Pastor’s Column

Building for Hope

At our Lunch and Learn on September 15^th, I introduced SCC to the Building for Hope program. Building for Hope is a two-year program for churches and their leadership funded by Lilly Endowment Inc. The program guides congregations through a journey of repurposing their underutilized facilities and other physical assets – in order to advance each congregation’s mission. The program is a response to the epidemic of underutilized church facilities across the US; by reorienting these spaces, congregations and their surrounding communities are equipped to flourish.

     The vision of Building for Hope is to create a movement of sustained revitalization through creative, community-based uses of underutilized church facilities. Building for Hope will help congregations see the space they inhabit in their neighborhoods as sacred spaces that should be utilized for the best and highest good for the glory of God and the blessing of others.

     SCC has been selected to participate in the inaugural cohort which officially begins in early 2025. The pastor and two lay leaders will make up our team.  After a zoom orientation on October 30^th at 1:00 p.m., our team will travel to Alexandria, VA for three cohort meetings: February 20-22, May 15-17, and October 16-18. We will be assigned a coach in mid-November who will walk with our team through the two-year process. In the second year, the coach will work with SCC to help us discern how God is calling us to better utilize our facilities, and then to form and implement a plan. There will be no cost to SCC or our team members to participate in this program. 

     Two church members are needed for this team. If you are interested in participating, and are free for the retreat days above, please let Tracy know as soon as possible. Our team needs to be in place by the Oct. 30^th orientation. Thank you for prayerfully considering participating in this amazing opportunity for SCC!

                                                        Pastor Search Update

     Our Pastor Search Team continues to move forward with a very promising candidate. They are currently checking references and conducting a background check. If both parties feel that God is moving forward, the next step will be to schedule a time for the congregation to meet and interview the candidate and hear the candidate preach. Please continue to pray for the Search Team and this candidate!

   In the meantime, I’m on the journey with you, Tracy