An Olive Branch in the Giving Department!
As we all know, the effects of the economic downturn four years or so ago have reached into every sector of our society. Churches, like businesses, government, and homes, have felt the financial crunch and pinch of tighter credit, loss of jobs, and tragically for many, loss of homes. Redwine UMC has been no exception, of course. But today there are some key indicators that show that Redwine UMC is stabilizing financially and beginning its movement back upward! I know this is something everyone in the church family is interested in and wants to see! Let me share two financial indicators with you.
Giving to General Budget and Apportionments
At the close of last year (2011) our Giving to General Budget (which supports all the mission and ministry we do as a local United Methodist Church) was $273,212 toward an overall annual Budget for 2011 of $289,351. Obviously, giving was below what we had projected and budgeted for mission and ministry in 2011. My word of challenge to you, the church, is to remember your giving to the Lord here at Redwine United Methodist Church. As we all faithfully fulfill our giving commitment to the Lord through the church, we a) live true to God’s call and command of us to give a tithe to Him, and b) we support the mission and ministry that takes place at and through Redwine UMC. So, a word to us all: let us be faithful, diligent, committed to fulfilling our giving mandate that God gives to every single person who would be a disciple of Jesus Christ.
With that said, let me also point to an exciting word of encouragement. In the flood story in Genesis, after weeks of waiting for the waters to recede, Noah and his family must have hit the roof in excitement when that dove came to a fluttering stop on the window sill holding an olive branch in its beak! I felt the same way when I read the giving figures for 2011 compared to 2010. Let me show you a little olive branch!
In 2010, our Giving to General Budget was $268,766. In 2011, our Giving was $273,480. I know that’s not much of an increase, but the fact is, it IS an increase! Also, since 2009, for the first time, probably in the life of the church, Redwine has not been able to pay 100% of its denominational apportionments. (Apportionments are an amount of money allocated to every United Methodist Church to give to fund conference, continental, and global mission and ministry. Apportionments make us a global family, connected in shared mission and ministry!)
In 2009, Redwine UMC paid only 33% of its apportionments. In 2010, we paid 44%. At last year’s end, we paid 60%! Our goal for 2012 is 100%. I hope you celebrate this olive branch with me!
I want to thank you, the church of Jesus Christ, for being tough in tough times and for being resilient and optimistic today. An olive branch is in our window sill! The future of our Kingdom Building is out there before us and it’s promising! God bless us all in our new ventures of ministry in 2012 as well as our tried and true ongoing ministries in this place!
Your Pastor and Friend, Mark