Dear St. George’s Family,
I can hardly contain myself while writing this letter. My heart is overflowing with joy and thanksgiving.
We have just finished our third year in our building. As you know, we closed each of the first two years with significant operating deficits. At the same time ministries have been growing, givings increasing and our community outreach and presence solidifying. Many people are coming to know the Lord and being converted by the good news of God’s grace and one-way love in Jesus Christ. We believed that we were still on the right track and God was calling us to step on the gas rather than retreat. Growth budgets were passed at both 2016 and 2017 Annual General Meetings. We expected to close those first two years with operating deficits, believing that the third year we would break even.
That is just what has happened!
We needed to receive over $90,000 in the month of December. We needed a miracle and so we announced the need and called for a month of weekly prayer meetings.
We received over $103,000 in December, closing out the year with a $13,100 surplus.
All glory to God for His goodness! And thank you for your generosity in responding to the need.
“I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” – Philippians 1:3–6
Your “partnership in the gospel” makes everything happen. Monica and I love you and pray for you all, thanking God for calling us all together in Christ and for the sake of the gospel in our community and beyond.
This next year will be marked by renewed outreach, deeper discipleship and leadership training. Your partnership over the past year and special gifts at year-end allow us to do so unfettered in 2018.
I pray that God has granted you great joy in giving, in seeing fruitful ministry and joining me in thanking the Lord for His goodness and provision.
With love and joy, in Christ,
R.D.
