Capital campaign — these two words may be among the most dreaded words in a pastor’s vocabulary. Fundraising and building projects can be sensitive subjects within a church, even leading to conflict and division. Yet Alexandria Presbyterian Church (APC) in Virginia is not merely surviving amid a capital campaign — the church is thriving.
“Bottom line,” said senior pastor Tom Holliday, “this [campaign] has really been about gospel transformation. Not just the what, but the how.”
The how, according to Holliday, is prayer.
Alexandria Presbyterian ministers in a densely populated community outside Washington, D.C., where, according to Holliday, it is nearly impossible to find a church building or land for sale. The church currently rents space from Del Ray Baptist Church in Alexandria, though it is nearing the end of its 25-year lease.
Looking back, Holliday sees how prayer began laying the groundwork for this project years before the church knew it had a need. Twenty-eight years ago, when he moved to Alexandria, Holliday saw it as a spiritually barren place. He began meeting together weekly with a few pastors and church members, joining in prayer for renewal in their lives and in the city.
Among them was the pastor of Alexandria Bible Church. When that church decided to close its doors, the congregation offered its building and property to APC for roughly 10% of its market value. The property, located in the middle of the city geographically, offers an ideal size and location for APC to build a permanent home where it can continue to grow and bear more fruit.
Looking back, Holliday sees how prayer began laying the groundwork for this project years before the church knew it had a need.
According to Holliday, “[the project] started because we prayed together.”
Last winter, the church held a series of vision-casting events for the Arise Capital Campaign. The public phase began in March 2019. Sunday, April 7, was designated as Commitment Sunday. Holliday preached about The Real Building Program — one built of living stones as described in 1 Peter 2.
Church musicians had prepared 11 minutes of music to play as people came forward with their commitments. However, it took a mere three minutes for hundreds to do so. Well over three-quarters of the APC members made a three-year commitment to give toward the campaign. That number included 47 children, Holliday’s three grandsons among them.
People gave generously and sacrificially, some from their life savings, many out of gratitude for what they have received from the church.
APC plans to celebrate Easter in its new building in 2022 when its current lease ends. It is now in the process of working its way through city ordinances, zoning regulations, and permit applications while praying for supportive relationships with its neighbors.
“We take prayer very, very seriously,” said Holliday. “We’ve observed three days of prayer and fasting [for the campaign] since the beginning of [2019].”
As it continues its campaign in the shadow of the nation’s capital — where some of the country’s best, brightest, most well-educated planners and strategists reside — Holliday says, “It’s never been about our plan. It’s always been about gospel transformation through prayer.”
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