If First Church weren’t here, would our community miss us?
That’s the question I’ve been thinking about over the past few weeks. I believe the answer to that important question is a resounding,
“Yes!”
This week members of First Church poured into our Family Life Center to pick up 280 Thanksgiving meals and deliver them to needy families in our local community. Their faces glowed with thankfulness when they received their meals. Monica and I were deeply moved by the gratitude and hospitality that a young mother of five showed us when we delivered their meal. She said,
“Thank you. All we need is food right now.” Our community would miss us if we weren’t here!
Our beautiful church is known for its generosity. Every week through the
First Church Backpack Project
we ensure no school children go hungry over the weekend. We generously support the
Round Rock Area Serving Center and
Hope Alliance women’s shelter every month. Every week our church’s
Round Rock Helpers
fund and perform critical repairs in the homes of seniors and others in need. Many of you participate in other ministries in our church that project the generous soul of First Church to our community.
Yes, if we weren’t here, we would definitely be missed.
Our generosity extends far beyond our local neighborhood. This weekend First Church members will travel to the Texas Gulf Coast to continue our disaster relief mission work. They do this every month! Every month our church financially supports Rev Katie Meek, our missionary in Sierra Leone. In addition to this, you gave an additional
$2,180 to her prison ministry last weekend through your support of the UMW Bake Sale! We gave $10,000 this year to support missionaries in Panama. First Church gives thousands of dollars more to support other mission projects each year including our Student Ministry projects and Friends of First Church efforts in Guatemala, Malawi, and around the world.
If First Church wasn’t here, we would be missed, indeed—in our local neighborhood and around the world!
As Executive Pastor, one of my privileges is to work with our Finance Team and oversee our budget processes. I take special joy in signing checks that support all of these wonderful ministries and missions. I see first-hand how your personal engagement in the lives of others and your financial gifts are making a huge difference for the glory of our Lord! Thank you!
I am also keenly aware of the other checks I sign for First Church—bills for utilities, mortgage, landscaping, cleaning, insurance, personnel, and so on. Honestly, these bills are not as fun to sign! But they are absolutely necessary because they provide the environment and resources for ministry and mission to thrive in and through First Church. We wouldn’t dream of not paying our own mortgage, utilities, and maintenance costs for our own homes.
We take care of God’s house in the same way we take care of our own house.
Monica and I tithe our income because we have seen firsthand what a difference First Church makes in the lives of people in our community and around the world. Our tithe is as an act of faith for us…faith in God and faith in our Finance Committee that works hard to leverage our budget for our greatest ministry needs, knowing that we can do so much more together than alone. Every year we work to increase our giving. Then we look for additional opportunities to give to our church in support of special ministries and missions. This is a great joy for us!
Monica and I feel so privileged to share in ministry with you at First Church. We love serving alongside you in mission to the world. Thank you for your love that fuels our ministry together. And thank you for your financial support which will help First Church end 2019 strong and begin a new year of ministry even stronger through your 2020 pledges!
So, if First Church weren’t here, would our community miss us?
Absolutely! Your beautiful, generous hearts ensure that the love and grace of Jesus Christ is wonderfully proclaimed in our neighborhood, region, and world.
To God be all glory!