Taking
Ground
Generosity
Campaign
Expanding God’s Kingdom in Southern Indiana
through faith and sacrificial giving.
Register to attend a special church-wide Taking Ground Dinner where we’ll discuss our generosity campaign in detail
Our Story
Our church began almost 75 years ago in 1950 in a small donut shop on Charlestown Road.
Graceland has had a rich and fruitful presence across Southern Indiana. And over the decades we’ve grown, changed, moved locations, and added locations too, but through it all, we’ve always been about one thing: reaching Southern Indiana with the good news of Jesus. In fact, Graceland exists to “put Jesus first in our lives for our neighbors.” That’s the mandate for me and you – we’ve been doing that for 75 years - Let’s do it for 75 more!
There are over 330k people that comprise the 6 counties of Southern Indiana (Clark, Floyd, Harrison, Jefferson, Scott, and Washington) and most of those individuals have yet to come to a saving knowledge of Jesus. We believe Graceland is positioned to see the needle of lostness move 1%-2% over the next ten years. In addition, there remains a vast lostness all around the world—a reality that should compel us to live with a deep sense of urgency. To that end, we believe that the following initiatives will help us continue to keep Jesus at the center of all that we do.
The Challenge
A connector solution between our Main building and the Kid’s Ministry building
Though we are one church, multiple locations, we understand that our New Albany location carries the lion’s share of the financial burden and is indispensable if we are going to see 1%-2% of Southern Indiana reached for Jesus. Graceland has had a rich heritage of men and women laboring tirelessly for their generation, as well as for the upcoming generation–we want to continue to see that take place. Our current setup for young and median-aged families to walk across a busy parking lot and drop their kids off is not ideal and not the most functional use of our space. We believe a Connector breezeway will help meet our growing needs and communicate to families that we see them and want to continue to invest in this up-and-coming generation.
A Graceland.Church Charlestown Campus
Charlestown is a fast-growing area in need of more gospel presence. We believe there is a tremendous opportunity for Graceland.Church to launch a campus. To establish this, we need to purchase land and build a space for worship and kids (or renovate a space) and fund a leadership team (e.g. Campus Pastor, Worship Leader, staff for Kids, Assimilation, )We also believe that a Graceland-Charlestown campus could be a “New Albany 2.0” in that it could be our second largest campus and make a significant contribution to the overall mission of Graceland.Church.
The Ask
Our goal is to raise $3.5 million over the span of two years in addition to our general annual budget.
F.A.Q
GENERAL VISION AND STRATEGY
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A: We want to step forward in faith to invest in the next chapter of our church’s mission. This campaign is about creating spaces that facilitate our goal of reaching southern Indiana with the gospel.
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A: While both projects are part of the long-term vision, we are approaching them in phases. The campaign helps us prayerfully plan and prepare for what God may enable us to do, while prioritizing as resources become available - part of our commitment to be faithful stewards.
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A: Yes. In 2019, the church was preparing to launch a similar capital campaign, but it coincided with the start of the COVID-19 shutdowns in March 2020. Now, five years later, we’ve developed a new plan based on ministry trends, demographic growth, congregational feedback, and community needs. Each project addresses current gaps and positions us for future ministry opportunities.
CONNECTOR Solution QUESTIONS
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A: After careful consideration and feedback from our congregation, we have revised our original plan for the Connector “Building." Instead of constructing a fully enclosed structure, we are now planning to build a covered breezeway that will connect the main building to the Kids Building and Family Life Center. This covered breezeway will provide shelter and improve safety for families and individuals moving between these areas.
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A: The estimated cost for the new covered breezeway is approximately $1.25 million—one-fifth the cost of the original $6 million proposal from 2020 and half the cost of the most recent $2.5 million design. While more modest, this version fully meets the essential needs of accessibility and safety. It also allows us to steward resources wisely by freeing up funds for other ministry priorities, including a future church plant in Charlestown.
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A: The current design not only maintains most of the existing parking but also adds 57 new spaces, with an additional 72 spots slated for future need. We are working with designers to ensure that traffic flow remains smooth and that the new walkway integrates seamlessly with our campus layout.
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A: Yes. Past designated gifts from the 2020 capital campaign have been held and will be applied to the construction of the new covered breezeway. We are committed to transparency and will provide updates on how these funds are utilized.
CHARLESTOWN CAMPUS QUESTIONS
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A: Charlestown is a growing community with unique opportunities for ministry. While it is geographically close to Memphis, Charlestown has its own distinct identity and needs. We believe that establishing a campus there will allow us to effectively reach and serve the residents of Charlestown.
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A: Our goal is to launch Graceland Church Charlestown in the fall of 2027. This timeline allows us to build a strong foundation through prayer, community engagement, resource development, and meet the launch metrics in place.
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A: We are excited to announce that Pastor Ryan Brown, along with his wife Jenny, will be leading the Charlestown Campus. Pastor Ryan has been serving as the Executive Pastor of Gatherings at Graceland Church and brings a wealth of experience and a heart for community outreach.
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A: We plan to have a permanent presence but that may not be a permanent location. We are open to meeting in a rented facility or partnering with an existing church in Charlestown. This approach allows us to establish a presence in the community, build relationships, and assess the needs of the area before investing in a permanent location.
FINANCES AND STEWARDSHIP
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A: We will fund these projects through generosity rather than debt. We are committed to remaining debt-free as a church.
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A: There is no set amount or percentage. We’re asking every household to prayerfully consider what sacrificial generosity looks like for them. Every gift, large or small, makes a difference.
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A: While we are looking at ways to prioritize and streamline spending, the scope of these projects goes beyond our current budget. This campaign invites everyone to participate in something greater than we could do through ordinary means.
DISCIPLESHIP AND MINISTRY IMPACT
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A: Yes. A key part of this campaign is spiritual formation. In August and September, the sermon series and Community Group curriculum will be focused on the topic of stewardship and generosity.
COMMUNICATION AND PARTICIPATION
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A: Absolutely. Town halls, Q&A sessions, and small group discussions are part of this process. We want to walk through this together as a church family.
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A: You’re not alone. Every act of generosity—prayer, time, service, or financial support—is deeply valued. This is about participation, not equal gifts.
