I am writing this letter to those who are a part of Great Oaks to update you on our current financial situation. The letter is also addressed to friends of Great Oaks who are praying for us.

The bottom line is this: if we do not increase our giving we will be out of money by the end of December. 

I have faith in my God to meet this need. But I want you to be well informed about the urgency of our situation, for God will be working through you and others like you to meet this need.

Why our area needs Great Oaks Church

God has given us a compelling vision of establishing Sunday services that are relevant, biblically grounded, and Spirit-filled, but also of establishing scores of home churches that are deeply relational and intentionally missional. The goal is an authentic church that is reaching into our community to bring people to Jesus and enable them to grow strong in him - becoming "Oaks of Righteousness, the planting of the Lord, for the display of his splendor" (Isaiah 61:3).

People today are longing for authentic community and lasting meaning in life. 38% of the people in Rochester Hills and the surrounding communities have no faith involvement, and 30% have only some faith involvement. Many who have faith involvement are not followers of Jesus. An inter-generational, relational, and missional congregation like Great Oaks can touch people like no other style of church can. No other church like Great Oaks exists in Oakland County.

What God is doing

We are seeing steady and solid growth. Since January we have grown by over a third in the number of regular attenders on Sunday. This summer we have had 8 great families come on board. We are seeing growth in lives and relationships, and have a growing excitement concerning the vision God has given us. God is at work. We are having an impact in our community, and we've only just begun.

Our Need

But we have an urgent need. Last month we received our final major contribution from our parent denomination, the Reformed Church in America (RCA). We have a small grant of $5000 coming this year, but other than that we are on our own financially. I had hoped to gain some outside funding to help us through the next two years. I have put much time into this, but have not yet seen fruit from these fundraising efforts.  I hope this will change, but we cannot depend on it.

We need $147,600 for this fiscal year (July 1, 2010 to June 30, 2011), or $12,400 per month. In light of this crisis, I cut 40% from the budget our board had approved, keeping only essential spending. The remaining essentials include:

Our current giving

We are so thankful for the faithful giving of people like you at Great Oaks. Apart from such giving, we wouldn't be here today!

We are seeing a gradual rise in income. Over the last half of our fiscal year (January to June, 2010) our team gave an average of $4,300 per month, but we are far below our monthly need of $12,400. We need a sharp increase in income.

Financial Projection

Because of the final generous gift by the RCA, we had a general fund balance of $36,000 at the end of July. If we continue giving at our current rate, we will be out of money by the end of December - just 4 months away. We would then have to immediately triple giving to continue to operate. That's probably not realistic.

If we can immediately increase giving by 50% we can operate through the end of February, giving more time for growth to increase giving. If we can double giving in the next two months, we can make it through this fiscal year (to June, 2011). We hope that by then, Great Oaks will have grown enough to meet our monthly needs. I know we can do this if we all work together.

The Lord's Challenge to all of us

In the Old Testament times people gave 10% of their income (called a "tithe") to the work of the temple. In the early Church, believers gave even more. The Lord promises that if we bring the full tithe to the Lord, he will pour out blessings on us.

Malachi 3:10 "Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it. 11 I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not cast their fruit," says the LORD Almighty.

As people who believe in what God is doing at Great Oaks, I ask you to take a leap of faith to give a tithe, trusting God's promise to provide for your needs. If that's too large of a step right now because you need time to make financial adjustments, feel no guilt at all. But seek to become a percentage giver, whether that means faithfully giving 4%, 6% or more. Give in faith in God's provision, and give an amount you can give with joy, for the Lord loves a cheerful giver.

If you are a friend of Great Oaks, pray for God to open the storehouses of heaven on Great Oaks and upon those who step out in faith! We need the impact of your prayers. Some of you may choose to give a one time gift or make a monthly pledge for one year to this new church launch. That would be a blessing beyond what I can express.

And I am confident that "my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:19).

Please let me hear from you. If you are able to make a commitment of a given amount per month, that would help us greatly in planning. I will update you in the next few weeks concerning the response we receive.

Thank you so much for your support and prayerful consideration!

With love in Christ,

Paul Bradford, Lead Pastor