TMF offers challenge grant for Christ's Foundry building

BY CANDY GROSS
Texas Methodist Foundation

The Texas Methodist Foundation recently announced a challenge grant made possible by a donor advised fund to support Christ’s Foundry Fellowship, a ministry of help and hope serving within the North Texas Annual Conference. The grant will provide up to $100,000 in matching funds raised toward Christ’s Foundry’s building fundraising goal.

This $200,000 in matching grant funding will enable Christ’s Foundry to begin construction on a home for its ministry to better serve a vulnerable ommunity with many needs. This United Methodist mission provides both a community center and a center of worship and spiritual growth to the immigrant Spanish-speaking community located just north of Love Field in Dallas. Through Christ’s Foundry, essential community assistance and spiritual guidance is provided to an area challenged by above average school dropout rates, gang violence, crime, and abusive labor practices.

“The challenges are great in the community we serve, but we worship a God who is greater and more powerful than our challenges,” said Rev. Owen K. Ross, pastor of Christ’s Foundry, in recent fundraising communications. “After five years of praying, raising funds, ringing bells, selling tamales, making drawings, redrawing plans, platting lots, holding fasts, having dinners, dealing with the city and experiencing the process bringing us to this moment: We are ready to build!”

Christ’s Foundry has garnered enough financial support from Dallas-area UM churches, other grant sources and individual givers to begin Phase I of its construction plan once this challenge grant is met. But extending that goal to raising an additional $500,000 over the next four months will allow completion of both Phases I and II in 2010 and bring all the ministry’s efforts together under one roof—a plan that allows for even greater life-transforming outreach opportunities and further strengthening of ties in a neighborhood where its mission is crucial. Additionally, completing both phases together will save the ministry $300,000500,000. Christ’s Foundry would then be able to shift its fundraising focus from construction to developing more programs to serve its neighbors, particularly at-risk youth and underserved children.

“This $100,000 challenge grant to help Christ’s Foundry with fundraising, knowing it will ultimately yield $200,000 and get their construction under way, is so important and appreciated,” said Candy Gross, Texas Methodist Foundation Sr. Vice President of Charitable Services and Grants. “The Foundation has been a supporter of Christ’s Foundry for many years now in a number of ways. We’ve seen the impact this United Methodist ministry is having in the heart of Dallas. When a mission is this significant, we want to make every effort to help it meet or exceed fundraising goals.”

Christ’s Foundry currently worships at Lovers Lane United Methodist Church in Dallas, and accomplishes important outreach to its community in other various locations. Their new facility will allow the ministry to have a cohesive home of its own where lives can be changed, and more people than ever will come to know the healing love of Christ.

To contribute toward the $100,000 challenge grant contact Rev. Owen Ross at 214/4979552 or Candy Gross, Texas Methodist Foundation, at 800933-5502. Donations may also be made securely online at www.christsfoundry.org.