EBC Family,
I shared with you toward the end of August how our giving as a church was significantly lagging behind our spending. I was encouraged to see an uptick in our giving in September as well as a decrease in our spending. We were still in the red, but not nearly to the degree that we had been in the previous months. Let me encourage us to continue to limit spending to what is necessary for ministry.
Be in prayer for our Finance Committee as they work on the 2024 Budget. If we build our new budget based on our current giving level, we will need to cut $100,000 from last year’s budget. That is a big number that would have far reaching effects on our staffing and ministry plans. I don’t share this to cause worry or panic, but that you would understand the challenge before us and commit to pray about it. There are 2 things I am praying regarding our finances: 1) that God would call all of His people of EBC to be generous and faithful givers, 2) that God would grant us unity and wisdom as a church as we make plans to steward fewer resources. Please pray.
Now a bit of wonderful news, we will celebrate 2 adult baptisms this Sunday morning! One of whom, Carey and I have had the privilege of building a relationship with the past few months. A couple of weeks ago we were out to eat with this person. I asked her to share her spiritual story with us and it was clear that she had never placed her faith in Jesus. I shared the gospel and invited her to surrender her life to Jesus and she did it right there in the restaurant! Seeing a person rescued from the kingdom of darkness and brought into the kingdom of Jesus is a special moment, and you never know when God might use you as His messenger! Be on the lookout for opportunities this week and don’t shy away from initiating spiritual conversations.
I’m grateful to belong to the EBC Family,
Pastor Clint
