A Word from the Bishop

Contribute now.

Dear friends in Christ:

Building for Christ—From Generation to Generation is making it possible to fulfill our mission as a Diocese in very meaningful ways. This past year Building for Christ funds were earmarked to pay a portion of the down payment for the Diocese’s purchase of 10 acres of undeveloped land in Loris, SC. The land is perfectly located for planting a church and was offered to the Diocese by friends at a reduced price provided that action was taken promptly. Without your participation in Building for Christ we would not have been able to take advantage of this God-given opportunity to acquire prime property to use for Kingdom purposes.

This year our Building for Christ effort will be a foundational part of our support of the revival of St. John’s, our mission church on the Eastside of Charleston. This mission church, and the ministries which will be associated with it, are positioned to serve one of the most neglected and trouble-filled areas within our Diocese. This project will be the beneficiary of a portion of the Building for Christ fund this year and in the next two years. Without your faithful support of Building for Christ we will not be able to accomplish our goal of addressing our neglect of a significant constituency within our Church.

I am asking each member of the Diocese to participate with us in our Kingdom building work by giving $50 out of what the Lord has provided to you. These are tough economic times for all of us. Building for Christ is more essential than ever in our effort to expand our ministries where they are most needed. Times like these remind us not to put our faith in our worldly possessions, but to rely on our Lord and Savior.

While on his mission for Christ, early believers sent gifts to Paul to help and support him in his ministry. This is the example that we invite you to follow today. Only with your participation can we as a Diocese work to plant new churches. Only with your participation can we give our churches assistance to perhaps overcome an obstacle to their ministry. Join with us as we seek to expand God’s Kingdom here and now.

Expressing his gratitude to the early believers in Philippi for their generosity and their partnership with him for the gospel through their gifts, St. Paul wrote,

…you sent me help once and again. Not that I seek the gift; but I seek the fruit which increases to your credit….I am filled having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God. (Philippians 4:15-20)

Like St. Paul I ask you to become my partner for the gospel through your gift to Building for Christ-From Generation to Generation. Like Paul, I do not seek the gift; I seek the fruit which increases to your credit, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God.

You may contribute on-line by using your credit or debit card, or you may mail your gift to: Building for Christ, The Diocese of South Carolina, PO Box 20127, Charleston, SC 29413

Faithfully yours,
The Right Reverend Mark Lawrence
Bishop of the Diocese of SC

For more information, please contact us either on-line, or by calling (843) 722-4075.