Q & A WITH OUR PASTOR

Q & A WITH OUR PASTOR

WHAT’S HAPPENING WITH OUR BUDGET? 

As you have seen in prior newsletters, our expenditures have exceeded our income this year more significantly that we’ve seen in prior years.  This is for a number of reasons.    First, our church acquired a bus.  This was an unexpected gift that’s already been put to good use for youth activities and events.  The cost of insurance, however, was not anticipated in our budget and cost just over $1,000 for the year.  Second, our fellowship events haven’t had the support that we’ve enjoyed in recent years.  The  church has purchased more of the food, more of the paper/plastic products, etc.  Contributions for these events have been almost $0 for the year.  Third, our “missions and benevolence” expenditures have seen a sharp increase this year.  To date we have helped 46 different families and individuals with utility assistance, rent assistance, and food assistance. This is on top of the normal missions and ministry causes we typically support.    Fourth, a number of items that used to be contributed to the church by private individuals (cleaning supplies, paper towel, etc.) are now being purchased from church funds. And, finally, our youth group is active!!  We’re super excited about the growth of activity and attendance in our youth group, but that has come with growing expenses, too.  The end result is YTD our overall church expenditures have exceeded offerings by about $3,000.

WHY THE NEW RULES ABOUT ADULTS AND KIDS?

Tri County has enacted safety measures to keep our children and youth safe and to keep our adult volunteers safe from false accusations of inappropriate action.  These safety measures were approved during a church meeting in 2020 but were never put into place due to COVID.  Now that we’re back to stabilized attendance and are enjoying a growing youth program, it seemed prudent to get these already approved and expected safety measures in place.   These included (1) Having adult volunteers complete a criminal background check. We’ve already had 10 adults complete this simple, easy check.  (2) Requiring two adults at every church activity and event except Sunday School and Kingdom Kids.  During Sunday School and Kingdom Kids, if two adults are not present, teachers are instructed to leave their classroom doors open. 

WHAT HAPPENED TO BROADCASTING OUR SERVICE IN THE FELLOWSHIP HALL?

We began broadcasting our service in the Fellowship Hall during special events in the spring when we couldn’t accommodate everyone in the auditorium.  In the following weeks our attendance dropped back to lower levels, such that we can all worship together in the Auditorium. At the same time, other activity increased in the Fellowship Hall.  The activity was such that orderly worship was no longer possible.  We anticipate (and hope!) that we’ll use the Fellowship Hall for overflow worship again this fall as we seen an increase in attendance. When that occurs we kindly ask that all other activity in the fellowship hall be discontinued to allow for meaningful worship.

DO WE HAVE ANY SPECIAL EVENTS PLANNED FOR THE FALL?

At this time the only special event is Movie Night (Jesus Revolution!).  It will be on Saturday, September 16 at 7:30 PM.  Weather permitting, this will be an outdoor event with snacks, bonfires and fun for all.  We hope you’re already planning to attend.  In a  regularly scheduled newsletter to be published tomorrow we will ask for volunteers to join a FALL / WINTER PLANNING COMMITTEE to create outreach events to keep us heading in the right direction.

WHAT’S NEXT AFTER THE RETURN OF CHRIST SERMON SERIES?

We will be doing a series of messages from the Book of Romans that will take us into the beginning of 2024.  We will break for a short series of Christmas messages, however.