There is power in connection. What type of connection is powerful? Any type of connection that has a foundation in Christ and builds the Kingdom of God. God uses this type of connection to transform circumstances and lives. One of my favorite verses on the power of connection comes from Ecclesiastes 4:9-12:
9 Two are better than one,
because they have a good return for their labor:
10 If either of them falls down,
one can help the other up.
But pity anyone who falls
and has no one to help them up.
11 Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm.
But how can one keep warm alone?
12 Though one may be overpowered,
two can defend themselves.
A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.
The power of connection applies to the giving of gifts. At John Wesley Methodist Church, every contribution, no matter the size, has the potential to transform lives. As we entered 2023 and began a new era as John Wesley Church, the Finance Team identified a category in the budget called "Extra Giving Needed," valued at $100,000. In recent years, factors such as member deaths, people moving away, disaffiliation costs, and a few members transitioning to other churches have created a gap in the contributions to sustain our ministry within our conservative budget.
God has great plans for us and there is tremendous power in connection. It's amazing to witness how seemingly modest contributions from individuals like you can come together to create an enormous impact. Your gift, along with the contributions of others, helps establish a strong foundation for the success and growth of our church and its mission. As we continue our journey of serving the Kingdom of God, I invite you to join the JW Family for a summer of generosity through the "Power of Connection” campaign.
The "Power of Connection” campaign extends an invitation to each member and guest of John Wesley Methodist Church to help strengthen our church financially and bridge the giving gap this summer. Over the next two months we will all have a chance to foster our generous spirits.
Let's explore the power of our connected membership.
Our church community comprises over 1,431 active members and 460 active guests, including adults, students, and children. Together, this adds up to approximately 1,135 potential giving units within our church community. If each potential giving unit (family) contributes an extra $100 per giving unit on top of any regular giving during the summer months, we would raise an additional $113,500 needed to support our mission and ministry.
Imagine the impact of a gift of $100 in celebration of each member of our church community to honor our connection with each other. For example, a family of four or five people would give an extra $400 or $500 over the summer months to honor all their family members. Similarly, a couple would give an extra $200. While not all active members or active guests give or can give, there are generous individuals among our members and guests who might give in celebration of another member/guest or two. Using the power of connection, if a minimum of $100 gift was made in celebration of all 1,431 active members and 460 active guests, we have the potential to raise $189,100. This amount would address the $100,000 goal and build momentum for our exciting future.
That is the power of connection. When a group of generous individuals goes above and beyond to honor family and friends in the faith, amazing things happen in the name of Jesus.
We understand that some of our members and guests are children who may not have their own income. However, we believe that instilling the value of giving from an early age can shape their character and foster a spirit of generosity. If you would like to involve your children in this noble cause, we encourage you to discuss the importance of giving.
To make your gift, choose your preferred online giving option through our website, app or logging onto Realm and choose “Power of Connection” campaign from the drop-down menu. If you prefer to send a check or bring it as a Sunday offering, write “Power of Connection” in the memo.
The Dunbar Family will be making an extra gift of $300 in July and $300 in August for the total of $600 to celebrate the members of our family. I would ask you to join us with an extra mile gift or a first time gift.
In Christ,
Dr. Marty Dunbar
9 Two are better than one,
because they have a good return for their labor:
10 If either of them falls down,
one can help the other up.
But pity anyone who falls
and has no one to help them up.
11 Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm.
But how can one keep warm alone?
12 Though one may be overpowered,
two can defend themselves.
A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.
The power of connection applies to the giving of gifts. At John Wesley Methodist Church, every contribution, no matter the size, has the potential to transform lives. As we entered 2023 and began a new era as John Wesley Church, the Finance Team identified a category in the budget called "Extra Giving Needed," valued at $100,000. In recent years, factors such as member deaths, people moving away, disaffiliation costs, and a few members transitioning to other churches have created a gap in the contributions to sustain our ministry within our conservative budget.
God has great plans for us and there is tremendous power in connection. It's amazing to witness how seemingly modest contributions from individuals like you can come together to create an enormous impact. Your gift, along with the contributions of others, helps establish a strong foundation for the success and growth of our church and its mission. As we continue our journey of serving the Kingdom of God, I invite you to join the JW Family for a summer of generosity through the "Power of Connection” campaign.
The "Power of Connection” campaign extends an invitation to each member and guest of John Wesley Methodist Church to help strengthen our church financially and bridge the giving gap this summer. Over the next two months we will all have a chance to foster our generous spirits.
Let's explore the power of our connected membership.
Our church community comprises over 1,431 active members and 460 active guests, including adults, students, and children. Together, this adds up to approximately 1,135 potential giving units within our church community. If each potential giving unit (family) contributes an extra $100 per giving unit on top of any regular giving during the summer months, we would raise an additional $113,500 needed to support our mission and ministry.
Imagine the impact of a gift of $100 in celebration of each member of our church community to honor our connection with each other. For example, a family of four or five people would give an extra $400 or $500 over the summer months to honor all their family members. Similarly, a couple would give an extra $200. While not all active members or active guests give or can give, there are generous individuals among our members and guests who might give in celebration of another member/guest or two. Using the power of connection, if a minimum of $100 gift was made in celebration of all 1,431 active members and 460 active guests, we have the potential to raise $189,100. This amount would address the $100,000 goal and build momentum for our exciting future.
That is the power of connection. When a group of generous individuals goes above and beyond to honor family and friends in the faith, amazing things happen in the name of Jesus.
We understand that some of our members and guests are children who may not have their own income. However, we believe that instilling the value of giving from an early age can shape their character and foster a spirit of generosity. If you would like to involve your children in this noble cause, we encourage you to discuss the importance of giving.
To make your gift, choose your preferred online giving option through our website, app or logging onto Realm and choose “Power of Connection” campaign from the drop-down menu. If you prefer to send a check or bring it as a Sunday offering, write “Power of Connection” in the memo.
The Dunbar Family will be making an extra gift of $300 in July and $300 in August for the total of $600 to celebrate the members of our family. I would ask you to join us with an extra mile gift or a first time gift.
In Christ,
Dr. Marty Dunbar
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