An update on 'Double or Start' - December 2024
Thanks for doubling or starting!
Friends, your ongoing financial support of the ministry at Christ Church St Ives is contributing to the incredible work of seeing people come to know and love Jesus. We all got to see this first hand on Celebration Sunday when more than 50 people confessed Christ and were baptised or confirmed, declaring their faith publicly. It is super exciting to see that God is bringing people to know and love him in our midst.
At the end of October I let you know that we were on a trajectory towards being $150,000 behind in general giving for 2024. I invited you to Double or Start.
I am now very pleased to be able to share that your generosity so far has met the entire shortfall - praise God! As we continue our regular giving through December, it is likely we will meet our 2024 giving budget.
There are moments in church life where I honestly get overwhelmed with the sacrifices people make to ensure the gospel goes out. And your generosity, accompanied by people serving Jesus every week, is one of those moments. Thank you. Paul encourages the Corinthians to excel in the grace of giving and this is what you have done in these last six weeks. Praise the Lord.
As we look into next year, we have almost completed our budgeting process and there will be an increase in our giving budget in 2025 so now would still be a great time to start giving if you have not yet had a chance to do so throughout this year.
We do rely almost entirely on the generosity of our members to fund the work of the gospel month by month and the Scriptures urge us to be good stewards of the gifts God has given us, including the money we earn, so I encourage you to consider how you can partner in the work of the gospel in and from our church.
Just as Jesus honours the widow’s mite, so we want to honour those who start giving what they are able - for you that might be $5 a week. In the work of the gospel, every contribution is invaluable.
For more information about how to give you can head to our Giving page.
If you have any questions about our finances, current decisions, plans, or any other matter regarding our governance, please do not hesitate to contact the Wardens, Ross Bowden, James Clifton or William Hood (wardens@christchurch.com.au) or me (nigel@christchurch.com.au).
Over all this, please be assured of my thankful prayers for you and praise God for the generosity of the saints.
Thanks for your partnership in the gospel as we seek to build wholehearted disciples of Jesus.