Newsletter

February 2005

Dear Friends and Supporters of the Onward Campaign,

We are grateful for your faithful interest in the "Onward" campaign, an historic and far-reaching campaign to fund a new youth camp on the shore of Lake Texoma and to build St. Andrew's Church in the rapidly growing suburbs of West McKinney. With your prayers and your gifts, you have helped the campaign move closer to its goal this month-since September, we have received gifts and pledges in excess of $3 million, and are almost halfway to our goal of $7 million!

As congregations in the Diocese of Dallas find creative ways to participate in building All Saints' Camp, we envision a camp where 120 young people can meet, stay in well-designed cabins with meeting rooms, enjoy a beautiful dining hall, a multi-use activities building, small meeting rooms and classrooms, and an outdoor chapel while they explore miles of nature trails, gardens, challenge courses, and a waterfront aquatic area.

One of the best surprises the "Onward" campaign received this month was a check for $185 from the middle school at Good Shepherd Episcopal School. Students donated $1 each in a special fundraising effort sponsored by the Student Council to help build All Saints' Camp. In presenting the Student Council's gift, Good Shepherd School's Chaplain, The Rev. John Barrett, said, "May the camp become a wonderful place for our youth to be nurtured in their faith of and service to the Lord." We hope other Episcopal schools will be inventive in helping with fundraising efforts, too!

Another highlight of the month was the wonderful gift we received from Nell and Henry Beck, a major gift that will enable us to build the new multipurpose Activities Center at All Saints' Camp and to name it in honor of the Becks. When we consider the decades of devoted and generous support that Nell and Henry have given their parish, St. Michael and All Angels, as well as the Diocese of Dallas, Austin Street Centre, and countless other Episcopal organizations, it is delightful to be able to honor them for their most recent generous gift to the church!

A new suburban church, St. Andrew's in McKinney, will change hundreds-thousands-of lives, beginning this year and growing far into the future. A mission-focused new church will attract generations of members who will worship and serve the Lord together in a strong Christian community of faith. Plans for All Saints' Camp are equally forward-thinking. For generations to come, young people will be inspired by the natural, serene beauty of All Saints' Camp and will have a memorable opportunity to "Be still and know that I am God." You are helping to change lives with your prayers and gifts to the "Onward" campaign! Mother Teresa said that most of us will not have the opportunity in our lives to accomplish great things, but she suggested that we can do small things with great love. This large-scale capital campaign offers us a rare opportunity to do great things together. With great love for our church and its mission, and with prayerful, generous hearts, each of us can help to move our church onward in mission.

Please visit our new campaign website, www.onward-dallas.org. We hope it will be a convenient place for people to learn more about the "Onward" campaign, and we hope it may reach some people who do not receive this monthly newsletter. (It is also set up to receive pledges!) Also, let us know if you have friends who should be on our e-mailing list, or if you have suggestions about reaching Episcopalians in this diocese who might be interested in helping the "Onward" campaign.

With God's grace, as we achieve our goal of $7 million in the next few months, All Saints' Camp's board of directors will begin construction this summer and will be up and running next summer! As we reach our goal in the next few months, The Rev. Mike Michie and his "launch team" of new members at St. Andrew's Church will begin planning their new church in West McKinney. As we reach our goal in the next few months, each of you will know that you have been a significant contributor to a project that will shape the Diocese of Dallas long into the future.

Thank you for all your prayers, your gifts, and your good wishes!

Brownie Watkins
"Onward" Campaign Director