A Landmark Heritage Founded in 1925, Peachtree Christian Church stands as a witness to the glory of God and for the service of His Kingdom. The people of Peachtree Christian Church have faithfully served and worshipped at the crossroads of Atlanta since 1928, when the Gothic Revival-style sanctuary designed by Charles H. Hopson was dedicated. At that dedication, the structure, modeled after Melrose Abbey in Scotland, was committed as a cathedral for the city of Atlanta. The sanctuary contains one of the finest collections of stained glass in the world and is listed on the National Registry of Historic Places. Throughout its history, the people of Peachtree Christian Church have demonstrated, in word and deed, that the church is much more than a physical structure. Rather, it is a community of faithful believers dedicated in a common commitment to share the love of Jesus Christ with a world in search of a relationship with the one true God. It is with this dedication that the leadership of Peachtree Christian seeks to be wise and responsible stewards of the assets and blessings God provides to achieve our mission to Share Christ, Build Believers, and Serve Others. 89 years after our establishment, Peachtree remains a vital and growing point of service to our community and to God s kingdom. Since 1925, generations have discovered the love of our Lord Jesus Christ in this place, then grown in Peachtree is a community of faithful believers dedicated in a common commitment to share the love of Jesus Christ with a world in search of a relationship with the one true God. the knowledge and understanding of their faith and demonstrated the authenticity of that faith through service to others. More than 8800 Christian marriages have begun in the beauty of our sanctuary. Confessions of faith through the sacrament of Christian baptism and dedication of children at our altar also number in the thousands. An energetic and essential community of faith, a family of believers, continues to grow, thrive and serve. Now, we must ensure that the physical assets of this mission are preserved and presented to future generations in a condition that will bring honor to God and recognition of previous generations who sacrificially made this place possible. We must guarantee current and future activities continue with the high level of excellence and integrity that Peachtree embraces.
A Solemn Responsibility The Trustees of Peachtree Christian Church are responsible for maintaining and preserving the real property of the church, including endowment and trust funds. Throughout our 89-year history, this role has been fulfilled with great commitment and sacrifice. Time, expertise, and resources have been identified and committed to ensure the building and property remains in appropriate condition to achieve our mission. Pictured: Historic ruins of Melrose Abbey, Melrose, Scotland (L) and Peachtree Christian Church (R) However, in the past 10-20 years, our aging facility has required more investment to maintain and preserve the integrity of its beauty and function. The increasing challenge of meeting this demand has often created financial strain and stress on available resources and now requires a comprehensive, long-range plan to ensure that Kingdom ministry continues effectively and efficiently at the crossroads of Atlanta. sealant replacement, interior and exterior wood refinishing, general sanctuary upkeep, and perhaps most important, preservation of our stained glass windows, renowned as one of the finest depictions of the life of Jesus Christ in the world. With that resolution and with the mandate from the Operating Policies of Peachtree Christian Church, the Trustees began an initiative to define the current and future needs of our existing physical structure and to establish a plan to successfully and responsibly ensure the financial resources will be available to meet those needs for the next generation and beyond. In June 2010, an engineering report was completed and delivered by Wilson and Strickland, Inc., a highly experienced, Atlanta based consulting company. The report presented a recommended maintenance schedule and costs estimate for the preservation of our facilities for the next 25 years. The comprehensive analysis determined the cost to preserve and sustain Peachtree s existing physical plant will require an annual average expenditure of not less than $200,000. The report includes evaluation of major capital allocations such as replacement of roofs, cooling towers, HVAC units, exterior painting and Upon receipt and evaluation of this analysis, the Trustees of Peachtree Christian Church determined that sufficient resources and planning do not currently exist to meet the challenge of maintaining our beautiful, yet aging facility. Current and recently deferred major capital requirements could liquidate the existing funds of our current endowment within one year. Peachtree Christian would then have no means to fulfill the responsibility of preserving this extraordinary house of worship and prayer, lovingly and faithfully provided by previous generations.
A Heritage of Faithful Co Peachtree Christian Church Rhodes Hall April 24, 1926 The congregation met for the first time in the Church School Assembly Room. The Sanctuary had yet to be built. pictured: 1926 aerial shot of Midtown Atlanta November 28, 1948 Peachtree breaks ground on the Annie Laurie Warren Chapel. 1925 1926 1928 1948 1949 May 10, 1925 About 425 worshippers gathered at the Atlanta Woman s Club (Wimbish House) for Peachtree s first worship service. October 7, 1928 Despite several setbacks, the sanctuary was ready to be dedicated. At this point the Great Commission Window and the Pilcher Organ were in place. The remaining windows were added over the next 30+ years. October 16 23, 1949 The chapel is dedicated. Pictured: Bricker Burns lights the candle in the new chapel.
mmitment February 10, 1963 Groundbreaking for the Education building May 2015 Peachtree Christian will celebrate its 90th Anniversary, secure in the knowledge that this generation has accepted the responsibility to ensure that God s house and His mission is beautifully and responsibly maintained. 1963 1964 2012 2015 January 5, 1964 Dedication service held for the new Educational Building. Senator Richard B. Russell was the guest speaker October 7, 2012 Peachtree Christian celebrated the 84th Anniversary of the dedication of our sanctuary and announced a plan to establish and fund an endowment that will ensure that God s mission at the crossroads of Atlanta is preserved for future generations. The Heritage Fund, when fully endowed, will provide the income necessary to maintain and preserve the facilities so lovingly provided by those whose sacrifice and commitment made Peachtree Christian Church the beautiful place of worship and ministry it is today.
Resources Required to Meet the Objectives With professional consultation, study, and analysis, the Trustees have determined that an endowment fund must be established that will provide income necessary to meet the anticipated capital requirements. The fund will require a principal balance of 7 million dollars. This amount, given a conservative annual growth factor of 3%, will produce annual income of $210,000. On average, this income will meet the forecast requirements of physical plant preservation and replacement expenses. In 2015, Peachtree Christian Church will celebrate its 90th year of existence in the midtown Atlanta community and begin a decade that will lead to a historic recognition and celebration of 100 years of ministry in the year 2025. To maintain our effective and vital mission for God s kingdom in this dynamic location, we must act now to aggressively and responsibly address the issue of major capital improvements. A Providential Opportunity The Peachtree Christian Heritage Fund was established in August 2012 and an initiative has begun to endow the fund with the resources necessary to accomplish these goals. The process will be comprised of two phases. First, a three-year endowment phase will commence in the fall of 2012 and continue through the end of 2015. The goal of this first phase will be to raise a total of 7 million dollars. With the providential blessing of God and to encourage comprehensive, devoted participation, a group of major donors has committed to match every dollar received, up to 3.5 million dollars. Every dollar given by the members and friends of Peachtree Christian Church and received between September 2012 and December 2015 will be doubled immediately upon receipt. This represents an unprecedented opportunity to fulfill our commitment to our Lord and to His service at the crossroads of Atlanta. A Lasting Legacy for Kingdom Service As a part of this initiative, the endowment fund committee will begin a concerted, intentional effort to educate and encourage our constituency to name the Peachtree Christian Heritage Fund in their estate documents. This endeavor will begin in conjunction with the 3-year endowment phase of the campaign, but will become an ongoing, long-term strategy to provide our people with the opportunity to bless future generations by remembering Peachtree s mission in their will. The Financial Objectives Summary for the Heritage Fund The goal for the endowment of this fund is to raise 7 million dollars by the end of 2015. A group of major donors has promised to match dollar for dollar every commitment up to 3.5 million dollars. The remaining 3.5 million dollar goal for the endowment would be raised from our congregation and its friends. Heritage Fund Required Endowment: $7,000,000. Available matching donor commitment (2012-2015): $3,500,000. Total Funds to Raise Outside Matching Donor Commitment: $3,500,000.
Financial Provision for Future Preservation Every dollar committed and delivered to this fund will be held in trust in perpetuity. The revenue derived from the conservative investment of these funds will be used to meet our major capital expenditure needs, as determined by the Trustees, in consultation with current and future engineering studies, reports, and schedules. Our investment counselors advise that a 3% annual return average is a reasonable expectation, even in recent and potentially on-going uncertain markets. Heritage Fund Endowed Amount: $7,000,000. Projected Fund Income/Growth (3%): x.03 Annual Target Income: $210,000. The fund will be under the management of a professional advisory team designated by the Trustees and will be monitored closely, with quarterly reports available for review by donors. The financial accountability and the administration of this fund will reside with the Trustees as stipulated in the Operating Policies of Peachtree Christian Church and in the legal documents created to establish the trust. In 2015, Peachtree Christian Church will celebrate its 90th year of existence in the midtown Atlanta community and begin a decade that will lead to a historic recognition and celebration of 100 years of ministry in the year 2025. Endowment Fund Implementation The Trustees have appointed a committee to implement the initiative to endow the Heritage Fund. This committee will establish and implement an endowment plan and will work with existing ministries, staff, and officers of the church to implement that plan. The Heritage Fund endowment committee will report to the Trustees monthly and the Trustees will report as required and requested to the Executive Committee and the Official Board.
Empowering and Energizing Future Mission A successful initiative will empower Peachtree Christian Church to focus attention and resources on Kingdom service and mission, knowing that the physical assets God has blessed us with in the heart of Atlanta have been responsibly and effectively preserved. The energy, gifts, and talent of our ministerial staff, lay leaders, and membership will be committed to fulfill our mission without the vitality-draining pressure to constantly be diverting resources for building maintenance. Peachtree Christian Church will complete her first century and enter her second century in service to the Kingdom of God with passionate confidence. Peachtree will respond and fulfill the responsibility to our God and to those who faithfully provided this extraordinary cathedral for the city of Atlanta. We will ensure future generations worship God in the extraordinary beauty of this place, grow in the knowledge and understanding of their faith, and demonstrate that faith and love of Christ by sacrificially serving their community and world, all at the crossroads of Atlanta. 14 You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; 15 Nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven. Matthew 5:14-16 Endowment Committee David Adams Jon Brinson Dan Johnson, Chair Jamie Muller Rick Warren Stephanie Withers 1580 Peachtree St. NW Atlanta, Georgia 30309 peachtree.org/heritage