Southside Baptist Church
Tuesday, March 09, 2010
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Kairos Campaign
Kairos is not measured time in the sense of months and years, but it is God-infused time with significant meaning. When Jesus spoke in Mark’s Gospel that “the time has come, the Kingdom of God is near,” He used kairos. Certainly there have been many significant moments in the long history of Southside Baptist Church, and we are in a kairos moment now.
Kairos is the name of our 2009-12 capital campaign to retire the debt of the construction and renovations completed in 2007. Read more about this kairos moment in the history of Southside Baptist Church:
 For almost 120 years, Southside Baptist Church has maintained a strong legacy of ministry on the Southside of Birmingham. Our forebears made the ultimate sacrifice, left their established congregations, and founded a new church in the city located on the northeast corner of 7th Avenue and 21st Street South. Where a fast-food restaurant sits today, there once was a modest, white-framed church, commonly referred to by its members as “The Old Barn.”It was not long before the congregation outgrew the space, so a new church was planned and built on 20th Street at 6th Avenue South. In 1906, the gothic stone-and-brick structure burned to the ground, following more than half a dozen fires over the years. The congregation moved to our present site and built our beautiful Greek Revival sanctuary in 1911.
At each of these points in history, at each “kairos moment,” the congregation had a vision, and a strong calling of God to dream and to make sacrifices in order to fulfill those dreams. Today, the people of Southside still have a vision with a strong reaffirmation to remaining in the heart of the city. We believe earnestly that God has called us to reach out and minister to this community and beyond. Our building itself is a ministry, as we share both mission and space with kindred ministries and congregations. The recent renovations have greatly enhanced our ministry to members and our outreach to our community. For the first time in the almost 100 years in our sanctuary, it and the rest of our buildings are completely accessible to everyone because of the construction of an elevator.
The openness to ministry has been the Spirit of Southside through our historical journey. Today is yet another kairos moment as God calls to us to see the present and future from God’s perspective. God asks us to invest in his special moment for Southside Baptist Church. God calls forth hope and commitment as we respond to new opportunities and challenge to being present in kairos – God’s time. One day, another generation of Southsiders will give thanks for our faith and sacrifice, even as they seek kairos in their own time. The hope and dream, surely given to us by God, is that Southside Baptist Church will continue to build an inclusive community of grace as we are fully present and invested in kairos, God’s moment.
J. Stephen Jones, Pastor
March 2009
In a called business meeting in June 2005, the congregation voted to implement and proceed with construction and renovation related to Phase 1-A of the Master Plan. The project created a new entrance to the church on the 10th Court side, now known as the Davis Lobby. This entrance has enhanced accessibility to our building and increased security. It provides an easy and protected access for families to the children’s area and a separate entrance to the building apart from the ministries center. A new elevator was added to provide greater and easier access to our sanctuary and all floors for everyone, especially the physically challenged.
The first floor was significantly renovated. Drennen Hall, the Heritage Room, kitchen, restrooms, hallways and classrooms were gutted and rebuilt. Construction and renovations were completed in 2007. It had been 40 years since the congregation had undertaken a major renovation project, and while the renovations were not extravagant, they reflect the commitment to one another, to our community and to the work of God in us and through us as we continue to build an inclusive community of grace. Kairos Campaign for 2009-12 is to retire the debt of this construction and renovation project.
The goal of our stewardship campaign is $1.5 million pledged and given over three years -- 2009-12. Reaching and exceeding this goal begins with personal prayer, and it continues with every member and friend of Southside working together and giving sacrificially.
The challenge is for each of us to find the unique ways we can help to achieve stewardship goals. For some, it means a weekly or monthly offering beyond your current financial support of the church. For others, it means gifting a tangible asset to the church (stocks, bonds, property, etc.). For still others, it means transforming time, talent or ability into a financial gift to invest in the future of the church.
The moments to which God calls us are not dictated by the whims of man’s world. It might not be convenient to pack up and leave Egypt…but this is the day of the Lord’s liberation. It might not be the optimal time to visit Jerusalem…but this is the day of the Lord’s calling. God’s moments occur at His great and good pleasure. We are called to respond to the kairos when God defines and not when we do.
Is this such a moment? Do you feel led by God to support the financial health of our church? If so, please consider making a pledge to the Kairos Campaign.
Pray
Seeking God’s guidance is the foundation of the Kairos Campaign. Pray for your church, its members and its ministries. Pray that God will enlighten each person to his responsibility in the future of Southside Baptist Church.
Get Involved
Become acquainted with what is happening in your church. Learn everything you can about its ministries and vision.
Enhance Your Spiritual Life
Take this opportunity to worship, study and deepen your faith. Listen for and learn from the faith journey of others. Find ways to share your own journey of faith and your vision for the future of Southside.
Make Your Own Prayerful Pledge Decision
Turn your hopes and prayers into action. Consider what your financial part will be in the Kairos Campaign. Faithfully and joyfully make your pledge.
Print a Pledge Card and Gift Calculator [PDF format].
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