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(This article is a revised version of the State of the Church statement our pastor made at the Family Meeting on Sunday, April 13. We are very excited that more than 70 people attended this new quarterly meeting!!)
Frankly Speaking…
Thank you for coming. I've been looking forward to this. It will get better each time and I am grateful to those who helped with supper. We look forward to our next time together on Sunday, July 13. At that meeting there will be some additional constitutional issues to deal with
regarding the process of deacon election.
These are both exciting and challenging times. As you can see and hear, there are many good things happening and in reality, as a result of what God is doing here, we are experiencing challenges. Three things:
1. God has blessed us with the addition of young families. They have babies. We have two babies on the way and this morning we had 11 in the nursery. Further, some of our babies are getting older and we must start a toddler Sunday School class with committed workers who will
prepare a quality lesson. These young ones can be taught the truths of God's Word. We have to quit dumbing down the teaching as much of the evangelical church has done. Let's challenge our young people. Also, there is a need for nursery workers in Sunday School, Sun. night, Wed. night, etc. We have a desperate need for leadership in this area. I am very grateful for those who do serve but more are needed. Can you help? See Dolores Wolfe.
2. Our finances are teaching us to trust God as things look bleak in our eyes. We made major cuts last year including two staff positions. The Personnel Budget is still a big expenditure but it will be more and more difficult and controversial to cut more personnel. If we had not had a good December (2007), with money being carried over into 2008, we would already be at a $22,000 loss (Building Fund & Budget) at this point in the first quarter. We are also having to replace one of the AC units in the Worship Center this week ($5,200), the Office AC is not working, the commercial refrigerator in the kitchen is out and needs replacement and the Conference Room copier is broken. We can do without the copier and refrigerator and they will not be serviced or replaced at this time. Further, we have a $120,000 balloon payment to make toward the building in June. To date, we have collected only $70,000 toward that payment. I don't know the answer but I know who does. Please let us all make this a matter of earnest prayer.
First Quarter 2008 Profit & Loss
1/31/2008 2/29/2008 3/31/2008 QTR to Date
Income
Budget Income $20,241.15 $27,790.75 $29,201.77 $77,233.67
Savings Interest Income 322.09 339.41 238.09 899.59
Miscellaneous Income 900.69 1,444.81 2,345.50
Total Income $20,563.24 $29,030.85 $30,884.67 $80,478.76
Expense
Personnel $12,529.99 $10,598.40 $12,471.80 $35,600.19
Missions, Min, & Prog 3,542.95 3,971.12 5,739.37 13,253.44
Operating 10,494.82 11,449.26 9,449.96 31,394.04
Financing (Interest) 2,577.95 4,824.08 7,402.03
Total Expense $26,567.76 $28,596.73 $32,485.21 $87,649.70
Net Income/(Loss) $(6,004.52) $ 434.12 $(1,600.54) $(7,170.94)
Beginning Bldg Fund Balance $8,759.67 Quarterly Building Fund Collections $21,451.63
Quarterly Interest Payment $(37,613.33) 1st Qtr 2008 Bldg Fund (Shortfall) $(7,402.03)
3. Two Years ago we experienced a satanic assault that caused a split in the body. None of us handled the matter perfectly but God is Sovereign and He knew what He was doing even though we didn't. We lost about half our Sunday morning worship attendance but I want you to know something that I have noticed since--we did not lose any in participation in our Sunday and Wednesday evening services. That fact alone defies human logic. As you know, numbers don't mean much to me (sorry) and I don't really care how many come except that the more who come, the more hear the Word. This is a reflection of a great thing happening. People are coming on Wednesday and Sunday evenings and they are bringing their Bibles eager to study and pray. That is unusual…believe it or not. The challenge for us will always be to be faithful to our calling to make disciples for Worship and Witness.
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