Enlarging The Harvest – Pastor Brian Cassell
Briefing Document: The “Miracle Multiplied” Campaign
Executive Summary
On October 4, 2025, the Spring Meadows Seventh-day Adventist Church launched “The Miracle Multiplied,” a comprehensive, three-year capital campaign. The campaign’s primary objective is to raise $3.3 million by 2028 to completely eliminate the remaining mortgage on its $16 million facility. The strategic imperative for this initiative stems from a pressing financial reality: the mortgage payment currently consumes approximately 44% of the church’s monthly budget, severely constraining funds for ministry and evangelism to just 1% of the total budget.
The vision articulated by church leadership is to “release those resources into the work that God has called us to do.” By retiring the debt, the church aims to redirect nearly half of its monthly budget toward its core mission of “making disciples in Jesus’ name.” This reallocation would fund a significant expansion of local ministry, community outreach, global missions, evangelism, and essential facility maintenance. The campaign calls for 100% participation from the congregation, emphasizing the principle of “equal sacrifice, not equal gifts,” through contributions made over and above regular tithes and offerings.
Campaign Overview
The “Miracle Multiplied” campaign is presented as a defining moment in the church’s journey, building upon a history of divine provision and congregational faith.
• Campaign Goal: To raise $3.3 million by 2028 to eliminate the mortgage debt.
• Core Rationale: To move beyond debt service and unlock substantial financial capacity to directly fund the church’s mission, ministries, and community impact.
• Theological Foundation: The campaign is anchored in the biblical principle found in 2 Corinthians 9:10-11: “Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness.” This scripture frames the initiative as an act of faith where God multiplies the resources his people steward for His work.
• Call to Action: The leadership has called for unified participation from the entire church family, including children and youth, to join in a spiritual journey of prayer and sacrificial giving.
The Financial Imperative
The campaign is a direct response to the church’s current financial structure, where debt service significantly outweighs ministry investment.
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Financial Metric
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Amount / Percentage
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Details
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Remaining Mortgage Debt
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$3.3 Million
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On an original $16 million building project.
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Current Monthly Budget
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~$92,000
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Increased from ~$83,000 in the previous fiscal year.
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Mortgage Allocation
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~44% of Monthly Budget
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Approximately $40,000 per month, or $500,000 annually.
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Monthly Interest Accrual
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$16,500
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Ministry & Evangelism
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1% of Monthly Budget
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Reduced from 3% in the prior fiscal year to cover rising costs.
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Other Major Allocations
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~32%
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Covers building, equipment, utilities, and support for Adventist education.
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Recent Performance
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-$15,502 (Sept. 2025)
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September 2025 giving fell short of the monthly budget need.
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Pastor Brian Cassell stated that ministries are currently thriving primarily “because of the faithfulness of a few who actually allow these ministries to run with their energy and their time and even some personal donations.” He concluded, “this is not acceptable… we cannot continue to move forward with God’s vision… with this picture in mind.”
Vision for a Debt-Free Future
Eliminating the mortgage would free approximately 44% of the monthly budget, enabling a transformative expansion of the church’s mission and operations.
Ministry Possibilities
• Enhanced Discipleship: Adequately fund growing generational ministries from children through “Just Older Youth” (JOY).
• New Initiatives: Provide the margin and resources to launch and support new, emerging ministries inspired by the congregation.
• Facility Improvements: Enhance physical ministry spaces, with specific mention of renovating the children’s wing to include a welcome center and improved security.
• Staffing: Gain the ability to employ additional ministry staff to support a growing congregation.
Mission Opportunities
• Community Outreach: Increase support for current programs like the SALT Ministries food pantry, which recently served over 500 people in one week, and launch new missionary programs.
• Evangelism: Fund annual evangelistic series, literature distribution, Bible studies, and an expanded media presence, noted as the “largest and broadest area for sharing Jesus” today.
• Community Center: Begin the planning phase for a community center on the church campus for recreation and community services, a long-term vision of the church.
Maintenance and Operations
• Capital Reserve: Establish a dedicated fund to address the ongoing maintenance, repairs, and capital needs of the church facility as it ages.
Historical Context: A Legacy of “Miracle Moments”
The campaign is framed as the culmination of a journey marked by faith and growth.
• Founding (2006): The Spring Meadows church was formed through the merger of two congregations: Winter Springs Church, which was “busting at the seams” with no room to expand, and Seminal Meadows Church, which had ample land but only 40 members. A steering committee recommended the merger on July 30, 2006.
• Building Project: A multi-phase construction project followed, with a groundbreaking in 2012, the opening of the Fellowship Hall in 2012, the completion of the main sanctuary in 2014, and the finalization of the office wing, baptistry, and Boggess Chapel in 2021.
• Past Sacrificial Giving: The congregation previously raised $9 million for the $16 million project. A testimony was shared from Travis and Patty Woolly, who, during a previous campaign, gave $50,000 they had saved for five years for a house, trusting God’s prompting.
• Sustained Growth (2014-2024): The church has experienced exponential growth over the last decade.
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Growth Metric (2014-2024)
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Statistic
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Membership
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From 615 to nearly 1,400
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Tithe Contributions
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$21 Million
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Local Offering Contributions
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$7.5 Million
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New Ministries
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30
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Evangelistic Events
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50
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Mission Trips
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16
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Campaign Timeline & Logistics
The launch initiates a period of focused prayer and spiritual preparation leading up to financial commitments.
• October 4, 2025: Campaign Launch during the worship service.
• October 11, 2025: Launch of a multi-week spiritual journey for the congregation.
• October 30, 2025: Leadership Commitment Sabbath.
• November 1, 2025: Public Commitment event for the entire church family.
• November 15, 2025: Church Retreat.
The leadership is asking every member to pray for the initiative and seek God’s direction on how they can sacrificially contribute. A campaign booklet outlining the vision and giving options was distributed to the congregation.
Important Quotes
Pastor Brian Cassell: “The time has come for us to set our sights beyond this. The Miracle Multiplied campaign… is our united effort to eliminate this debt. Not simply to pay off the loan by the way, but to release those resources into the work that God has called us to do. That’s why we exist.”
Pastor Brian Cassell: “I believe the best years for this church are yet to come for his honor and his glory. But I believe we also have an opportunity… obstacles in God’s eyes… become opportunities for him to work in three ways: For us, in us, and through us.”
Valarie Prusia: “We need to become a team of un-imperfect people in love with a perfect God. We cannot do this alone. We can’t have any one person do it alone or any one group do it alone. It takes all of us.”
Pastor Bob Boggess: “We cannot explain this other than God is good… It’s been a real affirmation of my faith to see the miracles that the Lord has worked to make it possible for us to be in this facility.”
Rick Clark (citing Ellen White): “Spiritual prosperity is closely bound up with Christian liberality.”
Patty Woolly (recounting God’s prompting): “God said, ‘It’s not the money that’s the biggest gift. It’s your testimony. So you can’t be quiet about it.'”
