Why the Knudson's Chose to Shine Forth

Tom and Candy Knudson: Why We Chose to Shine Forth

For Tom and Candy Knudson, St. John the Divine is more than a church—it’s family. Tom has been a member of St. John the Divine for 50 years. Candy was baptized here. Over the decades, this church has been the place where their faith has grown, friendships have deepened, and life has been shared with a community that feels like home. That sense of belonging is what inspired them to make a sacrificial gift to the Shine Forth capital campaign.

As Tom shared with the congregation last Sunday, supporting Shine Forth is about caring for the home of their church family and preparing it for the future.

Watch Tom Share His Testimony

A Family Bigger Than Ourselves

In reflecting on why he and Candy chose to support the campaign, Tom pointed to a moment from the Gospel of John. As Jesus hung on the cross, he spoke to his mother and to the disciple he loved: “Woman, here is your son… here is your mother.” In that moment, Jesus was creating something new—a family formed not only by blood but by faith. For Tom and Candy, that family is found here at St. John the Divine.

“This is our family,” Tom said. “And our family home is in desperate need of upgrading and renovation to be able to do all the exciting things we have planned.”

Through the Shine Forth campaign, St. John the Divine is investing in that home, renewing and strengthening our facilities so that the ministries of the church can continue to grow and welcome others.

The Power of Small Gifts

Tom also reflected on two stories that remind us how God can multiply even the smallest gifts. The first comes from the Gospels, when Jesus feeds thousands of people with only a few loaves and fishes. What seemed small in human hands became more than enough when placed in Christ’s hands. The second is the story of Hattie Mae Wyatt, a seven-year-old girl in Philadelphia in the 1880s. Hattie often couldn’t get into Sunday school because the church was too crowded. She dreamed of a day when there would be room for every child.

Before she died of illness, she left a small sack of pennies—57 cents—with a note saying the money was for a bigger church so every child could have a place. Her gift inspired the congregation to act. The pennies were shared with the church, funds were raised, and a new church building was eventually constructed with room for every child. Out of that ministry also grew what would later become Temple University and Temple University Hospital. What began as a child’s small gift became something far greater than anyone could have imagined.

What God Can Do With What We Offer

As Tom encouraged the congregation, the lesson of both stories is the same. God can do extraordinary things with what may seem like ordinary gifts. “Keep in mind the little boy with his loaves and fishes and Hattie Mae Wyatt and her 57 cents,” Tom said. “Jesus will take whatever your gift is and use it for this amazing church.” Through the Shine Forth campaign, the generosity of this church family will help ensure that St. John the Divine remains a place where faith grows, lives are transformed, and everyone who comes through our doors has a seat at the table.

Give a Gift to the Next Generation

Your gift to this campaign will mean so much more than building new facilities. It will help write a new chapter in the story of St. John the Divine — a story that will continue to be written by all the families who will walk these halls in the generations to come. This is your chance to help strengthen the foundations of our community and leave a lasting legacy.

Shine Forth Capital Campaign