Trinity Connect

start date

Wednesday October 11, 2023

Trinity connect - march 2024

Hello Friend!

It’s sad to see an athlete that has an amazing start, but a terrible finish. If you’re like me, I think we’d rather be skilled at Finishing Well. That applies to our relationships, our opportunities, and most of all, our walk with God. As we’ve been reading the book of Nehemiah, we’ve seen him get a great start at serving the Lord. We’ve also seen him running well mid-range because he keeps his heart in check. So how does he finish the race? I’m excited to go there with you because Nehemiah is a master at Finishing Well.


This month’s letter is intentionally short, giving you time to enjoy the inspiring update by our stewardship team following my letter!


In March, we’ll not only wrap up the book of Nehemiah, but we’ll also wrap up our Countdown to Easter. Good Friday services will be in Ashkum and Goodland this year. Please take this opportunity to enjoy and encourage God's work at those campuses! Please join me and invite a friend as we celebrate our Risen Savior and explore the art of Finishing Well!


Date Series Message Passages

March 3 Finishing Well Confession Nehemiah 9

March 10 Finishing Well Covenant Nehemiah 10-12

March 17 Finishing Well Confrontation Nehemiah 13





March 24 Countdown to Easter Christ Palm Sunday

March 29 Countdown to Easter Cross Good Friday

March 31 Countdown to Easter Consummation Easter






Our love and prayers are with you!

Ryan, Malinda and your friends at Trinity



The role of the Stewardship Team is to oversee the resources of Trinity Church, including properties and finances. We use our time and attention to those areas so the Elders can focus their efforts on the vision of the church and its ministry.

Some of our recent activities have been these:

Finances

Giving Principles Found in 2 Corinthians 9:6-14

Paul provides seven principles relating to giving in this passage. First, what you sow you will reap (2 Cor 9:6). If you sow bountifully, you will reap bountifully (but the inverse is also true: if you sow sparingly…). Second, give as you purposed in your heart to give, but not grudgingly (2 Cor 9:7a). Third, God loves a cheerful giver (2 Cor 9:7b). Giving should be done with a cheerful attitude, even hilariously (the Greek word means “hilarious”). Fourth, God will supply the giver’s needs (2 Cor 9:8-11). Fifth, giving is a form of worship of God (2 Cor 9:12). Sixth, a believer’s giving is proof of one’s love for God and it brings glory to God (2 Cor 9:13). Seventh, giving is a form of fellowship with other believers who are not present (2 Cor 9:14).

We are reviewing the budget lines along with Vanessa to better sort out expenses at each campus to fully utilize our resources and streamline some areas at the same time. This is mostly being done to set a baseline for future budgets and the needs of each campus for their specific campuses. As the Ashkum Building project is completed, we have finalized the costs and transitioned from a construction loan to a mortgage. With recent increases in expenses and a mortgage, our budget took an increase this past year. Currently, General Giving is falling below expenses for all of Trinity. Although we are blessed to have a financial reserve, we have only tapped into it once since 2019.

Giving Update

Here is a giving and attendance update for all campuses for Year-to-Date

2022-2023 and 2023-2024.

Sept/Feb

2023/24 508 Worship Average, $438,527 (Giving) $459,365 (Budget Needs) 

2022/23 408 Worship Average; $490,229 (Giving) $409,1567 (Budget Needs)

 Weekly offering needed to meet the approved budget $17,667.88

Weekly giving average for Year-to-Date $16,866.42

Mortgage update

Current Principal Balance as of 2/2/24 $1,068,073.53

Anticipated pledges remaining through December 31, 2024 $230,613.00

Properties

Our stewardship towards God includes everything that we have been given and how we use this on behalf of the Lord and for the Lord’s work. We are stewards of our abilities, spiritual gifts, knowledge, money, in fact, everything that we have been given.

A new door lock and camera system is being installed at the Watseka Campus. The old system had failed, and it had a key lock. The new system has a numeric key code and doors can be opened remotely by staff if needed. There are also times when staff members may be in the building by themselves, so the camera system allows them to see who may be entering or wanting to enter the building, adding to their safety.

At Goodland, rock was added to the parking lot to improve the conditions there. We are also working on Vision plans for potential improvements to the Goodland building and parking area as that campus grows.

After a property insurance review this fall, we are making some minor repairs and improvements to each of the campuses. These are recommendations that again help to provide safer environments for people as we serve at each of our buildings.

Community

We are also reviewing areas with the Elders and Pastors so that we can serve the communities where we live. This includes looking at how we can improve existing ministries, as well as exploring new ministries and needs that we have identified.