Finance Update (August 2024)
Everyday of the week here at Christ Church St Ives, we are prayerfully seeking to build wholehearted disciples of Jesus. We want to see more and more people become Christians. We want to see more and more people built into the life of the church where we serve Jesus, praise Jesus, love each other and grow deep in the Word and prayer. We long to see a church overflowing with people who have been invited in to learn more of what Jesus has done through his death and resurrection.
Last Sunday morning I saw a family arrive with a whole other family, their friends, who they invited who don’t yet know Jesus. They had a great time at church and loved the chance to really dig into Jesus. Last Sunday night I met a guy who was recently invited by a friend and during our Life and Death series, understood grace and the power of the cross for the first time. He was full of thankfulness for all God has done for him.
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.
But I want to let you know today that after the first seven months of this year we are $91,500 behind in our general giving budget. We flagged this trajectory earlier in the year but now is the time for action.
First of all though, praise the Lord that our SRE Appeal and tax deductible giving for 2024 has been incredible. We have raised well in excess of the $100,000 we sought to raise and as a result, all tax deductible giving for 2024 is now closed. This is because there’s only a small portion of our expenses that can be covered by tax deductible giving. The vast majority of our ministry expenses must be paid for by regular general giving.
So, $91,500 behind. What are we to do?
Well, let me encourage you with the words of Paul from 2 Corinthians 8:7. He writes here describing the church in Corinth but I think it’s a pretty good description of our church too - and as he writes he gives them a challenge - a challenge we need to hear now too.
“But since you excel in everything – in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have kindled in you – see that you also excel in this grace of giving.” (2 Corinthians 8:7)
Let us excel in the grace of giving, supporting the work of building wholehearted disciples, seeing more and more people come to know and love Jesus.
We do rely almost entirely on the generosity of our members to fund the work of the Gospel month by month and right now we need to increase our monthly giving from $141,000 to $170,000 in each of the next five months to meet our budget.
We recognise that there are some who are yet to start giving to the work of the Gospel at Christ Church St Ives. Please step in and let’s partner together in the work. For others, you haven’t yet had a practice of giving regularly or not reviewed your giving for some time. Please give consideration to regularity and an increase your giving now.
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. For more information you can head to www.christchurch.com.au/give. If you would like to talk about how to think about your giving, please speak to a member of the team.
Just getting started with giving is important no matter how much you earn or how old you are. Throughout the Scriptures we read that God’s people faithfully bring their contributions and gifts to support God’s work (see 2 Chronicles 31:12 and Acts 4:32-35).
Over all this, please be assured of my prayers for you and your financial decisions throughout this year and thank you for your generosity.
If you have any questions about our finances, current decisions or plans or any other matter regarding our governance, please do not hesitate to contact the Wardens (wardens@christchurch.com.au) or me (nigel@christchurch.com.au).
Thanks for your partnership in the Gospel as we seek to build wholehearted disciples of Jesus.
