Entries Tagged 'Financial Update' ↓

God is using Celebration Church to make a difference in the World. Thanks to your IMAGINE giving, YOU are making it possible to reach the lost in regions that until now have been untouched and seemingly forgotten.

Ten percent of all IMAGINE giving goes toward the support of Celebration Church’s International church plants in Africa, Costa Rica, and the future plant in Greece. We have been able to provide places of worship in countries where Christianity is not widely accepted and provide food, shelter, and hope for thousands of children. In the near future we will provide an avenue for social justice in places where human trafficking is an overwhelming reality.

YOU have made a difference in the lives of thousands. Countless more can be reached if we all choose to participate in what God is doing here in our church. Our impact cannot stop here. There is so much more work to be done.

Can you IMAGINE?

On Wednesday’s Vision Night, Pastor Stovall shared with us an update on IMAGINE. Here are the highlights:

In 2009, we will have both a Financial Goal and a Participation Goal as a church. Our Financial Goal this year is $4.5 Million. This figure represents the $1 Million left from our 2008 goal and the $3.5 Million needed this year in order to break ground.

Our 2009 Participation Goal is 2000 Households. In order for us to be successful and break ground in 2009, it will require that all of us do our part by participating.

Pastor Stovall also announced two changes for 2009. Because of the current economic climate in our nation, we will be implementing a “Phase” approach for the construction of the new building. This will mean that we will be able to build in phases, which will allow us to stay on target with our timelines and better manage the available finances.

Additionally, 10% of all IMAGINE gifts will now go not only to Africa, but also towards the funding of Celebration Church’s International Church Plants in Greece and Costa Rica. We will also use a portion of this 10% to support the Social Justice Causes that we partner with.

Check back soon as we will have additional information on the allocation of IMAGINE funds received over the past five years, as well as examples of the different lending scenarios that we believe will be available to us and how each may impact our project.

Above all, please pray about your participation in IMAGINE in 2009. If we all participate, we can break ground soon and move into the next chapter that God has for Celebration Church.

Pastor Stovall recently announced that we took in $554,761.03 in the IMAGINE Miracle Weekend Offering.

We are so excited as this now brings the total amount given to IMAGINE in 2008 to $2,132,348. Additionally, because the church has been a good steward of the tithe, $500,000 was taken out of the operating budget earlier this year and allocated directly towards IMAGINE.

As always, ten percent of the IMAGINE Offering will go to the ministries that we support in Africa.

Please continue to pray for our church and our new facility at Baymeadows and 9A. Thank you so much for your continued faithfulness in supporting the next chapter of Celebration Church. Your giving is having a life changing impact in Northeast Florida and around the World.

We are blessed to be a part of a generous church!

Celebration Church is filled with so many men and women who have chosen a “God First” attitude about every aspect of their lives, including their finances. You guys have chosen to invest in the Eternal, as opposed to the temporal.

So far this year we have taken in over $2,000,000 in IMAGINE offerings, with $1,500,000 coming from your offerings. In addition, we have been able to trim over $500,000 out of our operating budget, which will allow us to allocate those funds directly to IMAGINE.

We are in the final stages of preparing for construction and will soon have an update for you regarding the exterior designs of our new building at Baymeadows and 9A.

I believe that during these difficult economic times we all fall into one of two categories.

1) There are those of us that have been hit with financial setbacks.

The best thing that we can do is continue to tithe and give over and above to IMAGINE to prove ourselves faithful in both good times and bad.

Remember the poor widow who gave the equivalent of two pennies in Mark 12? She only had a little, but she gave all that she had. How did Jesus respond?

He said “I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others…”

Jesus was saying that this poor widow was a financial powerhouse in her giving. In God’s eyes, we can excel in giving no matter what our current financial situation. That’s exciting!

2) There are those of us who have been blessed with continued financial abundance during this season.

For those of us that fall into this category, it is our time to honor God by pushing ourselves to make up the difference for those who cannot.

Luke 12:48b tells us “If God has been generous with you, he will expect you to serve him well. But if he has been more than generous, he will expect you to serve him even better.” (Contemporary English Version)

Look at that verse closely, for those of us who are blessed with plenty, Jesus is not suggesting we do more if we feel like it. He demands it.

Above all, regardless of your current financial situation, I encourage you to pray about how God will use you and your finances regarding the IMAGINE campaign.