The world is changing around us. Transitions are everywhere—and everyone can feel it. The world is crying out for stability, for change makers, for hope.
St. Luke’s stands at the center of this moment in history—within our community, our denomination, and our church. God is calling us to respond in faith, grounded on the firm foundation of Jesus Christ.
Now is the time to steward the legacy of the last 50 years, to activate our ministry for these present challenges, and to create opportunities that will secure the next 50 years of St. Luke’s impact.
Will U be a part of the legacy?
STEWARD the Legacy of the Past 50 Years
“When the Lord your God brings you into the land … cities you did not build, houses filled with good things you did not provide… then be careful not to forget the Lord.”
– Deuteronomy 6:10–12
In a world that changes quickly, we remain rooted in the foundation God planted 50 years ago: a Wesleyan witness of Christ’s transformative love. This moment calls us to build on the legacy of the first 99 who stepped out in faith — not clinging to tradition, but expanding the vision they cast when they dreamed of a church where all would feel God’s love the moment they arrived. Those early St. Lukers, and many of you, invested in tools and space to make that vision real. Now it’s our turn to steward that gift and carry the vision forward.
We will steward their faithfulness through:
• An aesthetic renovation of our Sanctuary, built and furnished in 1988, for it to become a more welcoming space for worship, arts, and events that invite others to experience God’s love and to be a place that reflects welcome, hope, and comfort to all who enter.
• We will build on the legacy of the original design by enclosing the Torrance Pavilion to expand as a center of welcome and hospitality for people before worship, concerts, and events that show the community who we are and what we value. This will become a medium-sized gathering space for community and congregation events.
Sanctuary Refurbishment – $384,065
Includes new carpet, chairs, and pew refinishing to enhance the worship space.
Torrance Pavilion Renovation – $261,248
Includes enclosure, HVAC, painting, and architectural work to expand usable space.
Covered Walkway (Building C to Sanctuary) – $201,000
Completes the covered walkway system across campus.
Replace Skylights in Youth Center and Building A – $155,000
Resolves leaks and inefficiencies.
Parking Lot Remilling – $275,000
Resurfacing and improvements for safety, accessibility, and aesthetics.
Electrical Panel Upgrades – $150,000
Modernizes aging infrastructure across multiple campus buildings.
EMBRACE the Present Moment
“Don’t be conformed to the patterns of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds so that you can figure out what God’s will is—what is good and pleasing and mature.”
– Romans 12:2
In a season where belonging and acceptance are being challenged, we are called to create safe places where people of all ages can feel a sense of courageous purpose to be exactly who they are and learn how God is calling their lives and voices to be used for Kingdom Impact. We will embrace the present through two major initiatives:
• We will create safe places of welcome and belonging for our children and youth by prioritizing and upgrading our safety and security infrastructure, plans, and protocols throughout our campus.
• We will develop a new nonprofit organization that will serve individuals of all ages, churches, and nonprofit organizations to nurture personal transformation to spark social transformation through wellbeing, arts and creativity, leadership development and advocacy.
Campus-Wide Access Control – $225,000
Installation of a secure access system; applying for FEMA grant support.
Learning Lab – 501(c)(3) Launch – $261,000
Supports a new nonprofit affiliated with St. Luke’s over its first 3 years.
Founder’s Hall Sound Board – $130,000
Replaces outdated board used for gym events and worship.
Founder’s Hall Amplifiers – $37,420
Replaces 4 aging amps; one currently not working.
LEAD as Hope for the Future
“Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds… laying up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age.”
– 1 Timothy 6:18–19
In these uncertain and changing times, securing the future of St. Luke’s for God’s continued impact over the next 50 years is critical. When many churches are struggling under the weight of increasing facility maintenance costs, sometimes having to make the decision to sell property or shutter buildings, St. Luke’s has an opportunity to be a leader across the denomination by ensuring that maintaining ministry spaces does not reduce our capacity to continue growing ministry. We will commit to lead as hope for the future in two ways:
• Stewarding creation and the environment by installing solar panels to move us toward a sustainable, energy conscious campus, which will also create savings of more than $70,000 annually to the operating budget.
• Funding our Capital Endowment to support ongoing maintenance expenses that will secure annual savings to our operating budget of more than $50,000 annually – allowing more resources to be directed toward life changing ministry this year, next year, and forever.
Solar Energy Installation Building C/Gym – $611,630 – $183,489 (30%) = $428,141
553 panels. Estimated $57,385-year 1 savings to Operating Budget.
$1,434,000 Lifetime savings.
Solar Energy Installation Building Founder’s Hall – $235,090 – $70,527 (30%) = $164,563
210 panels. Estimated $26,455-year 1 savings to Operating Budget.
$661,398 Lifetime savings.
Capital Expenditure Endowment Growth – $750,000
Takes balance to $1.25M; yields $50K/year at 4% to sustain facilities.
Grant Writer Contracts– $70,000
Investment in development staff capacity with potential to fund multiple areas.
Vision Work – $???
Strategic planning and discernment work to shape long-term direction.
Join us as we honor the past, embrace the present, and commit to the future with a collective, congregational investment of $3,319,733 to complete all the projects outlined above and follow our calling as St. Luke’s in just such a time as this.
Campaign Gift Levels
Cornerstone Level
Gifts of $500,000 and above are considered Cornerstone Level gifts, which will enable us to start on larger projects immediately.
Change Maker Level
Gifts of $250,000-$499,999 are considered Change Maker Level gifts, which will ensure St. Luke’s can meet the growing needs of our congregation and community.
Founder’s Level
Gifts of $99,000-$249,999 are considered Founder’s Level gifts, in honor of the 99 charter members of St. Luke’s UMC.
Hope Level
Gifts of $10,000-$98,999 are considered Hope for the Future Level gifts and will make a significant impact on St. Luke’s today, but also as we prepare for the next 50 years of ministry.
Leadership Level
Gifts of $1-$9,999 are considered Leadership Level gifts. At St. Luke’s, we believe everyone is a leader in this ministry and gifts at this level sustain the foundation of giving.
Make Your Pledge or Give Today!
Complete your pledge form and confirm your gift commitment by clicking the button below:
Give online today using a credit/debit card by clicking the button below (give one time or set up a recurring gift):
You are also welcome to bring in or mail a check to the church:
4851 S. Apopka Vineland Rd., Orlando, FL 32819
For non-cash gifts such as stocks, IRAs, or required minimum distributions, contact Andrea Whisnant-Burgis at awhisnant@st.lukes.org.
As we look toward our 50th year of ministry, we invite you to ask:
How will you join this movement of God’s vision and leave a Legacy of Leadership?
