Church of the Foothills

Transcription

1 M a y Church of the Foothills Faith by Numbers I m not much of an artist, so as a kid I loved the paint by numbers projects. If I just followed the numbers, a recognizable picture emerged. This annual budget report/plan is sort of like that. I challenge you to look for the picture of faithfulness it paints for us. First, these numbers tell a story of God s faithfulness. As we look over the last year we can see with numeric clarity how God met us in the midst of his call on us. Once again he proved his faithfulness to resource our church to fulfill our ministries. Second, these numbers tell a story of your faithfulness. Many of you faithfully support the weekly ministries of our church through your regular committed tithes and offerings. God s work in our church and community gets done because of you. Because of your faithfulness, 160 people had their eternal addresses changed. A number of others recommitted their lives to Christ and countless people were challenged, encouraged, grown and supported through small group experiences. Let s engage this next budget year shamelessly trusting in God s faithfulness. He will do his part as we do our part. Thanks to all of you who gave this last year. And thanks to all those who are praying, fasting and giving towards The 216 Project. God is using you to meet our need. If you have never given regularly in support of the ministries of Church of the Foothills, I challenge you to use this budget as your opportunity to get involved in the call. God is using us to connect people to Jesus and help them grow to love and serve him. To realize our potential in this call, it takes all of us doing our part. Are you in the game? Pastor Brian A N N U A L R E P O R T Tom Zraick Nominated for Member at Large Tom Zraick and his wife Jennie have been attending Church of the Foothills for six years. They serve together in marriage ministry, mainly as point people for the Boomers group. Tom feels that his service in marriage ministry along with being a greeter, facilitating Sunday seminars and participating in sermon based home fellowship fits well with his spiritual gifting. His favorite Bible verse is Proverbs 3:3-4, Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man. Tom says, I can be counted on in good times and bad, it is how God built me. If elected, Tom looks forward to serving God and his church body. You are invited to attend the Annual Meeting May 23, 2010 at 4 pm Make sure to bring this report to the meeting. Youth Ministries BBQ Fundraiser for summer missions trip will follow the meeting. Purchase your tickets on the patio between services. 1

2 Greetings, I want to thank you for taking the opportunity to read the Annual Report. You will find that this report is just not about money, but about how Church of the Foothills is able to minister with the funds you provide through generous tithes and offerings. The staff and leadership board have recommended the members of Church of the Foothills approve a budget of $2,723, for the fiscal year After income from fees, the total amount needed from tithes and offerings to meet our budget is $2,132,537.00, which is only a 3% increase from the current year s budget. Taking a quick look at the proposed budget, 56% of the budget is set aside for program costs, 23% for property costs and 21% for operations costs. We are well above the national average regarding what percentage of our budget goes towards program and below the national average when it comes to property expenses. On the pie chart below, you will see what percentage of our budget each area of ministry receives. CHILDREN $ 206, % YOUTH $ 304, % MISSIONS & OUTREACH $ 353, % ADULT & WORSHIP $ 666, % OPERATIONS $ 555, % PROPERTY $ 636, % While other churches around the Nation reported a decrease in giving, our giving went up by 4%. I think we should take a very close look at the fact that 20% of those who gave in 2009 contributed 51% of our total income. And 80% of our congregation gave 49% of Church of the Foothills total income. When our leadership speaks about Stewardship, they are not necessarily campaigning for more money for the church. They are challenging and encouraging everyone to experience the joy and blessings that flow when we surrender every area of our life to Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Starting in July, you will be able to visit our website to read the personal testimonies and experiences of people who give. Learn more about how and why these people came to the decision to give and what challenges they faced. 2 There are many exciting things taking place at Church of the Foothills. Last year, 217 people made first time commitments or rededicated their lives for Christ! - Pastor Dan Russell

3 C h i l d r e n s M i n i s t r i e s AWANA $ 206, VBS Sports Camp Sunday School Nursery Mountain Movers Good News Club Bible Clubs Harvest Festival Easter Egg Hunt Materials & Supplies Highlights from last year The AWANA grade school kids took first place in the regional AWANA games. 59 children made decisions for Christ. VBS has outgrown the Worship Center and is moving into the Family Life Center. This year, VBS is expecting 425 kids and over 150 volunteers. Last year s Sports Camp instructors ministered to several children who had never been allowed to attend church. Those children heard the gospel for the first time ever. More people than ever before attended this year s Easter Eggstravaganza, set up on our church campus for the first time Over 500 parents and kids gathered in the worship center to hear about Christ s resurrection. 3

4 Yo uth Ministries Summer Camp Winter Camp Fall Retreat Sunday Morning Wednesday Night Thursday Night Mexico Missions Super Bowl Party Friday Night Live Amazing Race Mall Madness Great America Trip Freshman BBQ Senior Night Christmas Party New Years Invasion Outreach Blowout $ 3 0 4, Missions & Outreach Missions Trips -Spain -Jordan -Mexico Great Commission Fund Fellowship Fund Benevolent Fund District Supper Compassion Partners Materials 25 students recommitted their life to Christ at the November Blowout. 6 students made first time commitments to Christ at the March Blowout. 115 students are involved in small groups on a weekly basis. 11 high school students prayed to receive Christ this year. Youth ministries implemented a Student Leadership Team (CORE), made up of 9 committed high school students who want to make a difference in their world. $ 3 5 3, Missionary Support - Carolyn Gibson - Eddie Hester - Mike Sexton - Jacob Cohen Church/Missionary Support - Pastor Raed s Arabic church - Abe Sandler s ministry - Rick Gall s church plant Each month, over 30 people served meals to those in need at the Upper Room. Over 350 Shoe Boxes were donated for Operation Christmas Child. 12 people participated in short term missions last summer. More than 40 plan to participate this summer. 4

5 A dult & Wo rship Ministries Sunday Worships Services $ 6 6 6, Worship Teams Re:New Video Venue Easter Services Christmas Eve Services Small groups Adult Classes Men s Ministries Women s Ministries Agape Joy Group Young Married Support groups Family Ministries Married with Munchkins Young Adults Impact Ministries Grief share Boomers Leadership Training Adult Sunday School Classes Effective Parenting Surviving Financial Meltdown Invisible War Discovery and S.H.A.P.E Tough Questions Basics of Christianity How to Teach Children How to Share Jesus with a Jewish Friend How to Share your Faith with Muslims 1,181 people attended Christmas Services 1,432 attended Easter Services We hosted our first worship mini-conference, Finding Groove, with 70 people attending A new seasonal décor team was created and did a wonderful job last Christmas and Easter. Church of the Foothills has 13 sermon based home fellowship groups with over 150 people meeting on a weekly basis. Six week-day men s Bible studies seek to provide accountability, support and friendship. Married couples meet once a month for encouragement, connection and support. Members of the Joy Group enjoy activities such as bike riding, hiking and dining. 5

6 O p erations $ 5 5 5, Insurance Office Supplies Advertising Printing Postage Equipment Lease Staff Training Staff Development Internet Season Expenses Our administrative office receives over 900 calls annually. Staff and ministry leaders make approximately 700,000 copies annually. Our office receives about 7,800 pieces of mail annually. Our office staff sends about 39,000 pieces of mail annually. Property $ 6 3 6, Property Upkeep Lawn Care Repairs Cleaning (15 restrooms) Utilities Kitchen Operations Cleaning Supplies Mortgage Telephone Rent Room Setups Signage Season Decorations Furnishings Capitol Improvements Property Debt Reductions The budget calls for the construction of a permanent Church of the Foothills sign on Merrychase Drive. The maintenance team constructed a new information kiosk. Our team maintains 44,000 square feet of building! 6

7 I want to thank everyone who is participating in the 216 Project as well as those who continue to support the Imagine What God Can Do campaign. The 216 project was established to help Church of the Foothills raise funds to offset the cost of our Education Building while we are waiting for God s direction regarding the sale of our land. 216 And be excited for what God has planned. The exciting part of the 216 Project is that at a specific date and time individuals are fasting and praying regarding this matter. What if we at Church of the Foothills took it to the next level? What if our whole church body was fasting and praying on a regular basis for the specific needs of our church, our community, our Nation, or those in other countries? Can you begin to envision what God could do through us? I want to encourage those involved in the 216 Project and the Imagine What God Can Do campaign to continue to be faithful, continue to pray and continue to fast as we continue to seek God s will regarding our 1.7 acre property and our financial need to pay off long term property debt. I also want to encourage those who have not taken that step to support the 216 Project to join us in prayer everyday at 2:16 p.m., in fasting on the 2 nd and 16 th of each month and to donate $2.16 every day to our building fund. Dan Russell Pastor of Business Administration Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice. Look to the LORD and his strength; seek his face always. Remember the wonders he has done, and his miracles. 1 Chronicles 16: Preschool & Childcare D i s c overy Place Curriculum Snacks Meals Recreation Arts & Crafts $ 6 3 5, Every year at graduation, our students are given a children s Bible with a message from their teacher written inside. One of our Jr. Kindergarten students was having behavioral problems/temper tantrums at home. The student s behavior began to improve. His parents thought the improvement was only temporary. When they looked in his room, they found the Bible he had received from Church of the Foothills. He asked his mother to read the Bible to him, telling her that God s word would guide him. Taking a Bible home is a wonderful way for our students to stay in touch with what they have learned here at the preschool. Jesus says if we have Him in our hearts, we will find what we are looking for. 7

8 In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. 1 Thessalonians 5 :18 F i s c a l Ye a r G i v i n g This graph shows the dollar amounts we have received through your tithes and offerings since the year Churches today are in unchartered waters financially. After the October 2008 stock market drop, 29% of churches experienced a decline in giving and this past year the number has climbed up to 38% of churches. Multiple research projects last year documented the sharp decline in church giving and our research this year shows things have only gotten worse for a growing number of churches. - Brian Kluth, founder of Maximum Generosity I read this quote and thought, praise God! Church of the Foothills has not seen a decline in giving but has seen an increase over the years. Thank you for your support. - Dan Russell, Pastor of Business Administration The Preschool and Childcare Center s income and expenses are not part of the Church of the Foothills budget The Cambridge Center s income and expenses are not part of the Church of the Foothills budget. Looking for a more convenient way to give? Visit the online giving page under resources at 8