Dear Friends:
I want to share some great news from our Joy of Generosity stewardship campaign. As of May 8 our 2012 operating budget is fully funded! Our goal was $2,900,000 and we have commitments from our members for $2,908,035.
Our church is experiencing a time of exciting growth in our ministries and in our membership. Our Children’s Ministry is attracting young families with children; our Academy Sunday school program enrollment is up significantly and the monthly Children First Worship Service draws more than 500 children and their families each month. Attendance in our worship services is up significantly — 8.8% through May 6 from the same period last year. We have had more than 160 new members join the church just this year. Our music program continues to reach new heights. The excellence in our music program is evident week to week in our worship services and our special music celebrations like our 10th Anniversary of September 11th special worship service and our Christmas Festival attracted large crowds. Our youth ministry is growing and provides our young people with programs that are fun and faith filled. The Revolution Weekend in January, we witnessed 60 plus students grow in their faith with the help of over 25 adult volunteers and college student support staff. Our youth continue to be active in the other ministries of our church including worship, outreach, mission and children’s ministry. The Youth Ministry offers students four opportunities each week to gather in worship or a small group setting: Sunday morning Youth Worship and Sunday school, Sunday evening fellowship and small group, Monday evening theology study group and Wednesday night Bible study.
Being a part of all of this growth and renewed enthusiasm at our church is such a wonderful thing to experience. I am thankful for all the ways each of you contribute to the life of our church – volunteering to help in children’s ministry, youth ministry, music ministry, First Street Methodist Mission, adult Sunday school… the list is long. None of these accomplishments could be achieved without the ongoing support of the congregation. Your gifts to the annual budget make our ministries and our church stronger. Thank you for your willingness to support the church with your prayers, presence, gifts, service and witness.
Grace and Peace,
Tim Bruster
