Second Baptist Houston Completes Largest Local-Church Campaign Ever Recorded

Second Baptist Church in Houston, Texas, has raised more than $84 million in two-year pledges to expand its ministry in Houston and across America. This is the largest local-church campaign ever recorded.

Houston, TX (PRWEB) February 27, 2006 -- Culminating a vision-casting process that began in 1999, Second Baptist Church in Houston has raised more than $84 million in two-year pledges, including more than $21 million in cash contributions, to expand its ministry in Houston and across America.

The record-setting pledges by the church’s more than 42,000 members make this the largest local-church campaign ever recorded. The funds will be used to expand Second Baptist’s three Houston-area sites as well as establish additional campus locations in movie theaters in the greater Houston area and across America.

“God doesn’t want His people to remain stacked up together, so they can have a good time and bless only their own,” said Ed Young, pastor of Second Baptist Houston. “God wants His church to expand – to lengthen its cords and deepen its stakes. That’s why New York City, Phoenix, San Francisco and many other metropolitan areas are on my heart.”

According to Young, nearly 500 church members were appointed in 1999 to study 12 areas of the church. After eight months of study and analysis, the task forces generated reports “four feet high” that provided a detailed road map for ministry opportunities and expansion through 2007.

“When we began the consulting process six months ago, it was obvious that Dr. Ed Young's vision for Second Baptist Church was crystal clear. His leadership, personal commitment to the campaign and his passion to help people was the catalyst that led the entire church family to look beyond the walls of the church, and see a city and world that needs Christ,” said Campaign Consultant Paul Gage, president of Dallas-based The Gage Group.

“It is my hope that every church in American will be encouraged and inspired to expand its witness by this success story. I will never be the same having been a part of this great ministry,” he added.

Last year, Second Baptist was given access to thousands of movie theaters across the United States, as well as in Australia, Canada and Europe. The first theater campus was launched last month at the Cinemark Theater in Pearland, a suburb of Houston, and a fifth campus opened February 5 in nearby Willowbrook. Two other Houston-area churches will open later this year. Messages by Pastor Ed Young or Associate Pastor Ben Young will be projected on the screens.

“We see church services being held not just in Houston, but in other parts of Texas, across America and ultimately in other countries of the world,” Ed Young said, adding, “God has opened a big door.”

For more information visit www.thegagegroup.com or call Paul Gage at 800-684-GAGE.

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