Looking Forward. Our prayer retreat is coming up. More people strengthening their communication with God.

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2 Dearest Friends, We Demonstrate an Important Message I bring you Good News! Unity of Fort Lauderdale is growing at the top 5% of churches in the USA! Our vision of diversity and acceptance and our practical approach to Christianity is bringing new people to us. We believe we are all created by God and God does not make mistakes! Whatever we are, we are children of God! Unity s Legacy of Love Unity of Fort Lauderdale started in In 2012, God placed us in Wilton Manors because we outgrew our previous space. Our mission to motivate and educate people through an expanded awareness of God within is even more relevant today than ever! It is our calling to care for this ministry so that it lives on for those who will come after us. Our Next Chapter Please join me in a journey of audacious generosity. As we ensure we can make our mortgage payments for the next three years, we are guaranteeing that the acceptance and love we have found here is available to all in the future. This is a grand vision and it requires we all engage in faith and giving. I truly believe we can all tap into the full potential of our generosity. Our Next Chapter is vital to our future. Let s apply the spiritual laws of giving and receiving. TOGETHER, WE CAN REALIZE THE MIRACLE! In Our Unity of Purpose, Reverend Tita Calzada Looking Forward In our vision of our Unity Sunday Worship Service you will hear us saying in the near future: We have a lot going on here at UFL so listen carefully and check the website for more specifics. Meditation, metaphysics and Unity classes People are growing in their awareness of the Presence. Children s ministry is now 150 kids and we will be going on retreats/camping trips. The diversity we demonstrate is a transformative agent for young minds. UFL is fostering acceptance in future generations. Our prayer retreat is coming up. More people strengthening their communication with God. Yoga, reiki and healing arts take place upstairs We experience the connection between our bodies and Spirit. Sign up for music lessons for both adults and children Music connects our souls to creativity. Also, don t forget the series of music concerts we are hosting! Martial arts classes and fitness groups are ongoing. Healthy body, healthy mind, healthy spirit. Addiction counseling and support groups are available upstairs in the treatment rooms. We all can live healthy lifestyles. The Unity Foundation is hosting a variety of community events in the sanctuary. Representatives of area organizations are available to help our neighbors. The Mortgage Payoff Celebration will be in one month from now under a tent next door to the church. UFL wants to thank our wonderful community for achieving this remarkable goal in such a short time. We will also be inviting our outstanding tenants who have lived with us here for the last few 2

3 Looking Back Today The First Chapter Unity of Fort Lauderdale (UFL) was founded in 1952 by Maud Guitteau. She led the new church until January We started meeting at the Governor s Club Hotel and eventually moved to the Women s Club on Las Olas Blvd. In January 1958, Reverend Elizabeth Sand Turner took over the leadership of UFL. Rev. Sand Turner authored several important books in the Unity curriculum like Your Hope of Glory and Let There Be Light. We purchased a house at 210 SE 10th Terrace but soon attendance required a larger facility. The Second Chapter We purchased and built a new home at 1800 NE 6th Court in Victoria Park. It was dedicated on Thanksgiving 1964, and the educational building opened in Rev. Sand Turner retired in 1969 and was eventually succeeded by Rev. James Heinecamp in 1972 who led the church until Several ministers had short tenures as attendance averaged 50 on Sundays when Rev. Tita Calzada became minister in The Third Chapter By Dec. 2010, attendance averaged 400 on Sundays. For several years, we rented Broward Center for the Performing Arts so that we could celebrate Easter, Christmas and Interfaith. In Feb. 2011, the membership decided unanimously to sell the Victoria Park property and find a new location to accommodate the growth. It was sold in July Services were held at a hotel for 6 months. We manifested a miracle by purchasing the current property in Wilton Manors in February In 2012, we finished a chapter in the life of Unity of Fort Lauderdale when we manifested a miracle and purchased our current church building in Wilton Manors. It was quite an accomplishment! Now we must move forward to our next chapter of growth and evolution. We have a magnificent building and location, a vibrant and diverse congregation, and an inspiring spiritual leader. Our Next Chapter is about combining all these pieces to fully realize the miracle together. THE CHALLENGES Remodel infrastructure replacement and repair in order to accommodate worship. Required by City brand new fire wall installation, fire alarm and sprinkler system, and fire exits. A final Certificate of Occupancy requiring additional code required parking lot upgrades. Replenish depleted Reserve Fund. Without the final Certificate of Occupancy, we cannot move forward with the rental of our available space and generate additional income for the church. We cannot afford to pay the mortgage from our current level of financial support. The mortgage payments since 2012 have been paid from the reserve fund. The mortgage principal represents all the closing costs, repairs, upgrades, and remodeling done to make worship possible. Our Next Chapter is about bridging the gap between today s finances and tomorrow s potential. We are reaching out to you, our Unity community, to ask you to participate in realizing the miracle Together. We are asking all congregants to join us in making a three year commitment, over and above your current level of giving, for this important project. THE NEXT CHAPTER OF UNITY OF FORT LAUDERDALE BEGINS WITH US. 3 4

4 What is Our Next Chapter? Our Next Chapter is a three-year capital fundraising campaign started by Unity of Fort Lauderdale (UFL) to address the gap between our current financial condition and our vision. With the purchase of our new spiritual home, the church is poised for more growth. Our Next Chapter gives us the time to realize its potential. Why is UFL doing Our Next Chapter? The vision to transform a former bank building into our church ran into unforeseen challenges. Many expenses have arisen and, in addition, we have been unable to obtain a permanent Certificate of Occupancy from the City of Wilton Manors. Without the Certificate of Occupancy, we are unable to lease the vacant building space to partially service the mortgage which was part of our original vision. Therefore the mortgage has been paid from the reserve fund instead of partially offset by rental income. The cumulative effect of these issues makes the Our Next Chapter capital campaign necessary. Why use Our Next Chapter to pay the mortgage? Paying the mortgage will allow the operational part of the Church to maintain its current standard of excellence in Sunday worship. With the burden of mortgage debt relieved, UFL will be financially healthy enough to allow us to direct our focus on attracting the right and perfect classes to deepen our spiritual growth. How much are we looking to raise from Our Next Chapter donations? We pray that God will touch your heart and you will give generously. A successful campaign will raise a minimum of $500K to fund immediate and critical needs or Phase 1. What happens if we do not raise the Phase 1 level? The Board of Trustees will have to explore additional options to resolve the current financial needs which could impact the current church operations significantly. What happens if we raise more than Phase 1 levels? We will fully execute our vision by generating income from leasing our available space. The church will have a solid revenue stream for future growth. The number and variety of services and classes will expand. We will host community events and become a leading fixture in the spiritual life of our community. We will formalize the Unity Foundation. How can I personally take part in and support Our Next Chapter? You can participate through prayer and contribution. Unity believes prayer establishes the foundation for success. Your prayers and affirmations for a successful campaign are important. You can thoughtfully and prayerfully consider the benefits you receive from your spiritual home. Then give generously to the Our Next Chapter campaign. Your opportunity to contribute financially comes at the end of the campaign through a written commitment. How can I find out more about Our Next Chapter or ask questions? You can ask any Our Next Chapter leadership member or refer to the UFL website at unityfortlauderdale.org. 5 6

5 Giving is a spiritual adventure that produces tangible benefits. Giving is an act that we perform for God as well as for ourselves. Giving is something that God wants for us, not from us. When we give back to God, we acknowledge that God is the source of our abundance and not our job or investments or savings. Giving makes us active participants in the spiritual law of Giving and Receiving. Giving connects us to God's Spirit of Generosity and makes us open to receive God's blessings. Together we can do this. We can be an example of a church that makes a difference. In order to continue making a difference, it is vital for Our Next Chapter to be a success. Can we count on you to make a donation to this important cause? By making a tax deductible donation to this capital campaign, you'll be directly contributing to the security and future of the place where you receive your spiritual nourishment. Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return. Luke 6:38 TOGETHER Most importantly, you will grow spiritually as you watch God s spiritual laws of giving and receiving, abundance, and faith flourish in your life. We ask that you take up the challenge of deepening your own experience of faith and of Spirit. Can you change the inner voice that says There is not enough. to There is more than enough.? ($11.54 a week) This Giving Chart will assist you in creating a schedule for giving over the next three years. This is just a guide and you are not limited by the amount or frequency of giving. 7 8

6 Generosity FAQ How much am I expected to give? There is no expectation. The decision to give is a personal one and will be different for each person based on their resources. We ask that you prayerfully consider your gift while also reflecting on the blessings that God has bestowed on you. Small gifts are needed as well as large gifts. Do I contribute all at once or over time? You contribute in the way that best meets your financial planning needs. You can contribute in one lump sum or choose to set up a yearly or monthly amount spread out over three years. Are you asking for contributions over and above what I already tithe or give? Yes. Current levels of giving and tithing cover current church operations but do not cover the mortgage. We need contributions over and above current levels to bridge the gap between current finances and our ability to execute our vision. Will my Our Next Chapter contribution remain confidential and tax deductible? Yes. Your tax deductible contributions will be tracked by Our Next Chapter campaign leaders who will keep the information confidential. Are there ways other than cash that I can contribute to Our Next Chapter? Yes. Contributions other than cash like stocks, collectibles, cars, jewelry, boats etc. can be donated instead of cash. We encourage you to creatively review your lifestyle and finances. Is there a piece of furniture that is no longer meaningful to you? Do you have an investment underperforming? Do you need to offset capital gains with a tax deductible contribution? Please talk to an Our Next Chapter campaign leader for assistance with non-cash donations. 9 10

7 1501 NE 26th Street Wilton Manors, FL unityfortlauderdale.org Our Next Chapter Campaign Leadership: Vito Giardina Executive Director Vernon Love Campaign Manager Reverend Tita Calzada Minister Michele Petrie Children s Director Michael Fahy Communications Director Victoria DeSilvio Major Event Director Millie Pinal Spiritual Emphasis and Prayer Director Cie Blair Stakeholder Group Director (Special thanks to Diane Sammet and Andy Bing for their creativity and design of the campaign logos and communications.)