Capital campaign an unprecedented success: Trietsch Memorial UMC celebrates 25 years of ministry

BY TAMMY HISE
Trietsch Memorial UMC, Flower Mound

More than 2,500 people attended the Trietsch Memorial UMC, Flower Mound, 25th Anniversary Celebration Brunch and special worship services on April 20. Current and former members celebrated a quarter century of changing lives in the community and around the world.

Visitors, including former members, Bishop Scott Jameson Jones and his wife, Mary Lou, were on hand to enjoy the festivities.

What started with a handful of people meeting in the Timbercreek Elementary school cafeteria has blossomed into a 15-acre campus, and the growth continues.

By continually enlarging its vision and challenging its limits, Trietsch UMC has grown into a church that demonstrates the love of Christ to the community.

There have only been three pastors in Trietsch UMC’s history. Members enjoyed having current pastor, Rev. John Allen, as well as founding pastor Rev. Bill Jacobs and Rev. Jim Ozier, the pastor for more than 17 years, share stories of past and present accomplishments as well as a vision for the future.

The event was also part of the capital campaign "Growing in Faith" to build a new Family Life Center. Dr. Allen described the event as a highlight in a campaign that has seen more than half of the congregation’s members get involved.

The faithful work "To know Christ and to make Christ known" is continuing to make tremendous strides in this rapidly growing community. The future is bright as Trietsch continues to respond to the mission and ministry needs of this area and around the world.

Dr. Allen noted, "Over the past decades, many have sacrificed to set the course for Trietsch and now it is our time to examine ourselves in light of what God is calling us to do." Executive pastor, Rev. Lyle Benson said, "We are growing so rapidly and we don’t have room for all the family and youth activities to help them grow their faith. A new Family Life Center will enhance and give us the capacity to expand all our ministries."

The "Growing in Faith" campaign was bathed in prayer as families prayed the campaign prayer, "Lord, what do You want to do through me?"

The initial campaign goal was $5 million and campaign leaders were excited to announce on May 18 Celebration Sunday that, not only did the church meet its goal, but surpassed it by more than $615,000, with pledges still being received every day.

Trietsch UMC Lay Leader Suzanne Sutton says, "Prayer continues to be the foundation of the campaign success. We are so blessed to have more than 460 families commit to this campaign, which just shows how strongly our congregation feels about providing a place to grow our ministries and be able to invite more of the community to be a part of our activities."

The focus on prayer continued through the special thank you and remembrance crosses presented to each person who committed to the "Growing in Faith" Campaign on Commitment Sunday. The handmade prayer crosses were made of olive wood from Bethlehem. The youth held a special service in which members prayed over each of the crosses.

Building committee chairs, David and Jackie Watkins, said, "That as successful as the campaign has been so far, we are not done yet."

They say that the new Family Life Center will open the doors for ministry even wider and will let the church claim God’s vision for the future and that the capital campaign is a defining moment in the church’s life.

For more information on Trietsch UMC and its ministries, please call 972-539-8547, or visit website www.tmumc.org.

Youths’ hands bless olive wood prayer cross.