In a special file that I keep in my office, there are historical mementos from the history of the congregation that I’ve been privileged to serve for thirty-six years. Among these mementos is a brochure given out to people in the community who were visited by St. John’s evangelism callers in the late 1950s. In those early years of St. John’s, members would go out to make “cold calls” in neighborhoods around the church. They would split up into groups of two or three persons, and knock on doors to meet people and invite them to come to worship. This, of course, is from another era in which people would actually open their doors to strangers and welcome them into their homes. In the back of this little brochure is a picture of the future – a plan for what this fledgling congregation envisioned for the house of the Lord. Even before the first unit was built (dedicated on June 14, 1959), there was a vision for future growth in this corner of God’s kingdom. That picture appears below. Remarkably, this three-part vision was, for the most part, followed very closely over the course of many years. I am amazed at how far ahead these fathers and mothers in the faith could see! That first unit appears in the lower right, and was St. John’s first Sanctuary (now the Fellowship Hall). The tri-cross tower on the front lawn is a landmark in the community where St. John’s is known as “the church of the three crosses.” At the base of this tower is where the original cornerstone was laid for the first unit.
In less than ten years, the second unit of this three-part vision for the future was dedicated on January 8, 1967. That is what appears on the right-hand side above, with the large sloping roof line. This continues to serve as our Sanctuary and is a beautiful, light-filled place of worship. The position of this second unit had to be altered due to the widening of Franconia Road. The Sanctuary was constructed in the reverse of what appears above, with the smaller end joined to the rest of the building and the larger end at an angle from the building itself.
Fast forward some twenty years, and the third part of this three-unit plan was dedicated on June 5, 1988. This was just a little over one month before I arrived as St. John’s first associate pastor in July 1988. The Education Center appears in that drawing as the long rectangular building behind the present Sanctuary. True to form, the Education Center is a two-level building, but the roof is not flat. Rather, it is sloped with windows along the upper level. One of the signature ministries of St. John’s, our Early Childhood Education Center, which began to serve the community in December 1983, is housed on the lower level, with classroom and meeting space on the upper level. And so, by the grace of God, the original three-unit plan for St. John’s Lutheran Church in Alexandria, Virginia became reality over the course of many years.
Why am I telling you this? It’s important to know your history and what has happened before you. Over the years, many people have made tremendous sacrifice to bring this dream to fruition. Truly, we stand on the shoulders of those from previous generations who embraced this dream and freely gave of themselves and their resources to support it. And now it is our turn. As we head into the fall season, we are embarking on a capital campaign entitled Building for Eternity. Based on the Scriptural text from Ephesians 4:12, the greater purpose of this campaign goes beyond bricks and mortar. That greater purpose is “to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ.”
Our church facility, especially the older two units as outlined above, are in great need of renovation. A plan to do this renovation work, together with a modest expansion, was presented to the congregation on April 28 of this year. The congregation voted overwhelmingly to approve the renovation and expansion plan, pending the raising of funds needed for this project. A team of people has been working to formulate a capital campaign over the summer, and that is now being brought to the congregation. The overall cost of a complete renovation of the Fellowship Hall, Kitchen and Dining Room, enlarging and upgrading the Narthex, providing a new Office suite in the expansion, and replacing restrooms with ADA compliant facilities, is $2.8M. That, of course, is a very large amount of money. That is why we must continue to remind ourselves of the higher good and greater purpose behind all of this; namely, “to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ.”
It is true, of course, that this ministry of equipping and building up can be done anywhere in any kind of facility. That said, through this project we are striving to bless not only this present generation, but generations who will come after us, by providing a suitable facility that will glorify the Lord and serve his kingdom purpose in the best way possible. As with previous generations who embraced a bold vision for St. John’s and freely gave of themselves to support it, Building for Eternity asks us all to consider what we can do today.
Speaking for myself and my wife, we are in full support of this plan. We believe it is the right thing to do to prepare for the future – God’s future – for the congregation of St. John’s. If you are reading this and are led by the Spirit to support this also, thank you! If you would like more information, you may contact St. John’s Financial Administrator (finance@sjlc.com, 703-971-2211).
I invite you to join with me in prayer for the Lord’s wisdom and guidance, using the pray below that has been written especially for Building for Eternity:
O God of grace, from generation to generation You have blessed our congregation and prospered the work of our hands. Built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, we are Building for Eternity. Guide and direct our efforts to renovate and expand your house, O Lord, so that we may continue “to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ” (Ephesians 4:12). Strengthen us by your Spirit for the great work that is before us, to the glory of your holy Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
