For more than 155 years, Zion Missionary Baptist Church has been a spiritual anchor in the Roswell, Georgia community. With deep roots and a long legacy of ministry, the church has continually adapted as the surrounding neighborhood has grown and changed.

In 2001, Zion took a major step forward by building a new 77,000-square-foot sanctuary. While the new facility became home for the church family, their historic sanctuary—so rich with memories and ministry impact—began to see less use. Over time, the older building fell into disrepair and became an eyesore in the neighborhood.

Leadership knew something had to change.

A Vision for Renewal and Freedom from Debt

Zion’s leadership identified two clear priorities:

• Renovate the historic sanctuary so it could once again serve the church and community
• Pay off the mortgage on the newer sanctuary to move toward becoming debt-free

Rather than seeing this as just another capital project, Zion chose to approach the journey differently.

“We don’t even really call our campaign a capital campaign,” shared Ray Wright, a leader at Zion. “Ours is a stewardship campaign.”

The goal wasn’t just to raise funds. It was to help people grow spiritually and understand biblical stewardship in a deeper way—believing that financial fruit would follow spiritual growth.

Grounded in Biblical Stewardship

In preparation for their campaign, Zion launched a focused discipleship effort centered on seven biblical principles of stewardship. For five weeks leading up to the campaign launch, these principles were taught during their Sunday enrichment hour.

The result was powerful.

The congregation wasn’t just asked to give—they were equipped to understand why stewardship matters and how it connects to their walk with Christ. According to Ray, this spiritual foundation led to increased engagement, stronger participation, and an overall increase in giving beyond just the campaign itself.

The church has continued to build on this momentum with follow-up training and ongoing communication to keep stewardship top of mind.

Partnering with INJOY: A God-Orchestrated Second Chance

Zion had attempted to move forward on their own in the past—but after more than 20 years in their facility, the mortgage was still not paid off. Leadership realized they needed help to take the next step.

Partnering with INJOY Stewardship Solutions became a turning point.

In a remarkable moment of God’s timing, the same INJOY representative who had met with Zion nearly 20 years earlier returned to present again. For Ray and the leadership team, it felt like a clear sign.

“To me, that was like God giving us a second chance,” Ray shared. “I don’t think it was coincidental.”

With INJOY’s guidance, Zion received a clear blueprint for moving forward—helping them avoid common mistakes and stay focused on both spiritual and financial goals.

Momentum That Continues

Zion’s stewardship campaign is structured as a 24-month journey, and they are already seeing progress. Renovation has begun on the historic sanctuary, allowing members to see tangible results from their generosity. This visibility has helped maintain momentum and engagement.

For Ray, the value of partnering with INJOY is clear:

“If you had the resource and knowledge to do it yourself, you probably would have already done it. Why not use the help and assistance of someone that does this all the time and knows how to do it?”

A Story of Faith, Stewardship, and Transformation

Zion Missionary Baptist Church’s story is about more than buildings and debt. It’s about discipleship, renewed vision, and stepping forward in faith.

By grounding their campaign in biblical stewardship and partnering with INJOY, Zion has positioned itself for lasting spiritual and financial impact—honoring their past while boldly building for the future.