2026-27 capital capmaign
September 12, 2026
Glory to Jesus Christ!
Whether you're new to St. John's or you've been part of our family for years, we're so glad to have you with us. Our mission is simple: to grow together in prayer, fasting, and generosity through the worship and teachings of Christ's holy Church. Throughout the year, we share what God has given us through worship, classes, study groups, meals, charitable work, and social gatherings — and our Grant Park campus beats at the heart of all of it, giving us a real place to carry out this very real mission in the community around us.
Now it's time to make some much-needed repairs and improvements to God's temple. With the blessing of His Grace, Bishop Gerasim, the Parish Council and I have launched a Capital Campaign to support this work. As our parish continues to grow, we want to keep offering a welcoming, safe, and flexible space for worship, fellowship, education, and service — and with God's help, we can make that happen together.
Our first goal is to raise $35,000 by the end of December 2026, above and beyond our regular operating budget. We're off to a wonderful start: a generous donor has already pledged a matching gift of $35,000. If we meet that match, we'll be well on our way toward our broader goal of $110,000 by the end of 2027!
Our unique campus enables us to welcome a diverse community of adults, families, and children into our parish family. Please prayerfully consider a gift to the 2026–27 Capital Campaign, and keep this effort in your prayers as we move forward.
If you have questions, ideas, or would like help planning your gift, please contact Margaret Arbogast, Task Force Chair, at margo.arbogast12@gmail.com.
The Capital Campaign Task Force will share updates as we go.
Asking for your prayers,
Priest Gabe Aldridge | Rector
about sjww:
St. John the Wonderworker Orthodox Church is a diverse and welcoming community with deep roots in Grant Park and the city of Atlanta. Our parish began as a mission in Midtown in the 1970s, moved to Grant Park in the 1980s, and began the still-thriving Loaves and Fishes food program in the 1990s.
Why are we launching a campaign now?
St. John’s is blessed with a beautiful historic campus that is home to our liturgical life and a wide variety of ministries. However, the historic nature of the building also requires us to plan for major repairs before they become emergencies.
Our regular tithes and offerings cover the ministries and services of the parish, as well as benevolence, regular maintenance, and repairs.
However, recent engineering assessments have identified several significant needs that we should be prepared to address in the near term and that fall outside our standard operating budget.
It has become clear that we need to build capital reserves that will allow our space to continue to support our ministries and common life.
Help us build a sustainable reserve for the care, repair, and future of our historic church home.
where will my donations go?
Our building and grounds have several known maintenance needs. The following examples illustrate the large expenses we need to be ready for:
Barn roof and structural repairs. A 2025 structural assessment identified a significant sag at the south end of the Barn roof. The engineer recommended further investigation and reinforcement of the roof structure. The Barn roof has recently begun to leak.
Why fix: Ongoing water intrusion can damage framing, ceilings, finishes, and the spaces below, while the existing sag may point to an underlying structural issue with the roof and walls.
Parsonage moisture and mold. Moisture problems in the parsonage crawlspace have been recurring for years. Earlier inspections documented standing water beneath the crawlspace, a wet basement slab, and the need for better drainage and moisture control.
Why fix: Unless the source of the moisture is controlled, the problem can return and continue to damage wood, flooring, finishes, and the overall condition of the building.
Orleans Street retaining wall. The large stone retaining wall behind the Fellowship Hall has developed a significant outward bulge. In places, the wall is more than 12 feet high and helps hold back the ground beneath Orleans Street and the adjacent alley. The structural engineer recommends repair to stop further movement.
Why fix: While it is not currently an immediate threat to the church building, continued movement or failure could damage access to the lower level, affect drainage around the building, and turn a manageable repair into a much larger emergency.
Together, just these three known areas represent a preliminary planning range of roughly $50,000–$90,000 for near-term work to stabilize and maintain our buildings. Fully correcting them over the next three to five years may require additional investment.
Working with the Parish Council and the parish as a whole, our goal is to assess these needs and plan responsibly for meeting them over the next few years.
The Parish Council will decide project priorities and approve campaign expenditures. Findings and future recommendations will be presented to the parish for discussion and a vote at the February 2027 annual meeting.
How do I give?
1) “Donate” button below.
2) Tithe.ly - Enter your donation and select “Capital Campaign/Building Fund.”
3) If you prefer another way of giving, please contact Elaine Camacho at bookkeeper@sjww.org to arrange your donation.
other ways to get involved:
There are many opportunities to improve and beautify our space through volunteer work within the parish.
We also welcome the input and participation of parish members in all aspects of this campaign.
If you have questions or want to get more involved, please contact Margaret Arbogast, Task Force Chair, at margo.arbogast12@gmail.com.