Dear Beloved in Christ!

A new Orthodox church will be created to manifest God’s Kingdom, giving Glory to our Savior, and proper veneration of the Mother of God and of all the Saints. With long-preserved traditional Orthodox architectural forms, this church will transcend more than a mere aesthetic experience, but as the Kingdom of God within.
 
We have developed a double-phase strategy for our Capital Campaign. Phase I begins with the preliminary readiness of the raw land (utilities, water, septic, parking and landscaping, etc.) followed by the construction of a 12,000 sq. ft. parish complex. The footprint will support a spacious fellowship hall for after-service dining, and as a place to nurture relationships within the parish for decades to come.  The hall will be annexed with sufficient space for a large, temporary interior chapel. Additional classrooms and meeting spaces will be built for parish ministries, and to provide the community with ample space for weddings, group activities and for ministry volunteers. Our volunteers are essential in supporting the range of religious, educational and community outreach programs needed for a vital, growing congregation. Phase I has an estimated project cost of $4,400,000, with the target construction commencement date in the Autumn of 2025.

After reaching the goal of Phase I, Phase II begins with the construction of a beautiful and traditional cruciform church with Sanctuary & Apse, Vestries, Solea, Nave, Narthex, porched entry and roofed arcade. The church will serve up to 300 people. The exterior will have a central peaked dome, arched windows, rafter tails, and gable brackets. The interior, in Byzantine tradition, will contain arched spaces, plastered walls, and, in time, colorful iconographic murals. Broad porches and a processional arcade will culminate at a central courtyard. Additionally, the parish complex will be modified with more classrooms, meeting spaces, storage rooms, and office space. The interior chapel will be transitioned into one spacious fellowship hall. The estimated project cost is approximately $7,000,000. This church and complex will serve to inspire and comfort the faithful and all who visit. We will build from the heart, giving our utmost as a sweet-smelling offering to God, with prayers arising as incense. 
 
Establishing this earthly-heavenly treasure, like refined gold, may require a great and lengthy commitment from each member of our parish, and from friends, patrons and benefactors outside our Columbus community. Our hope in achieving the campaign goals will depend upon the involvement and sacrificial giving of everyone. We are asking for pledges from members and friends in the community for donations that may be stretched over a five-year period. Raising funds for this final step of the journey will require significant spiritual fortitude and great generosity inside the bounds of faith, and with cheerfulness. With God’s abundant help, we will be making an eternal difference in the lives of others for generations to come.
 
We invite you to be a part of this faith-building call to action through your prayers and financial support. Your generous contributions can be made by visiting stbarnabasorthodox.org/cc or by check to:
St. Barnabas the Apostle Orthodox Church, PO Box 31, Sunbury, OH 43074.

Thank you in advance for your support!

May the Lord bless and keep you all in His loving care and grant that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. (2 Corinthians 9:8)

In Christ,

V. Rev. Fr. Athanasius Dresdow

+Fr. Athanasius, the Parish Council, Clergy and Faithful ofSt. Barnabas the Apostle Antiochian Orthodox Church

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