Index

A Brief History:

From church services in private homes and borrowed chapels, to potluck suppers and west side Bible studies, it had long been a dream of many to have a Greek Orthodox Church in West Houston. The formation of Nea Vassileiada Greek Afternoon School in the Fall of 1992 became the launch pad for regular Sunday Liturgy services in a store front on Langham Creek in Park Ten.

In 1993, the Charter for St. Basil the Great Greek Orthodox Church was signed. The parish continued meeting at the Park Ten location, but within a few short years was able to purchase 4.3 acres at 915 Eldridge for a permanent building, thanks to the generosity of a few families. In 1998, the parish was able to swap the 4.3 acres for 7 acres across the street at 1100 Eldridge. Within a few months, construction began on the George J. Kostas Education Center. The first service in our new building was Divine Liturgy celebrated on a joyous Christmas Eve 1999.

These accomplishments were achieved, by God’s grace, by people who shared a dream, worked tireless hours, dug deep in their pockets, and kept the faith to make this dream possible. As our parish continues to grow and we look forward to the building of our permanent sanctuary, may the Orthodox Faith of our founders who persevered through hardships and struggles guide us always.

What is the GDC ?

The Growth and Development Committee was formed in the summer of 2001 and was established as a standing committee by an amendment to local Parish By-Laws approved at the Fall 2001 and Spring 2002 General Assembly meetings by the following resolution:

The Growth and Development Committee will be added as one of the standing committees of the Parish. The Committee will focus on long-range tasks with an emphasis on debt reduction and effective fund-raising efforts. The Committee also is responsible for developing a multi-phase plan for the development of the Church property with the primary objective of establishing a permanent sanctuary. The multi-phase plan developed by the Committee shall be submitted to the Parish Council and the Parish Assembly for approval. Any proposed modifications to the multi-phase plan after the multi-phase plan has been approved by the Parish Assembly shall be submitted to the Committee for evaluation prior to approval of such modifications by the Parish Assembly. The Committee shall have at least seven and not more than nine members who are appointed by the Parish Council for two-year renewable staggered terms. Vacancies shall be filled by appointment by the Parish Council for the remainder of the term. All meetings of the Committee shall be open to members of the Parish.

What has the Parish Accomplished?

March 2000, the parish raised $150,000 as part of our first fundraising campaign in the new building. This successful campaign concluded with a significant matching contribution of $300,000 from George and Lea Kostas. These funds enabled the parish to pay off outstanding construction related expenses and to begin paying down our mortgage.

In the Summer of 2001, the Growth and Development committee was formed and our long range planning began.

July 2001: Let’s Get Cookin, the first phase of our multi-phase plan, raised over $65,000 to complete our kitchen, install tile, carpet and sectional dividers in the interim sanctuary, and make a sizable additional principal in December of 2001.

January 2002: Let’s Get Committed, the second phase of our long range plan commenced. The goal of this phase was to build a foundation for our fundraising efforts by four year pledges to the building fund. The church has averaged receipts in excess of $125,000 per year from this program over the past four years (for a total of about $500,000 from 2002 to 2005 included).

February 2003: Our parish successfully negotiated and concluded a refinancing of our debt that lowered our effective interest rates from 9.75% to 3.5% (variable). This refinancing was made possible by the personal guarantee of George and Lea Kostas. Through the efforts of our parish and the significant pay down of debt the requirement for the guarantee was removed by the bank late 2004, several years before the projected date.

Beginning in 2005, started the “Bridging the Gap” campaign designed to provide better information to our parishioners about the status and needs of the building fund, and to increase participation at all levels of contributions.

What is the GDC doing now?

The GDC has spent 2005 working on providing information to the Parish about the church’s building fund status and needs. Key points we have emphasized are:

Stewardship supports daily operations only- it pays the bills

A separate building fund is used to pay our mortgage and fund capital improvements

In addition to a stewardship program, St. Basil’s has a building fund pledge program called Let’s Get Committed

200 families pledged to stewardship in 2004

Only 61 families have pledged to the Let’s Get Committed Building Fund Pledge Program- this is up 50% during 2005, but we have a long way to go!

The church has paid down roughly $1,200,000 in principal since 2000 without full participation in the building fund

We are currently on schedule to be debt free by 2010.

By “Bridging the Gap” between those families supporting stewardship and those pledged to the building fund, we can be debt free by 2010, and in a position to begin planning for our future church even sooner !!!

Building a church may be closer than you think: Together we can do it

YOUR PLEDGE MAKES A DIFFERENCE !

How do I pledge ???

For a pledge card or more information, please contact:

Father Anastasios Raptis