September 2007

$40 million Joining Hearts & Hands campaign is “rounding the far turn and heading for home”

Kevin Garvey (left), MIJHH staff team member, with Tom Gillespie. Photo by Emily Odom.

LOUISVILLE – In this city perhaps best known for Thoroughbred horseracing, the Rev. Dr. Tom Gillespie did not hesitate to invoke the famous Kentucky Derby to deliver an important message about the Mission Initiative: Joining Hearts & Hands (MIJHH) during his report to the General Assembly Council here on September 19.

“I will tell you the plot of the closing chapter of a story that is yet to be written,” Gillespie began.  “As they say here at the races, the horses are rounding the far turn and heading for home.”

MIJHH is a five-year campaign of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) to raise $40 million for new overseas missionaries and church growth in this country, particularly racial ethnic and immigrant congregations.  Gillespie, president emeritus of Princeton Theological Seminary, is a member of the national Steering Committee, co-chaired by the Rev. Dave Peterson and the Rev. Joanna Adams.  He also serves as honorary campaign chair. 

Gillespie told members of the General Assembly Council that the campaign’s objective continues to be to raise the remaining $12.5 million toward the $40 million goal and “to report a success” to the 218th General Assembly (2008). 

“This gives us eight months,” Gillespie said, “and we are committed to a full court press.”

In its final phase, MIJHH has a plan to approach congregations with the capacity to make gifts of $250,000 or more to the campaign, as well as individual prospects.  Gillespie summarized the key steps that had recently been taken to achieve the campaign’s ambitious goal, including the formation of a new Leadership Task Force, comprised of MIJHH Steering Committee members and other individual volunteers.

Gillespie told the gathering that a new staff team of six consultants was recently hired to work with the Leadership Task Force and provide immediate follow up after a task force contact.  He also reported that campaign leadership is “reasonably sure” of one additional presbytery adopting MIJHH objectives and making a commitment, and that there is a possibility of one more presbytery participating.

“In a word,” Gillespie said in closing, “we are organized, we are working hard, and we do, by God’s grace, hope to bring you a successful $40 million campaign.”

“I think our church would be buoyed by a success story,” he added, “and that we have done this in the midst of our tribulations and trials.  It would go a long way to providing energy in our denomination.  I solicit your support and your prayers as we round the corner and head for home.”