Tom Mayo

You probably don’t remember me, but the Finance Committee at TWC asked me to join them for the phone interview and your onsite presentation when we were thinking through hiring a consulting firm for our capital campaign.  While I had no vote in the matter, I did offer my two cents when all the interviews were complete and the Finance Committee was working to send a recommendation to the Session for a decision.

 

One of the major distinctives that Klote offered was all about personal relationships.  Rather than work with a church long distance over the phone or every once in a while come onsite, you spoke about Klote’s approach of having a consultant on the ground for the term of the engagement, living with us, worshipping with us, becoming part of the community.  And that really resonated with me.  And when asked for my feedback by the leadership, I suggested that we move forward with Klote largely due to that differentiator.  I think it was a unanimous decision as all shared that same feeling.

 

I have to tell you that the consultant has done exactly that.  For the past months, he has lived here, away from his new bride.  He has worshipped regularly with us.  He has volunteered to help out around the church—from cleaning the grounds, to painting the student building, and other chores.  He has led us through this process from meeting regularly with the pastor, visiting our members on campaign visits, to meeting regularly with the Steering Committee and volunteers.  He has given of himself and has become a vibrant part of our community here at Trinity Wellsprings—he even sings in our choir on occasion.  The consultant has “immersed himself in us.”

 

And that has made all the difference with respect to this campaign.

 

The consultant has not been a hired gun who sweeps in and out providing long distance leadership.  He has become one of us.  I have to say that he is more a member of TWC than some TWC members are.

 

His enthusiasm for our vision, his commitment to our goal, his leadership and service to our body, his modeling of what we need to do and be to see this campaign through to its successful end has made all the difference in the world.

 

So as the consultant’s time onsite comes to a successful conclusion, I just wanted to say thank you for sharing him with us.  He and I met earlier this week and it was actually a little emotional as we talked through wrapping things up and our go forward strategy and process.  He’s a good man and has become a good friend of TWC—and me.  We’ll miss him.

 

God’s blessing upon you both.