Our new addition was finished in the Summer of 2002

The Theme for our Building Project:

Investing for Eternity

Before

After

June 2002

Latest Building Project at Damascus Friends Church:

It’s hard to put a finger on exactly when our building program began.  In one form or another, it was talked about 10 to 15 years ago.  But the starting point of getting serious about adding a ministry center was in February 1997.

In the Spring of 1999, after several committees had evaluated and determined our needs for the new facility, we embarked on a Stewardship Campaign.  To our delight the stewardship campaign turned into a spiritual adventure. We selected “Investing for Eternity” as our theme to reinforce the reason we were looking at building a ministry center.  As a slogan we choose “Not equal giving, but equal sacrifice.”  We knew the only way for this campaign to be successful was for everyone to participate.  If we weren’t united we didn’t stand a chance. The financial side of the campaign was overshadowed by the spiritual growth we were experiencing.  When Commitment Sunday came God provided in a miraculous way!! 

 In September 2000 after receiving bids on the project, our expectations and fears were confirmed – we needed around $1.3 million.  After a great deal of prayer and seeking of God’s direction, the Elders presented a proposal in September 2000 that we not proceed until we had half of the needed funds in the bank - $650,000.  We set a goal to reach the needed funding by March 25, 2001 and embarked on “Six months to a Miracle”.  Once again it didn’t seem possible but this was where we felt God was leading us.  If God provided we would proceed, if not we would reevaluate and seek His guidance on how He wanted us proceed.  It came down to the last week and as the donations were tallied, we ended up at almost exactly $650,000 - just a few dollars over.  We had some big gifts along the way but without the small gifts, we wouldn’t have made it.  It took everyone’s faithfulness to reach the goal.

Contracts were signed in early July 2001 and construction began later that month.  As we look back on those three years, we are overwhelmed with how God has provided.

One additional confirmation of God’s perfect timing is the Damascus sewer system. The EPA’s requirements for a completely new septic system was a major obstacle our building. Then, in God’s perfect timing, contracts were signed and construction began just in time.  Is it a coincidence?  We don’t think so.