"Abundant Life is in financial trouble." We gave a financial update at our recent ministry leadership meeting, and that's what I heard back through the grapevine...! We'll always be in trouble if we look to our own provision to do God's work. Here's a real update:
Financially we are feeling the recession, like everyone else I suspect. We began our fiscal year in August by cutting the previous year's budget by 5%. We've only done this once before in our history! Our annual budget in $2.9 million, which for a church of 3000 is on the low side.
We always budget beyond the previous year's giving, anticipating growth, while being careful to not be presumptuous. This year we believe it would have been presumptuous to come in assuming our body could continue giving at previous levels with so many unemployed and hurting.
And offerings have been about 15% below budget. This has put us in a tight spot at times, but we saw an extra $150,000 come in at Christmas which helped A LOT. We are so thankful for our people's faithfulness. As a result, we didn't need to make a number of cuts we had identified.
In spite of tight finances, we have been able to see so much accomplished through the people of Abundant Life. Our ministries have not really slowed down much. We have allowed the staff to shrink a bit, and folks are doing some double duty around the office. This is working out for the near term, but can be hard at times. Be sure and give our staff some love when you see them!
On the ministry front, we have helped over 60 families with $75,000 in benevolence to help them keep their homes, their lights and heat on, and food on the table. We have over $300,000 committed to helping our community and missionaries throughout the world, including Haiti. We continue to help families, couples, and individuals with great opportunities for relationships, resources, and mentoring to grow stronger and wiser.
We have delayed the Sandy campus, awaiting a little better financial position, as well as a few other ministry opportunities, and rest in God's timing for all He wants us to do.
So are we in trouble? Only if we get out ahead of God. I like to say, I don't want to get out ahead of God. He's bigger than me, and it will really hurt when He runs over me to accomplish His will!
Thank you for your faithfulness and your partnership in ministry, Abundant Lifers. God has some big plans for us this next year. I can't wait to see what He's up to!
Alan,
A GREAT WAY to have volunteers get involved with the MSRide is for ALC to sponsor a REST STOP! This would provide excellent opportunities for community interaction and awareness, a real win-win. I hope that would be a possibility anyway. Can to look into it?
Rod
Posted by: Rod Walker | 03/20/2010 at 07:05 AM