Can a small congregation worshipping 20-30 members weekly raise enough money to construct a new church building? For the members of Avoca United Methodist Church, the answer is a resounding “yes.” After raising more than $100,000 in total, almost three times their annual budget, Avoca will soon break ground on a new facility crucial to its members.

“We’ve got a real neat little church here, but we’re in a structure that was built in 1905 and we’ve been afraid for some time now that it’s going to fall down around us,” said Don Taylor, Avoca’s Campaign Director. “We don’t want the next generation in this community to have to face what we’re facing now.”

Making the decision to raze the old building and construct a new one was almost unanimous. But where to go from there wasn’t quite as clear until Stewardship Consultant Dick Young outlined a campaign plan designed specifically for small churches called “Building Disciples.”

Young’s guidance began with Avoca’s Senior Pastor, the Rev. Dennis Huffaker, as he designated a stewardship committee. The good work continued from there.

“Dick met with each committee member individually and let us know that we had a job to fulfill. Then he met with the entire group to lay out some groundwork and come up with some incentives for giving. He handled it all very professionally,” Taylor added.

With the Foundation’s assistance, Avoca’s members were able to live up to their campaign slogan by exhibiting that they really are “a small church with a big heart.”  Taylor feels that other small congregations can achieve similar results.

“This is just an example of what you can do when the whole church makes an effort together.” – Spring, 2003

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