FAQ
What is the overall vision for this campaign?
To continue our multiplying effort by launching a congregation in the Alliance area, so that one of the most rapidly growing areas in the country has communities of people who believe they’re sent into neighborhoods to genuinely love Jesus and intentionally love their neighbors. Also to seek and celebrate partnerships that allow us to stretch our reach and strengthen our serve so that everyone in Fort Worth has an increasing opportunity to flourish and thrive toward God’s Good plan.
What has been the impact and success so far?
Both initiatives have met their goals, with measurable improvements at South Hills School where students have advanced significantly in literacy. The Alliance congregation has tripled in size, largely through new members, not transfers.
Where are we at with the Reading Interventionist at South Hills Elementary?
We made a huge investment in a school near our Southwest congregation where teachers and administrations were struggling with literacy levels that were dangerously low, particularly coming out of the pandemic. So we literally doubled down our mentoring efforts there and connected every student who needed a boost with a volunteer from our church who would invest an hour a week in them. We also brought a full-time reading interventionist, Marisol Martin, on the Doxology staff team to give 100% of her work hours as a volunteer member of the staff team at South Hills.
How do I get involved as a South Hills mentor?
Our Hero 2 Hero mentoring ministry would love to follow up with you. We have an established process and program that will include some training and a background check to ensure you are set up for success. All you need is the ability to read with and care for a student for one hour, one day a week. We will provide training to help you with the rest. Click here for more info.
What are the upcoming changes?
The Northwest ISD, host of the Alliance Congregation, plans to exit the building rental business, prompting a need for a new location within the next 12-18 months. We have started an ongoing strategic planning for both a permanent and temporary location for the Alliance congregation, focusing on spaces within specific geographic boundaries.
Does Fort Worth really need more churches?
To continue our multiplying effort by laYes! The most recent data shows that Fort Worth is the fastest growing city in the country. Current reports say that around 1000 people move into our city every week. Existing churches will continue to play a vital role in our city, but those churches won’t be enough if population growth continues on its current trajectory. We could plant a megachurch every month and it wouldn’t be enough to keep up with Fort Worth’s population growth if God answers our prayers.
Additionally, research shows that new churches are the most effective way to reach new residents, the next generation and people who are not yet followers of Jesus. Recent studies indicate that between 40-80% of church plant attendees previously weren’t a part of any church at all, while around 90% of new members of established churches are transfers from another church. This means the average new congregation will reach six to eight times more new people than an existing congregation of the same size.unching a congregation in the Alliance area, so that one of the most rapidly growing areas in the country has communities of people who believe they’re sent into neighborhoods to genuinely love Jesus and intentionally love their neighbors. Also to seek and celebrate partnerships that allow us to stretch our reach and strengthen our serve so that everyone in Fort Worth has an increasing opportunity to flourish and thrive toward God’s Good plan.
What is the current financial overview?
Over the past 24 months you’ve answered the call there as well – investing nearly two million dollars over and above your normal giving to the Ministry Fund at Doxology to make those things possible. On our behalf, on behalf of kids at South Hills, and on behalf of neighbors in Alliance and English and Spanish-speaking neighbors in Southwest Fort Worth, thank you.
Current debt on the Southwest building is $1.8 million. Plans are in place to refinance this debt in 2025 to avoid higher interest rates.
How can I help?
We’re not in any kind of financial trouble even if we refinance but money isn’t as cheap as it used to be and rather than paying more interest we’d rather invest that money in future congregations and other initiatives like what we’re doing at South Hills. So the invitation there is: if you pray about that and agree with our elders on that priority, and have the capacity to help us pay that off in a large or small way, we’d humbly ask you to consider making a one-time or recurring gift to that Fort Worth For Good initiative to help us do that.
Also, the Alliance congregation needs a new space. Alliance such a strategic place for a new congregation also make this a unique challenge. There aren’t a lot of struggling businesses or vacant storefronts for sale or rent, and land to build isn’t cheap because everyone wants to live and do business there. Please be in prayer for us to find a new space for the Alliance congregation.
