It takes enthusiasm, drive, commitment and collaboration to build a new sanctuary. Aledo United Methodist Church, an energetic, expanding congregation south of Fort Worth, represents the type of passionate church where successful projects come together.

“Aledo is a rapidly growing community, and the church has mirrored that growth. There was a great demand for a new building to accommodate their expanding membership. Both new and long-standing members were bursting with enthusiasm, excitement, and anticipation to realize their sanctuary dream,” said Dick Young, Foundation stewardship consultant. 

Young conducted a capital campaign for Aledo UMC as well as a multi-part annual stewardship workshop. His relationship with this church will continue as the congregation builds on its original goal by eventually erecting a family life center. Young works hand in hand with Robert Hoppe, vice president of real estate, to help churches like Aledo succeed.

“Robert briefed me about Aledo’s land acquisition for their sanctuary and parking area before I ever began their capital campaign. Together we worked on the details that would enable Aledo to secure their loan with the Foundation. It’s our typical course of business to work together to come up with solutions like these,” Young added.

As Young proceeded with his work, Aledo’s members eagerly took on every capital campaign committee position and joyfully implemented their tasks. He found the volunteers were willing to follow every detail of the Foundation’s campaign model, a program designed to ensure stewardship success.

“From the beginning Dick not only guided us, but was very much involved and available to us at all times. Part of the reason we were so successful is because we dotted every “i” and crossed every “t” throughout the campaign, just as he advised,” said Kent Kilburne, Aledo’s senior pastor.

“Dick and I agreed on the larger implications for responsible stewardship that the campaign funds entrusted to us demanded. We knew we were not only building a sanctuary, but building God’s kingdom as well,” Kilburne added.

Tensions ran low throughout the campaign and building process, something Kilburne finds astonishing considering the magnitude of the multi-million dollar project. He feels this was largely due to Young and Hoppe making sure there were no surprises by communicating clearly to their committees and the congregation in a timely manner.

“When critical funding questions were raised, Robert recommended extending our campaign and utilizing the Foundation’s cash flow model to work out the best terms for our construction loan. We had some hard conversations about lending, but we knew they were necessary and welcomed them,” said Kilburne.

Hoppe feels that partnering with a church to accomplish a building project means not only finding a way to fund a loan, but making sure a congregation is not overextended. “That’s actually one of the worst things that can happen to a church,” he said. “Congregations that aren’t financially healthy can’t continue to reach out to their communities and grow with them like we’ve seen with Aledo.”

Kilburne wholeheartedly agrees and looks forward to continuing a fruitful relationship with the Foundation, knowing he has a partner in ministry to rely on.

“Working with Dick and Robert was easy because they understand the vision, believe in the vision and stand by the vision – that’s the partnership. They always make it clear they are right there beside us all along the way.”

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