hot spots. In past years the State of Maryland and the
City of Baltimore have dedicated additional resources to helping
end the drug trafficking and violence that has plagued our community
for decades. That funding has recently been removed, however, and
the trafficking has begun to creep back into the area. In such an
environment, hope can be hard to find.
The need is clear: Pen Lucy needs
the Gospel of Jesus Christ fleshed out in ministries of justice
and mercy.
FCF seeks to bring educational, recreational,
vocational and spiritual opportunities to create an environment
where youth and families can thrive. Such opportunities only
happen when people come together to make a dream become a reality.
For more than 20 years, FCF has committed itself to building this
dream.
How can I help?
We invite you to dream with us!
Your gifts will help us meet the visible construction goals of this
project as well as the invisible goal of building
Christ's kingdom in this corner of the world.
Send your tax-deductible contribution to
Faith
Christian Fellowship
501
E. 42nd Street
Baltimore,
Maryland 21218
Please note whether your contribution is
for the Building Expansion Fund or the BCS Student Scholarship
Fund.
“‘Not by might
nor by power, but by My Spirit,’
says the LORD
Almighty.”
—Zechariah 4:6
Page updated November 5, 2004.
|
