The Next Mile

God is doing a powerful work at St. Paul’s.

Children are being formed in Christ from their earliest years. Adults are growing into deeper, more enduring faith. Life Groups are creating meaningful Christian community. And through our ministries of mercy, St. Paul’s continues to meet our neighbors with the love of Christ in tangible ways.

The center aisle of St. Paul’s during a Sunday service, running past a carved wooden font toward the altar. — The nave at St. Paul’s

We believe God is calling us to build upon that work.

The Next Mile is an investment in the formation of hearts, minds and lives for Christ — for this generation and for generations still to come.

Where we stand

A Defining Moment for St. Paul’s

A lantern burning at dusk on a white column beside the walkway at St. Paul’s, the path beyond it leading toward the parish buildings. — The lantern on the church walk

For generations, faithful parishioners have invested in St. Paul’s so that those who came after them would have a place to worship, learn, grow and serve.

We are the beneficiaries of that faithfulness.

Through the generosity of our parish, we have cared for our historic church and invested significantly in the buildings and grounds entrusted to us. At the same time, God has continued to grow the ministries taking place within them.

Today, we find ourselves at an important moment in the life of our church.

We are no longer simply asking how we maintain what previous generations built.

We are asking how we prepare for what God is building next.

The Next Mile is our opportunity to answer that call. We must expand our capacity for Christian formation and create the spaces needed for ministry to flourish well into the future.

This is not simply a construction project.

It is a spiritual investment.

The mission

One Mission. Three Expressions.

At the heart of The Next Mile are three essential and interconnected expressions of the mission of St. Paul’s: Christian Education. Discipleship. Ministries of Mercy.

Together, they represent a complete pathway of Christian formation — forming the mind in truth, shaping the heart in Christ and putting faith into action through service.

Faith formation begins early.

Through St. Paul’s Christian education ministries, children and students are given a strong biblical foundation that helps shape not only what they know, but who they become.

Our classrooms are places where Scripture is taught, questions are welcomed, relationships are built and young people begin to understand their identity in Christ.

As the number of children and families participating in the life of St. Paul’s continues to grow, so does our responsibility to create an environment that supports that formation.

The Next Mile will strengthen our ability to provide consistent, high-quality Christian education and create greater opportunities for children and students to grow in knowledge, wisdom and faith.

We are not simply educating children. We are helping form lifelong disciples of Jesus Christ.

Following Jesus is a lifelong journey.

At St. Paul’s, discipleship happens through learning Scripture, spending time in prayer, teaching, enjoying Life Groups, fellowship and building deep relationships with other believers. It is where faith moves beyond Sunday morning and becomes part of everyday life.

We want every person who calls St. Paul’s home, at every age and stage, to have opportunities to grow deeper in their understanding of Scripture, stronger in community and more mature in Christ.

The Next Mile will create additional capacity for Life Groups, Bible studies, Christian formation, pastoral care and other gatherings that allow people to know Christ more fully and walk alongside one another in faith.

Our goal is not simply a larger church. It is a church growing deeper in Christ.

The Gospel does not stop at our doors.

Jesus calls us to love our neighbors, care for those in need and make His love visible through our actions. That calling is being answered already at St. Paul’s. But the need has outpaced our space.

Our food and clothing ministries serve neighbors throughout our community. Volunteers give their time to welcome, listen, encourage and meet practical needs. The Next Mile will allow us to expand that work — and do so more effectively.

With greater capacity and more intentional ministry space, we can serve more people, strengthen relationships and respond to needs with dignity, compassion and the love of Christ.

Mercy is faith made visible.

These three pillars are not separate ministries competing for attention or resources. They are deeply connected.

Head
Christian Education forms the foundation.
Heart
Discipleship develops a mature life of faith.
Hands
Ministries of Mercy put that faith into action.

Where the work begins

Reimagining Skardon Hall

Building for Ministry. Now and Next.

Skardon Hall has served St. Paul’s faithfully for many years. But today, the building simply doesn’t function for the ministry needs of our church.

The challenges go far beyond outdated finishes or an inefficient floor plan. Skardon Hall is facing significant structural and environmental issues that must be addressed.

The interior of Skardon Hall: long tables and folding chairs set out across the floor of the aging fellowship space. — Skardon Hall today

What we are facing

Six conditions

Extensive mold requiring costly mitigation
Water intrusion around aging HVAC units; full heating and cooling replacement
Substantial wood rot throughout the structure
Foundation settlement that has compromised the floor system and requires new joists
Electrical systems in need of major updates
Plumbing systems in need of major updates

Documented conditions, Skardon Hall

Weathered exterior siding and trim on Skardon Hall showing paint failure and deterioration. — Exterior

An interior hallway in Skardon Hall showing damaged wall surfaces and dated construction. — Hallway

Staining and surface damage on an interior wall of Skardon Hall. — Wall

Repairs alone

More than $1.5 million in repairs, before restoration or meaningful reconfiguration even begins.

And even after those repairs, the existing layout would still need to be significantly reconfigured to support the way St. Paul’s ministries operate today.

More importantly, investing heavily in repairing the existing structure would still leave us with a building that does not adequately serve our current ministry needs or provide the flexibility and capacity we will need in the years ahead.

Rather than investing significantly to preserve a space that no longer works, how can we steward these resources to create a place designed for the ministry God is calling us toward?

The Next Mile gives us the opportunity to reimagine Skardon Hall around mission.

A place where children can be formed in Scripture.
A place where adults can gather for discipleship and Christian community.
A place designed intentionally for the life of St. Paul’s today, while providing the flexibility to serve generations still to come.

This is not simply about replacing an aging building. It is about creating the capacity for ministry to flourish.

The season

Why
Now?

The needs at the center of The Next Mile are not ideas for the future.

Christian education is forming children and students in biblical truth now, but the need is growing.
Discipleship ministries and Life Groups are creating deeper relationships and spiritual maturity — and meeting space for groups of all kinds is vital.
Ministries of mercy are meeting real needs throughout our community, and month over month there are more people coming to receive services and support.

The opportunity before us is to strengthen the ecosystem that connects them all.

Young people and leaders at St. Paul’s standing in a close circle with heads bowed, hands laid on one another in prayer. — Youth of the parish, praying together

Through conversations with parish leaders, the Vestry, ministry leaders and members of St. Paul’s, there is a shared sense that this is the season to move forward.

We believe God has established this body, in this place, at this moment, for His Kingdom purposes.

We are ready to run The Next Mile.

The outcome

An Investment with Generational Impact

The impact of The Next Mile will extend far beyond a building.

A young girl looking up from a craft table at St. Paul's.

For Children & Students

More opportunities for strong, consistent biblical instruction.
More space for Christian education.
More opportunities for children to develop an identity and worldview rooted in Christ.

A priest laying hands in blessing on a parishioner kneeling at the altar rail.

For Parishioners

More opportunities to participate in discipleship at every age and stage of life.
Stronger Christian community.
Greater capacity for Life Groups, Bible studies, pastoral care and theological formation.

A volunteer kneeling beside a child during vacation Bible school.

For Our Community

Expanded ministries of mercy.
Greater ability to meet physical and spiritual needs with dignity and compassion.
A stronger Gospel presence in Summerville.

The ultimate outcome is not measured in square feet.

It is measured in lives formed in Christ, for Christ, for generations.

The goal

A $5 Million Investment in the Future of Ministry

An investment in the future of ministry

Our goal is to reimagine and expand Skardon Hall and strengthen the ministries it will serve.

Give to the Campaign

Realizing this vision will require St. Paul's and our broader educational community to work together.

We recognize that this is a significant undertaking. We also believe this is a significant moment.

The Next Mile is not simply an effort to raise money. It is an invitation for each of us to prayerfully consider how God is calling us to participate in work that can have an impact far beyond our own lifetime.

Our commitment

We are committed to approaching this campaign with truth, transparency and faithful stewardship — communicating clearly, using resources intentionally and remaining focused on the ministry this investment makes possible.

Your part

The Next Mile Begins with Each of Us

Pray Serve Give

There is a place for every member of St. Paul’s in The Next Mile.

Pray

Seek God’s direction for St. Paul’s and for your own role in this moment.

Pray for our church, our leaders, our ministries and the generations who will be shaped by the work we undertake today. Most importantly, ask God what He is calling you to do.

Serve

Step more deeply into the ministry happening around you.

Serve in Christian education.
Join a Life Group or discipleship ministry.
Become part of our ministries of mercy.

Give your time and talents to the work God is already doing through St. Paul’s.

Give

Prayerfully consider making a sacrificial financial commitment to The Next Mile.

We are asking households that call St. Paul’s home, and families who have been blessed through our educational ministries, to consider what God may be calling them to invest over the next three years.

Give to the Campaign