Monday, June 18, 2018
Dear Trinity Baptist Church Family: God is good. Very good and all the time. Last night we held the 2018 annual meeting of Trinity Baptist Church. On the cover of our report we were reminded that this church has been serving God and bringing Him glory for 36 years! Praise Him.
Much of our business meeting deals with money. That’s the nasty necessity of any organization – even a church. I was reminded by this process that I need to keep some causes before you.
Remember to designate gifts to our missionary budget. At this time our mission budget is funded only by designated gifts. Just mark Missions or Faith Promise on your check/envelope and your money will go to support the 13 missionaries our church regularly supports. I am excited that we have raised our support to the Oetmans in Seoul, South Korea and have taken on the Coolbaughs to a special needs field in Toronto, Canada.
Then, please continue to give to Patriot Boosters. This budget item fell $5,000 short this past year. We have lowered our expectations, but please give to our school. Your gifts keep us affordable and helps those who desire to partner with us for the sake of their children, but cannot afford it.
We continue to receive and encourage gifts to our Parking Lot fund. We spent over $150,000 on capital improvements in the past two years. Previously we had raised some of needed funds. Our total debt against those improvements will be under $77,000 on July 1st. Gifts to the Parking Lot fund go directly to the principle of a $42,000 construction loan we currently have from National Exchange. That loan will come to an end in March of 2020. It would be a blessing indeed if we didn’t have to roll that money over into another loan.
Then, we have a short-term project. The south wall windows and exterior soffit and fascia badly need to be replaced/covered. We currently have a bid for just under $17,000. We have $7,500 dedicated to this project in the Dick Winkler Memorial Fund. We are going to take a special offering for this fund on August 5th. Between now and then, would you please consider a special gift to this fund? It is our desire to do this project this fall. I believe with budgeted repair funds and designated gifts, we can make this happen. Mark your gifts to the Dick Winkler Memorial Fund or give them in the second offering on August 5th.
Talking about money is not my favorite part of my job. I’d rather teach God’s Word whether one on one at McDonalds or from the Sunday morning pulpit. But necessity demands I keep you, the church, informed. Please be faithful in returning to God what is His and then consider giving to these important causes. Thank you.
Embracing Truth, Pastor