From your Elder Board...  

God has richly blessed our church. The evidence of His blessing can be seen everywhere: from overflowing parking lots to crowded nurseries, from multiplying home churches to an expanding internship program. Grace continues to raise up countless leaders to reach our community, our nation, and our world for Jesus Christ. However, not surprisingly, this growth of opportunity has brought new needs and challenges. We'd like to let you know about two in particular.

First, as our ministries have grown, so have our expenses. While our Sunday attendance has grown more than 50% in the last few years, our giving has grown less than 20% over the same period. As a result, our staff, volunteers, and resources are stretched thin. This year we are facing a projected $100,000 deficit between income and expenses when the budget year ends on July 31st. If that shortfall continues we will need to reduce some areas of ministry our church is currently conducting, and we will need to make difficult sacrifices as we plan a responsible budget for the 2012-13 fiscal year. For example, next year's budget will not include a pay-raise for the majority of our pastoral staff or increases to most of our ministries. Our prayer is that revenue for next year will increase and that we will be able to consider adjusting the allocations for pastoral salaries and various ministries at some point during the fiscal year. We ask that you prayerfully consider increasing your giving over the next few weeks so that the church might not have a deficit by the time our fiscal year ends on July 31.

Second, as our church has grown, so have the challenges of leading it. We now have over 4000 students and adults attending on large Sundays, and our staff has grown to 52 full-time and 16 part-time employees. Managing such a large organization is requiring many adjustments. As a result, we have directed Brian and Blake to spend a few weeks this summer studying large-church leadership. They will take time out of the pulpit to study relevant literature, interview other large churches and organizations, and create a proposal for the elders and staff to review and implement. We are excited to hear the results! Brian and Blake will also use this time away from preaching to prepare the fall sermon series on James and the spring sermon series on discipleship and spiritual maturity. Please pray for them during this time of study and preparation.

In the midst of these financial and leadership challenges, we must remember that both come as a result of God's astounding blessing of Grace over the past few years. We are so thankful to be facing the challenges of a rapidly growing church! Join us in thanking the Lord for His faithfulness to Grace, and please pray for His continued favor and wisdom.

God bless,

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