We are encouraged by the stories of prayer, faith, and action that people have told in how they made decisions to support ‘Increasing Our Capacity’ – our capital campaign toward a new building. We will share these stories on an ongoing basis to help us see God’s faithfulness to us in this endeavor.
“This definitely won’t help someone to decide to pledge, but it came to me after I had pledged but before I gave any money. Ecc 5:4 says, “When you make a vow to God, do not delay to fulfill it. He has no pleasure in fools; fulfill your vow.” Ecc 5: 5 says, “It is better not to make a vow than to make one and not fulfill it.” Needless to say I wrote a check pretty soon after that. Thought you might think that was funny at least.”
“What a privilege, to be a part of something bigger than ourselves! We dropped from two incomes to one, just before the plan to raise three million dollars for our new facility was presented to our church. God had given us a strategy, and motivation to pay off our own mortgage earlier, which made it possible for us to give with our one income. It wasn’t hard to know how much we were to give. We each prayed for a number. One amount was a little higher than the other, and that’s the one we felt we could commit to. We really don’t miss this money at all. God has been so faithful to us over the years. We’re just learning how to trust Him a little more with our finances.”
To date we have collected $589,000 with 144 individuals giving toward our goal. Altogether, they have pledged $1.5 million. Our goal is $3.0 million over three years. As these pioneers move out they pave the way for others of us to be encouraged and to participate with our giving. Our goal is to pray and labor to receive $1.0 million by December 31,2015 and to see 250 individuals participating.
Our life of faith is never a solo process. Just as we read in the Old Testament of how God calls His people to different endeavors that involve the whole nation, so too are we called into endeavors in our day that require all of us to be a part. No one person or group is to carry the burden alone. As with any step of faith we never see the whole picture beforehand. God calls us into these steps, and as we take them He unfolds His faithfulness to us. Our prayer is that we will all be able to participate so we can all see the faithful hand of God as we take steps of faith.
We are on a great redemptive journey together.
Pastor Phil
