Newsletter

December 2004

Dear Friends and Supporters of the Onward Campaign,

Thank you for your interest in the "Onward" campaign, a bold project that focuses the Episcopal Diocese of Dallas on the future, on growth, and on the church's mission to offer the world the hopeful message Jesus Christ's transforming power.

This may be the most significant project the diocese has undertaken in a decade or more -- it will influence the work of the church for generations to come!

To build an Episcopal youth camp on the shores of Lake Texoma and to acquire land on which to plant new suburban churches, Bishop Stanton has asked John Castle to chair a diocesan capital campaign to raise $7 million in the Episcopal Diocese of Dallas.

$1.25 million will purchase a 10-acre tract of land in West McKinney, Texas, where burgeoning suburbs have created an urgent need for a new Episcopal church. A talented and devoted young priest, Rev. Mike Michie, has been hired to begin gathering a "launch team" of volunteers who will help attract and build a congregation for "St. Andrew's," a church that will serve young families in the rapidly growing neighborhoods west of Central Expressway in McKinney. An additional $250,000 will be used to purchase a similar tract of land farther north, in Prosper, Texas, in anticipation of projected growth there.

After receiving 660 acres on Lake Texoma from the Lutheran church, the Diocese of Dallas plans to develop a first-rate youth camp to serve Episcopal youth from first grade through high school with an outdoor chapel, dining hall, activities building, campers' cabins, docks and boats, nature trails, and play fields. The camp board of trustees envisions summer camp programs to teach and inspire young people, as well as a facility that will serve churches for weekend retreats and other parish activities. Developing this camp will require funds of $5.5 million for roads, utilities, buildings, equipment and staff.

To make the camp financially self-sustaining, the board plans to create an Environmental Education Center, an idea that has been successful at similar Episcopal camps around the country. This center will be used by schoolchildren during the school year and will teach environmental science curricula.

The success of these projects is critical to the future of our diocese. Each one offers abundant opportunities to teach young people about Jesus Christ, to deepen faith, to build Christian communities.

With your help, we will build a wonderful camp for our young people and we will bring new, young families into the warm fellowship of an Episcopal church. Our work this year can change the lives of thousands of people for decades to come-as Christians, we don't always have the opportunity to do such far-reaching work. This is a remarkable opportunity for our diocese!

Your support of the "Onward" has been encouraging and helpful. Please continue to keep our fundraising efforts in your prayers. Please pray that benefactors will hear of these projects and be inspired to help bring them to reality.

Through the coming months, I'll try to keep you informed about our progress with this e-mail newsletter. Please let me know if you have questions or suggestions about the "Onward" campaign, and, again, thank you for your encouragement.

Faithfully,
Brownie Watkins
"Onward" Campaign Director