Pastor's Blog: Resetting the Course
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When the power briefly went out last week due to the heavy rains passing through our area, all of the devices we have in our house that are connected to the Internet went out as well. Because I had faced such a situation before, I knew what to do. The only way I could get those devices working again was to perform a “reset.” By unplugging my modem for a short period of time and then plugging it back in, I was able to allow the modem to return to its pre-blackout settings so that I could carry on as if nothing had ever happened.
I think that image applies nicely to where we are as a church in light of the present power interruption we’ve been experiencing since March of this year. The pandemic has thrown everything out of sorts. We’ve seen it in all circles, from business to academia to entertainment to leisure. Our former ways of planning for the future have all required a reset, so it stands to reason that our planning for ministry as a church would require the same.
Earlier in the month, the Finance Committee and Deacons presented to the church a 2021 ministry plan (otherwise known as a “church budget”) that recommended a reduction in our overall plan from $3.469 million to $2.914 million, a reduction of $555,000 or about 16%. These reductions are in response to the decrease in tithes and offerings that have been received year to date, which has already resulted in a mid-year reduction in ministry expenses for the remainder of 2020. Fortunately, we were able to make these reductions without much interruption of impact due to the number of ministry activities that have gone “offline” in this season of COVID, and depending on the response of our congregation in the remaining months of this year, we anticipate being able to restore a good number of these cuts, particularly in the area of missions. However, given the uncertainty of where things will be in 2021 with the pandemic, the election, and the economy, it seems the wisest and most faithful course of action to be cautious in our projections.
I see this cautious approach as a “reset,” not a “retreat.” I fully anticipate that once a trusted vaccine becomes widely available in the next year, we’ll be performing “resets” on numerous ministry strategies, one of which will be a revisiting of our financial position at the end of May 2021 so that we might revise our ministry plan in light of what I believe will be a return of the full financial power of our church. So, yes, this recommendation is a step back, but one that we will be taking in anticipation of taking two or more steps forward in the coming year.
We will vote on this proposed ministry plan at both of our morning services this Sunday. Copies of the plan will be available for those present. Others may access the plan with this link.
Please be in prayer for our church as we move forward into the good future God has for us to know. Thanks for the faithfulness you have already shown in helping our church fulfill God’s mission. Continue to do so as we press ahead in managing this most unusual and unprecedented time. I look forward to seeing you this Sunday as we share together in the hopes of doing even more in the days ahead to “Love God and Live with Grace and Generosity.”
“And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of His glory in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19).