A steward is someone who manages someone else’s resources, implying that the steward is not the owner. As part of God’s Kingdom, we are all stewards of God’s gifts and want to administer what belongs to him according to his will. Moreover, we want to make decisions and act guided by God’s desires and purposes.
In Luke 2, we find Simeon is a great example of someone who lived guided by the Holy Spirit. Simeon not only received guidance from the Lord but also acted upon that guidance. Moved by the Holy Spirit, Simeon went to the temple where he met the child Jesus; through this encounter, God revealed to Simeon his plan of salvation through Christ, not only to the Jews but also to the Gentiles.
To build upon what was shared last month, we have begun to carefully review our finances from the past five years to better understand and to have a clearer picture of our current financial status. We are looking at the financial gifting we have received through the generosity of many faithful donors. We are also looking at the way we have spent those funds throughout these years. This is not an easy process as it requires a great deal of self-examination and grace-filled discussion. Similar to a budget that aims to meet financial goals and objectives, we hope that our finances reflect well our priorities as an organization and that of our “Ends Policies”. These are the parameters in which we make our financial decisions. We are calling this a “Stewardship Plan.”
We ultimately want to have better sets of metrics that can help us plan more effectively, be better stewards and better allocate the resources that the Lord has provided for us as an organization.
These are complicated and important matters that affect almost every aspect of our lives and ministries. However, we think that by prayerfully evaluating our past, assessing our present financial condition, and making projections into the future, we are discerning the will of God and exercising appropriate stewardship practices.
As mentioned before, our Finance Committee, along with a few staff, will be meeting for a retreat sometime in the summer to pray and discuss these very things. We invite you to pray with us as we continue to seek and discern God’s will, following Simeon’s example.
GOD’S PROVISION – DECEMBER 2022
| ALLOWANCE: Designated Support: | $50,863 |
| General Support: | $31,715 |
| BENEFITS: Designated Support: | $80,978 |
| Transfer from Estate Fund: | $0 |
| Donations to Benefits Fund: | $75 |
| Number of full-time worker units: | 32 |
| Minimum allowance provided: | 100% |