Good news enabled by great generosity!

Last week I shared with you that after the first seven months of this year we are $91,500 behind in our general giving budget. As I hope you know, we rely almost entirely on the generosity of our members to fund the work of the gospel month by month. Indeed, more than 90% of our budget needs to be funded by you and me  but 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. 

I encouraged you with the challenging words of Paul from 2 Corinthians 8:7. 

“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) 

Friends, 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. 

Today I want to encourage you with some good news stories. Here is what God is doing with the financial resources we give to the work of the gospel here at St Ives. 

First and most awesomely, 13 people have become Christians through our ministry this year - and we haven’t even finished Big Fridays or started Share Life Sundays. Praise God for people who stepped out in faith and talked to a friend. Praise God for revealing himself to people so they might be saved. And let’s keep praying and inviting as Share Life Sundays start September 8.

Secondly, more than 350 young people turned up to Big Fridays night #1. I was there and it was amazing - there were people everywhere including the incredible team of parent helpers who arranged sausages and pizza and tacos. Thank you parents! The team was praying for 300 people on the first night but the courage of our young people in inviting friends meant God answered those prayers and more. 

Thirdly, for the first time in more than 12 months we have a full staff team again. With Jo Adams changing roles and Gerard O’Brien joining the team we now have all our leadership roles filled and I am praying it stays that way for some time.

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. And this is what our team is focused on. 

I could tell you about the marked increase in people serving this year. I could tell you about the creative energy in our music teams. I could tell you about the growth in our ESL, Mandarin and Kids Ministries. God is doing great things in our midst as we open his Word, step out in faith and call people to know, love and serve him. 

And friends, your ongoing financial support of the ministry at Christ Church St Ives is supporting and contributing to this incredible work. Thank you and please be assured of my prayers for you and your decision to financially support the work here at Christ Church St Ives. 

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.