Transcript
Good morning church,
In September, at the beginning of a new ministry year, I mentioned that we would take two opportunities during the year to pause for a family financial moment.
Now, if you’re new to The Peoples Church, this is simply a transparency moment, a moment where we share how we’re doing financially as a church family. There’s no pressure, there’s no financial appeal involved, just gratitude and accountability. Back in September, I shared honestly that giving had softened for a season. And I challenged us to consider, if you weren’t giving, to personally pray about beginning, and if you were already giving, to continue faithfully and obediently. And so, church, I just wanted to give you an update halfway through our fiscal year.
We’re going to do this every year in September, at the end of our fiscal year, and in March. Since September, halfway through our fiscal year, we have had 293 new givers start their giving journey. 293 people. Isn’t that good news?
That’s worth celebrating. Now that’s not just a number. That’s spiritual growth. That’s obedience. That’s trust being demonstrated in Jesus.
And here’s what that has meant for us. Year to date, halfway through our year, we’ve received $3.8 million, and our budget is $3.5 million. So we’re ahead of budget. We have a surplus of $318,787.
And church that is healthy. That is healthy for us because giving ebbs and flows throughout a fiscal. So a modest surplus helps you navigate those transitions. And it’s evident of something that we have been saying all year. God is faithful.
That was the theme of our audited financial update at the end of last year, and it continues to be our testimony. He has been faithful in every season of our church, and he continues to be. And he is faithful through the loving obedience of his people, through you and I, sharing out of the excess that he pours into our lives. Our collective generosity and faithful giving fuel ministry every single day, help us to proclaim the gospel, disciple the next generation, serve our city and stand with our partners all around the world. And you have to know that we steward it carefully with independent audits, board oversight, a fiscal fiduciary committee that provides oversight as well, because every dollar given is an act of worship.
So here’s the encouragement if you began giving since September. Thank you. Keep responding to the Spirit’s leading in your life. If you’ve been giving faithfully for years. Thank you.
Your obedience matters, and God notices our faithfulness. And if you’re still considering this important step in your walk with Jesus, we invite you to trust God and to press into that space. Not because we’re behind, but because generosity shapes our hearts and it deepens our walk with him. We give because God is faithful. God has provided.
He is providing, and he will continue to provide. So before we step into his word in Exodus 17, let’s just pray and thank God for what he’s done in our midst.
Lord, we thank you. You are Jehovah Jireh. You are the faithful provider.
You cause your sun to rise on the evil and the good. You send rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. You provide for everyone. Lord, out of what you’ve poured into our lives, would you use these gifts to spread your kingdom, to encourage those who are struggling today, to help those who are in need? Lord, we thank you for the opportunity to share in your kingdom work.
And we thank you for the faithfulness that you have demonstrated to your people throughout history and in our church today. We love you, Lord. In Jesus name, Amen.