Success Stories

Having worked with more than 1,500 ministries, we know that each is unique. We design and implement strategies specific to the needs of our individual clients.

Take a moment to read success stories from some of our clients.

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Christian Higher Education

BAPTIST UNIVERSITY OF THE AMERICAS in San Antonio, Texas, is a training center for Hispanic, bi-lingual, and bi-cultural leaders. Dr. Albert Reyes, President, remarked a few years ago, “if you are not bi-lingual or bi-cultural here in Texas in the next few years you are going to be bi-yourself.” BUA has launched a bold strategic plan that calls for $50,000,000 to be raised over the next 10 years to build a new 75 acre campus for train pastors and leaders to reach out to the Americas (USA, Central, and South America). This 60 year old institution is beginning to hit its stride at a time when the need has never been greater. Over 1,000 churches and church plants need trained Hispanic and bi-cultural leaders to pastor and shepherd these fellowships. Dr. Reyes and Arnie Adkinson, Vice-President for Ministry Advancement, turned to The Timothy Group to lead them through this campaign. A study was completed and through our donor research, a lead gift of $3,000,000 was secured to help kick off this campaign (the largest gift in the history of BUA). TTG has assisted with solicitation calls, and trained staff, board and committee members in the fine art of solicitation. The campaign is still underway with the university almost ready to break ground.

COVENANT COLLEGE is located on beautiful Look Out Mountain in Georgia. Their campus master plan calls for $200 million dollars in new monies to be raised over the next 20 years. It will address all 3 P’s of strategic and ministry planning, New Programs, New Personnel, and New Property. Dr. Niel Nielson leads the team of advancement staff headed up by Troy Duble. The team selected The Timothy Group to help train a somewhat green staff, employ new major gift officers, and help the college raise the first $31,000,000 in annual, capital and endowment funding. The success has been a credit to Dr. Nielson, Troy, his staff, and the hand of the Almighty. This national campaign is still taking shape but the initial lead gifts and commitments have shown the team the way forward. The President's vision is being implemented and Covenant is showing the PCA and the world that the school is “standing firm and taking action.” Joel Belz, trustee and publisher of World Magazine is quoted as saying, “This campaign is a massive undertaking, it will show the world we are dead serious about the matter of Christian higher education, we will give this campaign effort the very best that we have,” and they are doing just that.

Christian Schools

BAKERSFIELD CHRISTIAN HIGH SCHOOL, in California, had broken ground three times prior to our involvement in the effort. There was the thought, “if we hold a ground breaking, everyone will get excited and support the project.” Well, it didn’t exactly happen that way for this 55 acre state-of-the-art campus, complete with beautiful athletic fields (football, baseball, softball, soccer and track and field). It happened because a board member named Alan Larsen called The Timothy Group and said, "We need some help." In spite of the ground breaking efforts, we backed up and did a pre-campaign/feasibility study and organized a full campaign committee. The money was there; BCHS needed a plan and a mentor, someone to show them how it works. A $4,000,000 sit-down dinner was the final step before a very visible public phase of the campaign, and this time a real ground breaking. The $25,000,000 campus is a shining example of the deep faith and hard work of a board, staff, and committed group of campaign volunteers.

LAKELAND CHRISTAN SCHOOL, located in Lakeland, Florida, is a 52 year old institution with a quality K-12 program. This past year LCS welcomed 206 new students and grew to over 1,200. The elementary facility was old and outdated and needed to be upgraded. The last campaign successful raised $3,000,000 for a new gym and dining commons. As the strategic plan unfolded there was a need to raise $27 million dollars and build an new maintenance building, elementary building, science and technology building, new parking, new entrance to address traffic flow, and the purchase of adjoining property. The leap from $3 million to $27 is a major leap of faith. Dr. Mike Sligh, Steve Wilson, and the trustees needed a ministry partner. They selected us to complete the study and begin a huge “Quiet Phase” to identify lead gifts and organize the committees to help turn this goal into reality. The lead gift was $2,000,000 (the largest by far in the school's history) and the campaign continues to climb in cash and commitments each month. Mike and Steve selected committee chairs for the “Embrace the Vision…Deliver the Dream” campaign that is made up of community leaders who have networking and capacity building skills. This campaign will be one of the largest in the history of ACSI Florida schools. This campaign is on going and we will keep all of you posted on the miracle of God at LCS.

VALLEY CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS is located in the suburbs of Los Angeles. With a new superintendent, a vacancy in the only development position, and a campaign that after 3 years had raised $1.8 Million, Valley Christian wanted a firm to help put the capital campaign back on track. The Timothy Group provided both campaign counsel and part time campaign management assistance for one year. At the end of the year the campaign had reached the $5 million mark and the high school addition was assured.

Christian Camps and Conference Centers

TWIN PINES CAMP AND CONFERENCE CENTER, located in the Pocono’s in Pennsylvania, is a denominational camp with year-round programs. They came to us with a need to build an additional lodge on site. Through a comprehensive capital campaign to finance the first phase of the new facility, The Timothy Group mentored a new Development Director while providing the necessary gift funds for annual operation.

INSPIRATION POINT, located in Clitherall, Minnesota, had previously worked with The Timothy Group on a Pre-Campaign Study and Campaign for facility renovation. When it came time for additional facility improvements and the purchase of another camp site they asked The Timothy Group to again work with them in conducting a feasibility study for another capital campaign. The results of our study showed a positive constituent reaction to the proposed campaign.

Christian Retirement Communities

CHRISTIAN REST HOME is located in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Since Christian Rest Home relies heavily on mail appeals for gifts to the Corporation and Foundation, it asked The Timothy Group to develop an annual plan for those appeals. For almost two decades we have helped with the annual plan, writing the copy and analyzing the results.

MICHIGAN CHRISTIAN HOME is a retirement community located in Grand Rapids, Michigan. In responds to their rising costs for services, they looked to The Timothy Group to train their board and administration in the effective implementation of a comprehensive development program. Their success experienced through our program enables residents who outlive their finances to continue to receive the same quality care.

PILGRIM MANOR is a Christian retirement community located in Grand Rapids, Michigan. They began a project to remodel and build and addition on their existing facility. The Timothy Group came along side the new Executive Director and Development Director who previously had no direct experience in conducting a capital campaign, to achieve their financial goal of $1.5 million. In the process, a foundation for ongoing annual gift needs, Compassionate Care, was established.

Churches

COLUMBIA PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, located in Columbia, Maryland, had outgrown its facilities, and was still experiencing growth. The church selected The Timothy Group to help with a capital campaign because it felt we best fit their culture than other firms they had interviewed. We helped them with a Congregational Readiness Review and then with a capital campaign. Today Columbia Presbyterian Church is moving forward on the construction of a larger facility to meet the needs of their growth.

LIFEBRIDGE CHRISTIAN CHURCH is a church with a tremendous vision to establish a ministry community that interacts with the greater Longmont, Colorado community. Understanding that the total relocation project would be completed over a span of 20+ years, Lifebridge chose The Timothy Group to guide them in the initial phase of relocation. The stewardship program specifically tailored to the church environment resulted in commitments of almost $12 million. This was four times the annual budget of the church. During the 12 months of our service relationship the Timothy Group offered a very personal to a unique situation. Senior Minister Rick Rusaw said “[The Timothy Group] was available and flexible in meeting our needs and communicating how best for us to accomplish our goals.” He goes on to say, “It was important to our congregation to make sure our focus was not simply about money, and [The Timothy Group] helped us accomplish that.”

KEYSTONE COMMUNITY CHURCH, located in Grand Rapids, Michigan, is a relatively young church serving the previously unchurched. It was ready for its "own" building, after renting in a number of locations. The Timothy Group did a Congregational Readiness Review and then helped the church through the capital campaign. Today Keystone Community Church meets in its new building.

KOREAN AMERICAN CHURCH OF PHILLIPI is a church of 700 located in Columbia, MD. The Church of Phillipi entered into a stewardship campaign to fund the construction of their first permanent home on property they had previously purchased. With 80% of those attending the church speaking only Korean and a definite Korean culture in which to work, The Timothy Group developed a program specifically for the church. Often communicating through an interpreter and sensitive to the environment of Korean customs, a successful campaign resulted in $1.5 million in dedicated funds to build the church. In addition, church leaders indicate the growth of individuals in understanding their role as a steward has positively impacted their general giving.

NORTH HILLS CHRISTIAN REFORMED CHURCH, located in Troy, Michigan, needed a capital campaign to build additional program space. They asked The Timothy Group partner with them in a Congregational Readiness Review and then a capital campaign. The church recently voted to proceed with construction of the addition.

ST. PAULS EPISCOPAL CHURCH, located in Jackson, Michigan was a small church with a big challenge. In existence for over 100 years, the church has become a landmark. However, over the past few decades the attitude of members had was apathetic regarding financial support of the church. The need was to replay the oldest section of their building that was no longer usable. Working with church leaders over a twelve month period, The Timothy Group developed a two part program. The first part focused upon increasing awareness for financial support of the churches operation. This resulted in an increase in both number of givers and amount of giving that allows for a balanced operating budget. It was the first time in over ten years that endowment principle would not be used for operation. The second part, six months later, focused on funding the building remodel and addition. This campaign exceeded the established goal and there is a renewed vitality of stewardship within the church community that had been absent for a long time.

The Salvation Army

At The Salvation Army in Grand Rapids, MI, The Timothy Group was engaged to provide analysis for a proposed $30 million Kroc center. The materials produced through our Pre-campaign/Feasibility study provided The Army with insight into community partners, locations and programs. This study becomes part of the final documents that are need for the Kroc Center approval process.

At The Salvation Army in South Bend, IN, utilizing a unique approach due to time constraints, The Timothy Group designed and implemented a combined Program Study and Pre Campaign Feasibility study. Provided a look into the program and funding possibilities for this proposed center, this study assisted The Army with it’s decision making process in planning for a $35 million proposed Kroc Center for St Joseph County, IN.

Rescue Missions

DEGAGE MINISTRIES, located in Grand Rapids, Michigan, responding to growing service demands, asked The Timothy Group to guide its leaders through strategic planning. The Timothy Group helped the agency gather information needed, guided the leaders through a week-end retreat and prepared the report providing future direction for program, facility, and re-defining the role of the Executive Director.

WAYSIDE CROSS MINISTRIES provides ministry to the hurting, helpless and homeless of Aurora, Illinois. When the City of Aurora purchased a Catholic High School and Nun’s living quarters to convert into service center they looked to Wayside Cross Ministries to use the living quarters on the property as a shelter for homeless women and children. Wayside assumed the responsibility for necessary changes to the facility to provide quality living quarters for residents. Partnering with Wayside, The Timothy Group gave leadership to a successful campaign resulting in a facility that provides safe, comfortable housing with dignity for women and children.

Mission Agencies

CHRISTIAN REFORMED WORLD MISSIONS is located in Grand Rapids, Michigan. This international missions agency had an operating budget of over $10 Million. CRWM asked the Timothy Group to train its major donor officer. We work with each officer to identify donor prospects and develop a plan for each one. We walked along side, and coached them on the implementation of those plans until the officer was able to take over without further help.

TEAM-The Evangelical Alliance Mission of Wheaton, Illinois, needed to build capacity and raise needed capital to launch a new communication and ministry network. Dr. Charlie Davis, President, and Mrs. Shelley Cochrane, Vice President of Mobilization, invited The Timothy Group to help with this effort. With 750 missionaries around the world and a budget of over $30 million annually, the challenge was to raise over and above gifts for this campaign. We could not divert funds already committed to missionaries to fulfill the campaign goals. “The campaign was successful and more than that, it served as a training ground for senior leadership and stewardship staff to experience what it really means to build relationships and invite people to participate in what God is doing by giving generously,” says Shelley. “From your CSA institute on Major Donors, to the leadership in our Capital Campaign, we have benefited greatly from your wealth of experience and practical resources.” It was truly a TEAM effort in this campaign with the staff, donors, volunteers, missionaries, outside funding sources, and of course God.

Other Para-Church Ministries

CHICAGO CHRISTIAN COUNSELING CENTER, located in Orland Park, Illinois, had always operated out of rented space and had never done a capital campaign. Faced with an expiring lease, and an opportunity to buy a building. It turned to The Timothy Group to help with a Pre-Campaign Study, which was followed by a successful capital campaign. As a result the agency is proud to have a building to call its own.

OFFICERS CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP, Englewood, Colorado. OCF began during WWII to share the gospel with Officers in the fields of operation around the world. It continues today as a multi-facited ministry here in the USA and at Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine, and Coast Guard posts around the world. When General Bruce Fister, Lt Gen USAF (Ret) and the governing council needed a ministry partner to launch a major capital campaign of $12,500,000 they turned to the Timothy Group. Their campaign will upgrade two conference centers here in the USA and build an endowment for young officers and their families. The Timothy Group has provided needed training, material, expertise, and has made field calls in helping secure lead gifts for the campaign. Gen Fister remarks “We chose The Timothy Group to partner with us in our capital campaign because they were up front about the biblical foundations of fund raising and want to exalt Christ first and foremost in their work. And that is so important to OCF.”

WEDGWOOD CHRISTIAN SERVICES, located in Grand Rapids, Michigan, was faced with an expiring lease for the space used by one of its programs, Wedgwood Christian Services asked The Timohty Group to conduct a Pre-Campaign Study for plans to raise money for a new location for that program. The study determined that constituents would respond positively.