Building for the Future: Why the Wonder Campaign Matters

In recent years at our home parish, Church of the Nativity, we’ve seen incredible growth in our children’s and student ministries. From the energy and excitement of All Stars for our littlest ones, to the deep conversations and meaningful connections made in our high school program, Uprising, it’s clear that God is moving powerfully among our young people.

And, they’re not just "showing up": they’re engaging, asking questions, and seeking a deeper relationship with Christ.

It’s inspiring to see, but it’s also challenging. We’ve reached a point where our growth, often 1,000 kids over the course of a weekend, has outpaced our space. Our facilities simply aren’t equipped to handle the number of kids and students coming through our doors each week. If you’ve been able to visit our parish on a Saturday or Sunday, you’ve seen it firsthand: the hallways are crowded, the classrooms are packed. In some cases, kids are meeting in makeshift spaces or sharing rooms with other groups. Our volunteers and Next-Gen staff are doing an incredible job making it work, but the truth is, they’re limited by the space we have. At the same time, the outdated infrastructure and layout no longer serve our needs as well.

That’s where the Wonder Campaign comes in. Providing more space, for sure, but this isn’t just about adding more rooms or expanding our footprint. It’s about creating the right kind of environment where kids and students can grow in faith, build friendships, and encounter Christ.

Through Wonder—our step toward a more purpose-driven future—we’re creating environments where faith can take root and grow. The spaces are just one part of the bigger vision: forming disciples from the youngest ages.

We’re sharing about this not because every parish needs a building project, but because every parish needs a clear, compelling vision for the next generation. And this is how Nativity is living that out in this coming season.

The spaces will be thoughtfully designed with kids and students in mind—spaces where they feel safe, seen, and inspired. We’ll expand capacity so that kids and students can participate each week, without the fear of having to turn anyone away. Connection is key to faith development, and having spaces that foster those relationships will make a huge difference. We’ll also enhance the experience with updated technology, creative design, and more flexible layouts.

Take a closer look at how we're communicating to our parishioners: Wonder Campaign

Of course, a project like this requires vision, commitment, and resources. But we also know that when our community comes together, incredible things happen. It’s taken our whole community—leaders, parents, volunteers—to embrace the vision and take steps toward making it a reality. 

This is more than a building project. It’s an investment in the future of our parish and the future of our faith as we are raising up future leaders in the faith. It’s a spiritual commitment to the next generation and what we believe God can do through them.