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EXCITING RECONCILER 2020 CAPITAL CAMPAIGN UPDATE
As you know, we are in the midst of our Reconciler 2020 Capital Campaign, which consists of three goals: (1) retire the mortgage on our church building so that we maintain our vital location for years to come, (2) make improvements that beautify our space so that our building meets the needs of our community more effectively, and (3) launch our own 501(c)3 Nonprofit Organization so that our building becomes a space that facilitates abundant lives with Jesus through partnerships and resources that empower our community members to rebuild their lives.
It is with grateful hearts that we announce the completion of one of these three goals. The combination of your faithful donations and a very significant gift from a generous donor has allowed us to pay off the mortgage on our building!
The bank no longer owns our property. It now belongs solely to God’s work in downtown Birmingham. Once in operation as a meat-processing plant, our historical building now allows us to reach those struggling with hopelessness, active addiction, mental illness, and poverty with the unconditional love of God. For example, our building provides a space each week for women from our community to connect with women from the suburbs through Bible Study and conversation. Because our church building is in such close proximity to downtown shelters and housing developments, we are able to empower marginalized men and women to participate in Sunday worship. Our community leads us in praise and worship every Sunday while others in our community take on different aspects of the liturgy as the Spirit moves them. And finally, our building is important as it opens its doors to other churches who may then experience the diversity of the Kingdom of God in a space that feels familiar and safe to the homeless.
Thank you for your loyal support. We believe that the men and women struggling with the many consequences of poverty already possess the gifts and skills to rebuild their lives. We hope you will continue to help us transition these incredible men and women from the streets to an abundant life. We are less than $100,000 away from completing our Capital Campaign. Join us in our mission and help us reach our remaining goals by designating your checks with Reconciler 2020. Thank you again for your support.
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The Role of a Beautiful Space in Providing Dignity
In April, our Church of the Reconciler Women’s Group welcomed Becca Stevens from Thistle Farms of Nashville into our church for an inspirational event with vulnerable women throughout Birmingham. Thistle Farms believes women who have survived trafficking, prostitution, and addiction deserve a second chance at life. Becca focused some of her remarks on the importance of a beautiful space in creating dignity. She reminded us that we often save the second-hand items, the used and neglected things, to outfit spaces for the homeless and suffering. Instead, she insisted, we should be providing precisely the opposite: a beautiful, warm, inspiring space.
At Church of the Reconciler, we are dedicated to making the building that we now own a welcoming space that encourages dignity and self-respect. After the Thistle Farms event, a woman who regularly attends our Women’s Group marveled about how beautiful Church of the Reconciler looked on that Sunday afternoon. It was deeply meaningful for her to experience a space that had been made beautiful just for vulnerable women who do not always get to experience dignity and self-worth. It made her feel valued and loved.
Our Church of the Reconciler community members are not second-hand citizens, and they were not created by God to be neglected. We look forward to creating the kind of church that inspires them and builds their confidence as they rebuild their lives. We plan to start by replacing the tattered sign on our building.
As our Reconciler 2020 Capital Campaign continues, we hope you will consider supporting our second goal: making improvements and beautifying our space so that our building can better serve our community’s needs. We know we can get there with your help, and we are so grateful for your generosity and compassion!
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