Important Financial Information About the State of Trinity
Talking about money is one of the more challenging and sometimes cringe-worthy topics in a church body, so, often, it is avoided. Did you know that there are over 2,000 verses in the Bible that pertain to money, faithful giving, and stewardship of our abundant blessings? Maybe God is trying to make sure we understand the importance of this topic in a healthy church body!
In that respect, take a look at this line chart:
The orange-dotted line are the expenses Trinity Lutheran has incurred each year over the last few years, while the solid blue line is the income received from several sources, mostly weekly Offering by our congregation. You can see, at the beginning of the line, where we had only one pastor and then the point where we were blessed to bring on a second pastor. You can see the point where, in the height of the COVID pandemic, members stepped up to make sure the church could function properly.
But then you see where the Expenses line continues to grow, while the Income line has largely remained flat. You can also see that the gap between the two is getting wider. Yes, that means that the regular income, largely driven by Offerings, is not meeting the basic financial requirements of the church. That means that Trinity Lutheran is going to find it difficult to meet our financial obligations and it’s getting worse.
Did you also know that it’s pretty easy to fix? If as few as 150 families or individuals increased their weekly offering by $15 moving forward, Trinity would be able to meet the Expense requirements. True story. Many of us probably set our giving levels two or three years ago and haven’t looked at them since. Matthew 6: 20-21 advises us to “… store up for yourselves treasures in Heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
Call to action: Please take a moment to prayerfully think about your weekly giving and whether you can increase your offerings by at least $15 a week to the Operating Fund category. It’s a relatively easy process, too! Here’s a short video tutorial:
Still not sure how to make changes after watching the video? No worries! On Sundays, June 2 & 9, we will have laptops available for use here at church. We will be set up in Fellowship Hall West and a staff member will be available after each service for any assistance you might need.
Still need help? Contact the church office.