LIFEHOUSE MIRACLE OFFERING MAY 27TH 2018
THE VISION TO BE A LARGE, JESUS CENTRED CHURCH, FULL OF GRACE AND TRUTH, REACHING AND EQUIPPING ALL GENERATIONS AROUND THE WORLD.
FROM THE PASTORS CELEBRATE THE MILESTONES As Abraham arrived at the places where God had led him, he and his family would remember to build an altar, a place to recognize God, to thank Him and to worship Him. Just like Abraham, we also have achieved a few milestones over the last year. LifeHouse Melbourne celebrated 15 years and Poznan turned one! We personally celebrated 25 years of marriage and our eldest daughter was married. As we look back, we see God has prepared us for NOW. Like never before we sense that as a group of God focused faithful people, it is time to lean in and stretch for the NEXT. We took some time off in 2017 for our long service leave, not only was this a time for respite and relaxation, it was a time for resetting the vision within our hearts. Within these weeks away, God breathed the next, the larger and broader vision for the future. He confirmed our place in leading this part of His bride, LifeHouse Church, into a fresh season and stirred in us His dream for the next 10 years. We are ready, we are excited, we have clarity and we are confident that together we will fulfil the mandate He has placed on this house. Every person at LifeHouse is part of this God breathed future; your contribution of time, wisdom, energy and finance is appreciated and valued. Thank you for being part of the future! We love you! Pastors Richard and Helen
ENLARGE THE PLACE OF YOUR TENT, STRETCH YOUR TENT CURTAINS WIDE, DO NOT HOLD BACK; LENGTHEN YOUR CORDS, STRENGTHEN YOUR STAKES. ISAIAH 54:2 NIV THE PROPHET ISAIAH, CLEARLY INSTRUCTS THE ISRAELITES TO GET READY FOR AN INFLUX OF PEOPLE HUNGRY FOR GOD, PEOPLE WHO WERE ONCE LOST. THIS IS THE SAME CRY FOR US TODAY! WE MUST EXPAND, STRETCH AND BUILD. WE MUST MAKE ROOM, MOVE FORWARD, GROW STRONGER AND NOT SKIMP ON WHAT GOD HAS CALLED US TO DO.
WHERE WE VE BEEN I love the picture Isaiah gives us; we see the tent that is now too small, it s time to add to it, make it stronger, and stretch it out to make more room. This is what we have diligently been working at. In 2015 we purchased 9 Western Avenue with a factory shell and outdated office facility for $2,000,000. Using $700,000 of our own cash, we borrowed the remainder of $1,300,000. To date we have paid cash to complete over $800,000 worth of works on this site, adding significant value and function, and reduced the mortgage to $1,100,000. This has been possible because of your generosity. Stage 2 has begun (or just about) for which we have $230,000 cash in the bank waiting to begin the works, and we hope to raise $650,000 for the balance of this to build with cash, (although a loan facility has been approved so we can complete this). We have established East in various locations, moving, reinstalling, buying portable equipment and funding this new work has seen an investment of $100,000. This is a mission field on our doorstep. We loaned LifeHouse Poznan $50,000 AUD for sound equipment which will be reinvested into other church plants as Poznan becomes selfsufficient. LifeHouse Melbourne contributed to their facility costs a further $30,000. New Life Cambodia received $5000 for their continued ministry work to see children fed, nurtured and educated to become dynamic Christian leaders in their sphere of influence. An investment of $60,000 AUD enabled us to support Missionaries, Church Planting, Training and Leadership Development within Europe. The investment in the sponsorship of International Trainees to be with us in Australia, has been a dynamic and significant success for church planting in Europe.
WHAT S NEXT 10 CHURCHES IN 10 YEARS FUNDED BY 10 MILLION DOLLARS! Over the next ten years the vision is to see 10 LifeHouse Church campuses planted across the earth. To achieve this we will need two things; people and resource. We will need trained leaders, pastors, and teams of workers. Many of these people will be locals in the places we plant, be it Melbourne or across the earth, but others will be sent. Some will be self funded, others will need support to be established and fruitful in that location. Through the establishment of church businesses, we can fund these churches and build connection in local communities. These businesses will allow us to provide employment and purpose for LifeHouse Church people and others. Our desire to train leaders and pastors has brought great focus onto our Leadership College. Providing a place that trains people of all ages in LifeHouse culture, biblical wisdom and truth, leadership lessons and hands on life experience will be central to fulfilling the vision. Developing our leadership training program, with an intention for international students, will enable us to bring international leaders into our environment. They will have intensive training in every area of Christian ministry sending them home with passion and purpose to a city where the gospel is desperately needed. The fruit we have seen from our work with people from Poland and Czech Republic has demonstrated the incredible power and possibility in this area.
WITH RESOURCE WE CAN BUILD LEADERS AND TEAM. WITH LEADERS AND TEAM WE CAN PLANT CHURCHES. WITH CHURCHES WE CAN BRING THE MESSAGE OF HOPE THROUGH JESUS. WITH THIS MESSAGE WE CAN CHANGE A CITY; THROUGH THIS CITY WE CAN CHANGE A NATION! THIS IS THE VISION FOR THE NEXT 10. WE ARE EXCITED AND CONVINCED THAT GOD HAS OPENED DOORS AND PAVED THE WAY FOR US TO MOVE FORWARD, BUT IT IS TOGETHER THAT WE WILL ACHIEVE IT.
NORTH CAMPUS NORTH CAMPUS IS HEADING FOR COMPLETION OF THE FACILITY AT 9 WESTERN AVE, WESTMEADOWS. THIS WILL ALLOW US TO USE EVERY SPACE TO ITS FULL CAPACITY. Cafe A commercial kitchen and café running as a full time business, and the ability to prepare meals for those in need in our community. College Our college training rooms and auditorium will allow leaders to be developed at all levels.
Sensory Room Sensory Room available on Sunday for our Kidsworld Special Needs Ministry and then to the community throughout the week. Kidsworld Kidsworld will step into a stateof- the-art facility where an inspiring, fun and safe program will raise champions for Jesus.
EAST CAMPUS We are committed to establishing and growing what God has begun in our East Campus. A permanent facility is at the forefront of our focus for this location. The possibilities for youth and children s ministry are dramatically increased by our own facility. We believe permanency in a building, declares a spiritual stake in the ground, allowing an outworking of transformed lives and salvations. POZNAN Our Poznan, Poland congregation is growing and establishing itself as a significant and vital church in that nation. It is an example of the hunger for Jesus message of faith, hope and love. Again, a permanent facility is urgently needed to allow LifeHouse Church to grow, and be active and effective every day of the week. Hiring local venues from week to week is complex and difficult in this environment, and excessively limiting on our ministry potential. REACH Through this Miracle Offering, we will also invest in other ministries and organisations outside of LifeHouse walls to help and equip others for the work of expanding God s Kingdom and sharing His love. This includes projects within local schools, partnering with work in Cambodia and Europe, and local community projects for the disadvantaged and hurting.
KINGDOM BUILDERS Everyone who gives is a valued part of our Miracle Offering and every gift that is received, no matter the size, is appreciated. LifeHouse has been sustained over the last 15 years by the generosity of God s faithful people, enabling us to achieve together, more than we could individually. God has gifted each of us, with certain gifts. The gift of generosity is one of these. We believe it is important to develop and encourage this gift in people. For this reason we have created Kingdom Builders, a group of people within our Miracle Offering who pledge over $2500 in the next 12 month period. Our Kingdom Builders can participate in various gatherings to be encouraged and inspired in their faithgiving journey and be surrounded by other generous givers. We would love you to prayerfully consider stirring up the gift of generosity in your life because as we join in unity, and rally each other, we can achieve great things. WITHIN KINGDOM BUILDERS THERE ARE THREE GROUPS OVER AND ABOVE $2500+ VISION PARTNERS $5000+ KINGDOM FIRST $10000+
WHAT IS MY NEXT STEP? Here are four things we can all do in preparation for our 2018 Miracle Offering. 1. Pray Prayerfully consider what your sacrificial contribution will be to see our church build and expand for the future. It s not about equal giving but equal sacrifice. As each individual/family plays a part, together we can have a significant impact. 2. Commit Fill in the My Giving Envelope. You can bring your completed envelope on May 27th to one of our services or fill in the online form at www.lifehouse.com.au/miracle-offering. We request these details because your total pledge, time frame and payment method helps us plan, budget and authenticate your giving. 3. Plan Plan for generosity. Every significant sacrifice requires a plan. Never underestimate the power of budgeting for your generosity. 4. Give Put your commitment into action by bringing your offering on May 27th, or go online and set up your Direct Deposit with your bank or credit card giving using Pushpay.
GIVING OPTIONS Our Preferred Method is Direct Bank Deposit For General Miracle Offering Giving only (tax deductibility has its own bank account). LifeHouse Church Inc BSB 083346 Acct No: 125564766 Please use your surname as a reference. OTHER GIVING OPTIONS: Cheque Payable to LifeHouse Church Inc Please mark the back of your cheque with your surname. Cash Please place & seal in the My Giving Envelope with completed details. Credit Card Pushpay is the easiest way to give by credit card. Download the LifeHouse App Select Giving, follow the instructions - select Miracle Offering Tab. Or complete the details on the My Giving Envelope for manual processing. TAX-DEDUCTIBLE GIVING For giving over $2000 we can offer a tax-deductible giving receipt. Please follow the instructions below. Only deposits that are received in accordance with these instructions will be issued with a Receipt for Tax deductibility; Funds must be deposited DIRECTLY into the below bank account by April 30th 2019. The name to be shown on the receipt must be in the deposit reference line. TAX DEDUCTIBLE BANK ACCOUNT INFORMATION: LifeHouse Church Inc Leadership Education Building Fund BSB 083262 Account 824580933
WE CONSIDER PARTNERING WITH YOU TO BUILD AND EXPAND THE KINGDOM A GREAT HONOUR. 1300 720 470 church@lifehouse.global www.lifehouse.com.au 9 Western Avenue, Westmeadows 3049 ABN 167 758 484 72 AU A0045172U