By about mid-year 2011 the structure and finished exterior of the church will have been completed.  Through the commitments of many parishioners, the Capital Campaign Fund contains the cash necessary to complete this first stage of construction. 

In addition, a contract has been signed and initial payments made for the design and construction of the iconostasis, the painting of icons for the iconostasis and the painting of an iconographic mural on the Altar Apse. These are long lead time items, some of which must begin design and painting early in 2011 in order to be ready for installation upon completion of the church interior.  In particular, the iconostasis will be a stunning work of Orthodox design using hand cut natural limestone with mosaic inlays and the icons installed in wooden panels.  Metropolitan Isaiah has approved the iconostasis and iconography concepts which have been developed by Father Vasile in coordination with our iconographer, Vladimir Grygorenko.

Your Capital Campaign Committee is now turning towards the task of raising the balance of funds needed to complete the church interior and related site improvements on our property.  Approximately one-half, only, of our parishioners have committed close to 75% of the funds needed to complete the project and many have already made substantial payments on their commitments.   With that record of parish commitment to date, we are hopeful others among our fellow parishioners will also now join in supporting this historic undertaking.

As a Parish, we are on the way to bringing the vision of “Building Our Future” to reality.  If you have not yet made your personal or family commitment to the Capital Campaign, now is the time.  Please see any member of the CCC for a commitment card…  If you have already made your personal or family commitment, please strive to make your payments as timely as possible under the terms you have set for your commitment, or earlier if possible.  We will need to demonstrate dependable cash flow from our committed contributors in order to be able to continue and complete construction.

All of our parishioners should want to participate in this historic endeavor and, when we are done, share in offering glory to God for what we, together, each and every one of us as a Greek Orthodox Community, have accomplished as our legacy and our gift to the future generations of St. John the Baptist here in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex.   

Your Capital Campaign Committee -  Paun Peters, Dr. Chris Yiantsou, Nancy Medvic, Louie Papaliodis, Margaret Chokas, George Vittas…

I have the great honor to be the bearer of good news today. The ministry that God has planted in our Parish is growing like never before, nourished under the grace of the Holy Spirit. Our community is flourishing both spiritually but also physically. Due to this blessed growth we are today at a point were new prospects are opening wide in front of us.

During the years you have experienced our community grow. You have seen the Church established some 30 years ago, struggling initially with services held at various locations through the Mid Cities, before it finally settled and built its current multipurpose building in Euless on a wonderful property that we now own.

Today the time has come that we embrace the fullness of our traditional Greek Orthodox Architecture (required by our Holy Services) as well as our growing needs. For this purpose the General Assembly of the Church of Saint John the Baptist has decided to erect a new Byzantine Style Church on its current property. Also part of the building project is the replacement of the existing Paulos Center (that hosts our vibrant Sunday school) and the repurposing of the current building structure to accommodate more people.

This extraordinary news will provide everyone a unique opportunity to participate in growth of the Greek Orthodox Church’s mission in our area. With a new Church built upon the Holy Tradition of our Forefathers the Divine Services will reach yet another height in splendor and majesty attracting more people to our faith. The Church school will be able to deliver the Gospel’s message to our children in a nurturing environment and the enlarged Social Hall will host more parishioners in fellowship and agape.

These are exciting times for everyone and we would like you to be part of our vision by offering you the opportunity to take our parish to its desired aspiration. The “Building our Future Campaign” has already started. You will have the chance to participate to informational events, you will receive printed materials, listen to inspiring homilies that will try to uncover the deep spiritual meaning of our endeavor: being God’s partners in making His Church grow.

Join us in this holy mission, let yourselves be captured by our vision and take charge in embracing this opportunity that God is opening to you.

In Christ’s service, 

Rev. Fr. Vasile Tudora,

Proistamenos