Coming down the home stretch

We are coming down the home stretch of our "Moving Forward By Faith" campaign! It's exciting!

I encourage everyone to pick up a packet this Sunday morning (if you haven't already done so) and read about our challenge and opportunity in relocating our church family to 183rd street in Orland Park.

In that packet is a devotional. We would ask that beginning next Monday, you would read the devotional 5 times a week for the next three weeks.

My prayer is that you will allow the Holy Spirit to speak to you as to your level of commitment to our building program. You can make a difference!

It's amazing what we can all do as we give faithfully and sacrificially:

Here's what is going into the bulletin on Sunday as an insert. It's "hot off the press" and you will be the first to read it!

I write:

"Our vision of “Moving Forward by Faith” will be successful as our church family makes gifts over and above our current level of giving.

In 2 Samuel 24:24, King David declared,“I will not offer to God that which costs me nothing.”

Good stewardship begins with smart lifestyle decisions. The challenge is to find ways to let your giving influence your living.

Here’s the question: “What lifestyle changes are we willing to make to give more?”

As we move into our stewardship campaign, “Moving Forward by Faith” the question has been asked, “How can I make a Holy Spirit led pledge to help pay off our new church campus?”

Here’s a true example of one middle class family (given to us by our stewardship campaign consultant) that made some simple steps to fulfill a pledge of $30,000 over three years to their church.

They made their pledge sacrificially and with much prayer.

Our hope is that examples such as these will help you on your pilgrimage
of making a Holy Spirit led decision as to what you are going to pledge.


A family of four's commitment strategies:

Increase giving by $25.00 a week: $3,900.

Reduce eating out by $50.00 a week:
$7,800.

Randy (7th grader) takes lunch to school:
$450.

Phil (husband) takes lunch to work: $2,600.

Teresa (wife) reduces household food budget by $25.00 week: $3,900.

Teresa foregoes pedicures: $2,700.

Melissa (HS Senior) reduces entertainment expense: $600.

Phil reduces his golf playing to only once a week: $2,400.

Family reduces Christmas expense by $500: $1,500.

Cancel one vacation: $2,500.

Vicki (10th grader) gives 1/4 baby sitting fees: $400.

Miscellaneous reductions (subscriptions, fees, etc.): $250.

Trusting God for another $1000: $1,000.


Grand Total of Three-year commitment:
$30,000

“Father, help us to seek you, as to what we are going to pledge to our “Moving Forward By Faith Campaign”. We need your direction and guidance. Help us to be open to giving sacrificially and with much joy! Amen.”