A Note From Your Church Council President
When Linda, our two young daughters, and I joined Faith Lutheran Church thirty-two years ago, the congregation was in the process of committing to a new vision for their ministry that required, at its core, a new church building. With the determined support of Pastor Carl Wilfrid and a feisty Church Council, down came the tiny old chapel and up went a fellowship hall (that served as our worship space for a year); then a new sanctuary; and finally a new education building. It was an exciting step in faith but also expensive, a risk, an “all hands on deck” building project, and one which, once launched, sailed forward with everyone on board. For almost a third of a century that project has provided Faith Lutheran with a home for worship, education, spiritual development, and community outreach.
It has hosted weddings, funerals, the boy scouts, interments, served as a social venue for all ages, given us a kitchen that has prepared meals for thousands and thousands, and a whole lot more! But just like homes, cars, and bodies, buildings get old. They become more frail, slow down, and find it hard to keep up with the changes that come to a community. But they rarely get a nap. They don’t make visits to the doctor, but they still need check-ups, sustaining medications, and sometimes significant surgery.
That’s the present state of FLC’s buildings right now. They are in need of a range of different levels of support. Some needs are crucial, like a new roof on some of the structures that we hope will take care of several damaging leaks. It’s time to replace our barely functioning sound and AV systems in the sanctuary and fellowship hall and offices; and upgrade our networking for Sunday morning broadcasts and classes. Bathrooms need crucial repairs and reconfiguration given how our church is used and the special needs of many of our parishoners (folks in wheelchairs, babies who need diaper changing tables, etc). Sewer and irrigation pipes are breaking, pillars are rotting, stucco siding needs repair and painting, and our classrooms and offices are in need of the same TLC we give our own homes periodically.
New signage should be up around campus in a few weeks so new folks arriving at our facility will know where to go to get to the office, to the sanctuary, and other locations. The list goes on with a dozen smaller needs. But you get the idea. Over these past decades, we’ve been blessed with a congregation of generous supporters and church councils stacked with savvy money managers and strategic thinkers. We’re in an enviable position in many ways right now: A growing and balanced budget, adequate resources to pay our professional staff, faithful giving through the past three tumultuous months, no outstanding debt, gifts that have reduced even our utility bills, and hundreds of hours of volunteer work each year that save us thousands and thousands of dollars. At the same time, we need to address the above structural needs in the very near future, and that will present us with a significant financial challenge. How we accomplish this in a responsible way has been the focus of the Church Council’s recent meetings.
Our Annual Meeting will be held on Sunday, June 28—and though I am hopeful that we’ll all be together in the sanctuary for that event, a Zoom gathering may be in the cards. Either way, your Church Council will be meeting presenting our Annual Report, roll out a new FLC Mission Statement (after nine months of discussion and debate), present the upcoming slate of nominations to the Council, and submit for your approval a budget for the coming year. And we will use this time as well to introduce and launch a three year capital campaign to address the church building needs mentioned above We know that the funds we will seek are truly needed; and we have faith that our members can step up to help us reinvigorate our home for the mission that we’re called to in the coming decades. There’s no getting around the fact that we are going to need several hundred thousand dollars beyond our regular budget to address these issues. As we move into the next month of preparation, I hope that you’ll pray for our Council and staff leadership as they grapple with formulating a plan for the fundraising and work that lies ahead.
God bless you in the coming months as you live through the challenges of this pandemic; and as you reflect on your ability to assist our church with its acute financial needs. It is an honor and blessing to serve FLC this year on the Council and I thank God daily for the great leadership team that he has blessed us with. See you all in about a month, if not sooner!
Joel Zimbelman, Council President