I’m so proud of the New Hope Community Church. It is the type of pride that you feel when your child takes his or her first step. I am proud of our Faith in Action Day and the wonderful acts of kindness that we provided our community. I’m proud of our staff because of their “can do – whatever it takes” attitude and their willingness to make enormous personal sacrifices. I’m proud of our many volunteers who work hard all week in their jobs, provide for their families, and still manage to contribute significant amounts of time and energy to the church. I’m proud of the people who quietly pray and who persistently call upon God for His protection of this ministry. I’m proud of the highly competent lay leadership in this church. I’m proud that New Hope is a place where broken people can come to find grace, healing, and hope.
This past year, God has taught me some very valuable lessons about what it means to be unemployed, unable to make a mortgage payment, to lose all of one’s savings, and what it means to lose your home. Not that I ever want to repeat those circumstances again, but as I look back at what my family experienced this year, I am actually thankful for the lessons I have learned. I have learned that there is much more to life than what I thought I needed and I have learned how proud I am of my family for their willingness to adjust their lifestyle so that our basic needs could be met. I know that in the midst a poor economy it has been difficult and all of us have had to cut back. I empathize with those who have lost their jobs or their homes, who have been forced into bankruptcy, or who have had to support loved ones because of medical or financial difficulties. I want to thank you for whatever contribution you have been able to make to New Hope during your struggle. Please do not feel that you need to make any further contribution to this ministry until you are able to make ends meet once again. Our prayers and thoughts are with you.
I am proud of New Hope Community Church because in light of the current economic situation, we have cut our expenses by $45,475 from what was budgeted. However, we are $72,750 behind in what we had budgeted for income. Our goal is to make up the difference of about $30,000 by the end of the year so that we can start the New Year afresh. To make ends meet we have had to take money out our savings to pay basic bills and we have had to compromise some of our goals.
I am proud of all of us who continue to provide for this ministry whether it is through time, talent, or treasure, or most importantly through prayers. But for those of us who have survived this economic crisis and who have continued to feel blessed by God in a special way, I ask that you consider making a year-end gift to the church. Perhaps you give every week but you know you can do something more; please consider giving something additional above your regular contribution. Or perhaps you are working toward tithing but you are not quite there. I am thankful for your goal to tithe and I encourage you to continue to give in that direction. Or perhaps you already tithe because you recognize the value and joy you receive from making that kind of sacrifice. Perhaps you might consider making a gift to the church that is above and beyond your normal giving.
May God truly bless you and your family this Christmas and in the New Year!
In Christ,
Pastor Jim Poit
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