Fundraiser Was 'Satisfying and Wonderful'

by Nellie Mcneil | Upper East Correspondent

On Commitment Sunday, parishioners of St. Paul's, Kingsport, came within the $1.0-1.5 million goal of its capital campaign -- Laying the Cornerstone, Building to Serve.

St. Paul's, designed by pioneer Kingsport architect Allen Dryden, Sr., was dedicated in 1931, and added a Parish Hall in the 1950's but has had relatively few changes since then.

Four years ago a committee appointed by St. Paul's Vestry to study how its facilities served the needs of the 300-member parish and its ministries discovered discrepancies..

In the summer of 1997 the Vestry hired Cargill Associates, professional fund raisers, whose feasibility study showed the parish vision of building a fellowship hall, up-dating space for the Day School, providing meeting rooms for Christian education and modernizing the remaining facilities.

The study also said a collective, "We think we can spend $1.25 million," according to Senior Warden Rody Dayvault.

"Having Cargill and Kristine Miller, its consultant, was the smartest thing we did," said Barbara Bailey, Co-Campaign Director. "She came with a different angle, putting the capital campaign on a spiritual level."

Using Cargill's system, Campaign Coordinators Bill and Nancy Gideon recruited parishioners for leadership positions within the campaign.

"It was a surprise to me what a satisfying and wonderful thing it has been because so many church families willingly accepted roles in the campaign. It has been calls, asking: ‘What can I do? And how can I help?' and not a select group but a huge number of committed people working together to accomplish the vision," said Dayvault.

Eleven committees recruited even more parishioners to put together task forces that accomplished various aspects of the campaign. "Bill Gideon was the glue that put it all together," Dayvault said.

"We at St. Paul's have inherited one of the most beautiful naves one can find, but most of the rest of the church is in poor condition. We need to meet the challenge our forebears met, a large part done during the worst economic conditions faced by our nation," said Bill Gideon.

"When I went into the job, I thought it was to raise money," Bailey said. "But Kristine said, ‘Pray about it.' It was a glorious experience to me to wake up in the night and know what I needed to give and that I needed to give it now. The idea is that people need to offer back in return for their generous blessings."

Construction of the new 2-story Day School and Fellowship Hall building designed by Freeman Solt PLLC will begin in the fall with completion of the multi-phase project expected in 2001.

"St. Paul's is thrilled to be going in this direction after 50 years. We have a unified vision of what the church needs. The people have been generous with their many hours and sacrificial giving. That will allow us to build a building that will enhance our ministries in Kingsport and that will lead to new areas of service," said the Rev. Suzanne Smitherman, Assistant to the Rector.

"Our vision, hope, dream have now become a certainty," Dayvault said.