ANNUAL REPORT 2020–2021
GREETINGS FROM PASTOR DREW. To the Beloved Bel Air Church Family, The last year has been very clarifying to me. Amidst all the tumult and uncertainty all around us, my resolve has never been greater to follow Jesus every day, and everywhere, with everyone. In seasons of trial, our deeply held beliefs rise to the surface and we reveal to those around us WHO or WHAT has been the primary influence on our lives. I have been reminded that there are many voices, worldviews, and movements that compete for the attention of those in our church family and the ministry of our church is more essential than ever. It is only through the transformative power of the Holy Spirit that we can live into the vibrant and valuable life that God created for us to live. What we need and what those around us need is for Jesus to be the Lord of our lives in every area of our life. This is why we are just beginning to step into an era of being the CHURCH AT WORK. To be the CHURCH is to see our primary identity as flowing out of our relationship with Jesus. To be a church AT WORK is to get after the work that God is already doing in our midst and in our world. We are each called to be worshipers, intercessors, disciple makers, reconcilers, truth tellers, and so much more as we follow the way of Jesus in every area of our lives. This isn’t just a Sunday thing, however. In other words, we get to join God at work when we gather in our worship and join God at work when we enter into our places of work. This annual report is filled with a snapshot of what the last year looked like when we chose to passionately and bravely follow Jesus in the little things and in the big things, in the private things and in the public things. Our reach has never been broader, our financial health has never been stronger, and our vision to equip our church to be the Church at Work is strategically being considered over the next decade. The season ahead is just getting started. I’m all in with Jesus and you as we step into this era together for God’s glory and through the power of the Holy Spirit. With Joy,
Pastor Drew Senior Pastor & Head of Staff 2
BEL AIR CHURCH ANNUAL REPORT 2020–2021
BEL AIR CHURCH ANNUAL REPORT 2020–2021
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DISCOVER BEL AIR AND JOIN THE FAM
A NOTE FROM REV. KIM DORR-TILLEY Something amazing happened in our fully digital Discover Bel Air classes held during the quarantine... New members and facilitators came together in more intimate and meaningful ways through Zoom than we could have imagined! Sharing was deep and personal. Connections were made and Community was formed. Faith was found and affirmed. Our Facilitators serving the class took additional time corporately to pray for those on the new membership journey specifically by name and learned new ways of serving better together. Bel Air now not only has more members locally, but also across the United States!
Rev. Kim Dorr-Tilley, Executive Pastor
“New members and facilitators came together in more intimate and meaningful ways...”
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BEL AIR CHURCH ANNUAL REPORT 2020–2021
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NEW MEMBERS WERE RECEIVED THROUGH DISCOVER BEL AIR.
DRAWING PEOPLE CLOSER TO GOD.
MILY.
EXPANDING OUR COMMUNITY.
117
MEN AND WOMEN MET REGULARLY OVER ZOOM FOR CONNECTION AND COMMUNITY THROUGH OUR LAY-LED MINISTRIES. 6
BEL AIR CHURCH ANNUAL REPORT 2020–2021
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BABIES AND 2 ADULTS WERE BAPTIZED BY OUR PASTORS.
BEL AIR CHURCH ANNUAL REPORT 2020–2021
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EQUIPPING YOU TO FOLLOW JESUS.
A NOTE FROM REV. MIKE MORGAN The pandemic of 2020/2021 has been both a challenge and an opportunity for discipleship through Bel Air Church. Reaching people who were socially distanced presented itself as a significant challenge. However, distancing didn’t derail discipleship. Instead, we seized this as an opportunity to adapt all that we were doing, to think outside the walls of a location, time, or room, and shift to providing discipleship opportunities to be experienced every day, everywhere, and with everyone. In a pandemic, Bible teachers were trained, Scripture was taught, the Gospel was shared and a whole new future was opened up to us as we seek to Equip the Church, to be the church at work. This is all thanks to the faithful women and men in our discipleship ministry who spent countless hours co-creating compelling content with energy, imagination and love.
Rev. Mike Morgan, Associate Pastor of Caring + Discipleship
“...distancing didn’t derail discipleship.”
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BEL AIR CHURCH ANNUAL REPORT 2020–2021
HOURS WERE DEDICATED TO BIBLICAL LITERACY THROUGH DISCIPLESHIP PROGRAMS INCLUDING BETHEL, IN THE WORD & FRIDAY NIGHT FORUM.
WELCOMING PEOPLE INTO COMMUNITY.
600+
LASTING FRIENDSHIPS FORM IN LIFE GR
A NOTE FROM REBECCA BURCHETT MORGAN The pandemic didn’t stop community! Even in the midst of pivoting to digital gatherings, our Bel Air Life Groups continued to grow in Christ together and care deeply for each other. As these groups journeyed through the ups and downs of a difficult year, the Spirit was at work bringing hope and comfort in powerful ways. Can I get an “Amen” for Zoom? Thank you, God for cultivating rich and authentic community!
Rebecca Burchett Morgan, Director of Life Groups
“...the Spirit was at work bringing hope and comfort in powerful ways.”
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BEL AIR CHURCH ANNUAL REPORT 2020–2021
550
PEOPLE FROM OUR CHURCH (INCLUDING 75 LEADERS) WERE INVOLVED IN GROUPS FROM WESTLAKE VILLAGE TO WEST LOS ANGELES.
WE ARE THE CHURCH AT WORK!
ROUPS.
CARING FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
A NOTE FROM COSME PALMA Whether it was providing a listening ear for over the phone (CareCalls), or going on pharmacy runs for those in need of medications, the men and women of our Caring Ministries adapted to offer support in unorthodox ways. In leveraging our beautiful campus to draw people closer to God, we supported families through 5 memorials at Bel Air Church both physically and digitally. In addition, we were able to help 8 church members with the grieving process through our Deacon Ministry and Stephen Ministry, providing them with supplemental care through our Journeying Through Grief program. The Deacons Fund provides financial assistance to those in need in and outside of Bel Air Church. It is funded through the generous giving of our Bel Air Church family through special periodic offerings.
Cosme Palma, Director of Caring Ministries
“...both women and men who long to care were in the midst of these challenges helping those at Bel Air Church.”
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BEL AIR CHURCH ANNUAL REPORT 2020–2021
WE ARE THE CHURCH AT WORK!
600+
MEMBERS WERE CARED FOR BY OUR DEACON MINISTRY, AND OVER $10,000 OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED.
INTRODUCING OUR KIDS TO JESUS. A NOTE FROM CRISTINA BRADFORD When our church was closed due to the pandemic, I could not have imagined that God would give us such an amazing opportunity to continue discipling children virtually. God has blessed us with the opportunity to expand our Sunday School, even in the midst of the pandemic. We were able to host more than 100 children via Zoom each week. We also hosted 161 children for our virtual VBS. We reached and engaged our 260-member Facebook Group families with Sunday School Watch Parties, Tuesday Devotionals, Thursday Story Time and many fun weekly challenges. While we have enjoyed being able to use technology to reach everyone, it has been a blessing for us to return to our beautiful campus and to see our dear church families return to inperson services. We currently have an average of 80 children attending Sunday School on campus. I am so grateful to our Bel Air Kids Team for making Sunday School possible.
Cristina Bradford, Director of Kids’ Ministry
“There is nothing more beautiful than witnessing the children as they grow in God’s Word.”
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BEL AIR CHURCH ANNUAL REPORT 2020–2021
LEAD VIBRANT YOUTH MINISTRIES.
350+
CHILDREN JOINED IN BEL AIR KIDS’ MINISTRY FROM HOME + IN PERSON THROUGH OUR SUNDAY SCHOOL, KIDS’ CHOIR AND VBS!
LEADING STUDENTS INTO A DEEPER RE
A NOTE FROM DREW WALTON What a joyful year this has been in Student Ministry! As we’ve set our eyes on being the Church at Work, we’ve had a lot of fun and made so many new memories. From digital coffees, to online movie nights, from zoom Bible studies, to the patio service; we made the most with what we had at the start of the year and kept our eyes on the future. As we transitioned back to campus, we celebrated the return of in-person Middle School and High School Sundays as well as Midweek Bible Study. We’ve sent graduating seniors off to their next steps and also welcomed a lot of new faces. Through it all, God has been faithful and we can’t wait for what He’s planning next!
Drew Walton, Director of Student Ministries
“As we’ve set our eyes on being the Church at Work, we’ve had a lot of fun and made so many new memories.”
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BEL AIR CHURCH ANNUAL REPORT 2020–2021
ELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS.
50
STUDENTS CONNECTED OVER ZOOM AND IN PERSON THROUGH MIDWEEK ACTIVITIES AND SUNDAY WORSHIP.
BEL AIR CHURCH ANNUAL REPORT 2020–2021
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SO MANY WAYS TO SERVE OUR CHURC
A NOTE FROM ELISSA METROPOULOS Volunteerism at Bel Air Church had to pivot during the pandemic along with the rest of the world. The regular rhythms of showing up to campus to serve by being physically present halted to a stop, and instead, phone calls and emails ramped up as we tried to care for and serve each other from a distance. The heart of a servant does not waiver in times of uncertainty and chaos, but instead sacrificially rises above to accept whatever challenges lie ahead. Many of us find joy in giving back to our community through volunteering, so when that shifted in terms of the “how,” some got creative and figured out ways to continue being the “Church at Work.” Our volunteers are the church and we simply could not be the church without them. Bel Air Church volunteers are champions and the staff who oversee them are nothing short of noteworthy in navigating these difficult and transitional times.
Elissa Metropoulos, Associate Director of Community + Connections
“...some got creative and figured out ways to continue being the ‘Church at Work.’”
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BEL AIR CHURCH ANNUAL REPORT 2020–2021
WE ARE THE CHURCH AT WORK!
CH + CITY.
2,200+
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES WERE FILLED BY MEMBERS OF OUR BEL AIR COMMUNITY ACROSS ALL OUR MINISTRIES. BEL AIR CHURCH ANNUAL REPORT 2020–2021
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A view from the Bel Air Church campus, overlooking the valley at sunset...
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BEL AIR CHURCH ANNUAL REPORT 2020–2021
BEL AIR CHURCH ANNUAL REPORT 2020–2021
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LOCAL + GLOBAL OUTREACH. A NOTE FROM JOANNE MARCOS This year, the Outreach Ministry pursued a new paradigm shift of missional and relational engagement which fostered opportunities to get involved: locally and globally, in-person and online, individually and altogether. Our community thrived by serving & engaging in: •
80 people attended a Monday Night Mission event over Zoom with our partner, Pastor James Byensi in the Congo.
•
1,500+ lbs. of clothing and blankets collected by 100 participants.
•
52 members participated in a local service project initiated by Rooted Life Groups.
•
15 people participated in a Group Home Christmas party.
•
35 people donated blood at our Blood Drive.
Joanne Marcos, Director of Outreach
“Outreach Ministry pursued a new paradigm shift of missional and relational engagement...”
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BEL AIR CHURCH ANNUAL REPORT 2020–2021
WE ARE THE CHURCH AT WORK.
282+ PEOPLE PARTICIPATED IN LOCAL AND GLOBAL OUTREACH EVENTS BETWEEN JULY 2020 AND JUNE 2021.
BEL AIR CHURCH ANNUAL REPORT 2020–2021
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WE ARE THE CHURCH AT WORK.
THANKSGIVING BOXES: A TIME-HONO
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BEL AIR CHURCH ANNUAL REPORT 2020–2021
ORED BEL AIR TRADITION.
10,000+
THANKSGIVING MEALS WERE PACKED AND DELIVERED BY 200 VOLUNTEERS TO FEED OVER 1,000 INDIVIDUALS THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES.
BEL AIR CHURCH ANNUAL REPORT 2020–2021
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TRANSFORMATIONAL WORSHIP.
INSPIRING HEARTS AND MINDS THROU
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BEL AIR CHURCH ANNUAL REPORT 2020–2021
UGH OUR WORSHIP SERVICES.
408,650+
INDIVIDUALS JOINED US IN PRAISING JESUS THROUGH WORSHIP SERVICES OFFERED ONLINE AND IN PERSON OVER THE COURSE OF THE YEAR, INCLUDING OVER 208,000 VIEWERS WHO TUNED IN TO OUR KCOP TELEVISION BROADCAST.
BEL AIR CHURCH ANNUAL REPORT 2020–2021
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BEL AIR WORSHIP SERVICES CONT...
A NOTE FROM DAN KORNEYCHUK & JAMISON PUCKETT INNOVATION is the word to describe BAC’s Worship Arts Ministries in 2020-21! When worshiping and making music TOGETHER was out of the question, new ways were forged. Our adult and kids’ choirs met weekly on Zoom and found that, in addition to the musical challenges, there were unexpected benefits like having time to get to know each individual better. Virtual choirs and socially distanced quartets led in televised and streamed worship services. Our Band led us in worship from the studio and the patio! As the year drew to a close, a new vision for United Worship took root and with it a new leadership model emerged: Co-Directors of Worship. INNOVATION kept us moving ahead and will continue to do so!
Dan Korneychuk & Jamison Puckett, Co-Directors of Worship
“When worshiping and making music TOGETHER was out of the question, new ways were forged.”
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BEL AIR CHURCH ANNUAL REPORT 2020–2021
7,860
OUR AVERAGE SUNDAY WORSHIP ATTENDANCE INCLUDING ONLINE AND IN PERSON.
BEL AIR’S PRESENCE ONLINE REACHES
DIGITAL CONGREGATION.
332,134
Every Sunday, our church provided multiple opportunities for people to participate in our worship services from home and beyond...
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• Belair.org Worship: 31,788
• Facebook Engagement: 112,863
• Podcast Streams: 105,083
• YouTube: 82.4k Views (+667 Channel Subscribers)
BEL AIR CHURCH ANNUAL REPORT 2020–2021
PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD. United States
Vietnam
Croatia
Panama
Canada
Saudi Arabia
Jordan
Rwanda
China
Taiwan
Kuwait
Sierra Leone
United Kingdom
Turkey
Portugal
Senegal
Australia
Malaysia
Zimbabwe
Uzbekistan
Germany
Poland
Bosnia + Herzegovina
Afghanistan
Brazil
Belgium
Bulgaria
Burkina Faso
India
Kenya
Bolivia
Benin
Japan
Luxembourg
Bahamas
Dominica
Netherlands
Thailand
Cameroon
Grenada
Argentina
Colombia
Denmark
Guadeloupe
Mexico
Israel
Ecuador
Honduras
Nigeria
Uganda
Lebanon
Iceland
Philippines
Chile
Latvia
Kyrgyzstan
United Arab Emirates
Ethiopia
Moldova
Cambodia
Russia
Iran
Malawi
Cayman Islands
South Korea
Congo - Kinshasa
Niger
Sri Lanka
France
Morocco
Nepal
Liberia
Singapore
Peru
Puerto Rico
Lithuania
Hong Kong
Algeria
Seychelles
Mali
Ireland
Hungary
El Salvador
Mauritius
South Africa
Jamaica
Tunisia
Namibia
Finland
Myanmar (Burma)
Trinidad + Tobago
Oman
Italy
Ghana
Tanzania
Paraguay
Pakistan
Norway
Kosovo
Serbia
Sweden
Venezuela
Belarus
Slovakia
Spain
Barbados
Georgia
Somalia
Indonesia
Costa Rica
Guatemala
Chad
Austria
Dominican Republic
Kazakhstan
Turkmenistan
Bangladesh
Qatar
Laos
Azerbaijan
Romania
Montenegro
St. Vincent + Grenadines
Switzerland
Armenia
Madagascar
New Zealand
Côte d’Ivoire
North Macedonia
Ukraine
Czechia
Malta
Egypt
Greece
Nicaragua
U.S. Virgin Islands Yemen Zambia
BEL AIR CHURCH ANNUAL REPORT 2020–2021
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REACHING OUR COMMUNITY BEYOND A NOTE FROM CAROLINE SCOTT The beauty of social media is how it affords us an opportunity to connect with one another, regardless of what time-zone or zip code we live in. Following Jesus every day and everywhere with everyone has never been a more attainable mission! We carry the potential to make ourselves known, pray for one another, spread the gospel and reach hundreds, if not thousands of people, every day.
Caroline Scott, Director of Communications
In 2020, Bel Air Church began using social media platforms such as Facebook and YouTube to make our worship services available to everyone. Over the course of the year our Sunday services reached over 33,000 on Facebook and 36,000 on YouTube. We leveraged these platforms to connect with people beyond church on Sunday, with weekly original content such as Mondays with the Morgans and Instagram Prayer Room Live, which reached a combined total of 25,000 people through Instagram. Between July 1, 2020 and June 30, 2021, Bel Air Church content was viewed more than 200,000 times through social media channels.
And while the numbers are impressive, it’s the quality of our interactions that matters most. In the year ahead, we are endeavoring to deepen our connection with others online by engaging and relating to others through God’s Word. You can help! Use these platforms to be the Church at Work. Share our sermons and teachings, post a prayer, promote your faith…and don’t forget to tag @belairchurch so that we can lift you up in return.
“...it’s the quality of our interactions that matters most.”
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BEL AIR CHURCH ANNUAL REPORT 2020–2021
WELCOME PEOPLE INTO COMMUNITY.
D OUR CAMPUS.
200K+
PEOPLE VIEWED + ENGAGED WITH BEL AIR CHURCH THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA OVER THE PAST YEAR.
BEL AIR CHURCH ANNUAL REPORT 2020–2021
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LEVERAGING OUR BEAUTIFUL CAMPUS
NATIVITY LANE: A MAGICAL DRIVE-THR
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BEL AIR CHURCH ANNUAL REPORT 2020–2021
RU EXPERIENCE.
550+
FAMILIES AND OVER 50 VOLUNTEERS WERE BLESSED BY A TWO-NIGHT DRIVETHRU EXPERIENCE INCLUDING LIVE DEPICTIONS OF THE BIRTH OF OUR LORD, JESUS CHRIST. BEL AIR CHURCH ANNUAL REPORT 2020–2021
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OUR RETURN TO THE SANCTUARY: EAS
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BEL AIR CHURCH ANNUAL REPORT 2020–2021
STER SUNDAY 2021
1,263
PEOPLE JOINED US ON CAMPUS FOR 3 SERVICES INCLUDING OUR FIRST IN THE SANCTUARY SINCE OUR CLOSURE. 7,467 WORSHIPED WITH US AROUND THE WORLD. BEL AIR CHURCH ANNUAL REPORT 2020–2021
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BEL AIR CHURCH VISION CAMPAIGN. A NOTE FROM BECCA NELSON In 2018 the leadership of Bel Air Church embarked on the process of exploring a capital campaign to make necessary improvements to the church campus and pay down historical debt. During the initial planning, though, Pastor Drew felt God calling him to go beyond a simple capital campaign and to give it more meaning. He believed God was leading him to a vision of us becoming the Church at Work. Thus, he felt led to make this a Vision Campaign, a capital campaign, but more than that a campaign to resource and develop the vision of being the Church at Work. After several years of planning, preparing, and beginning to fundraise behind the scenes, the Vision Campaign was launched publicly to the congregation in April of 2021. The Vision Campaign focused on three main project areas: (1)physical campus improvements and restorations, (2) expanding and enhancing our digital presence, and (3)creating greater financial stability by paying down half of our historical debt. The overall goal for the campaign was $14 million and at the launch $6.3 million had already been committed. The congregation was asked to consider pledging a gift over 5 years above and beyond their regular giving, with the hopes of reaching the first milestone of $8 million by the end of the fiscal year in June 2021. Through the dedication and generosity of our congregation, we blew past that first milestone and raised over $11 million in pledges by June 30, 2021! The Vision Campaign continues to raise funds and will begin “...Pastor Drew felt God calling him to go beyond working on projects in the 2021-2022 fiscal year and a simple capital campaign and to give it more continuing over the next five years. meaning.” Thank you for your faithfulness and generosity in this season!
Becca Nelson, Director of Stewardship 38
BEL AIR CHURCH ANNUAL REPORT 2020–2021
EXCELLENT FINANCIAL STEWARDSHIP
$14.2M
HAS BEEN PLEDGED TO THE VISION TO DATE WITH THE PUBLIC LAUNCH IN APRIL 2021.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE. Greetings Bel Air Church, After decades in the restaurant industry, it was a big decision that required much prayer and trust to apply for and accept the role of Executive Director over a year ago. As I look back on all that God was able to accomplish, I can tell you that it was very fulfilling personally and professionally. A few highlights that I’d like to share with you are that we: • Have created new departmental budgeting processes that have enabled us to consistently and effectively stay within departmental spending. • While working closely with our team, we have identified and prioritized some initial projects that we will be tackling related to our Vision Campaign. • As a result of financial discipline, we haven’t needed to draw on our line of credit for the second year in a row! • Negotiated with various parties and vendors to decrease expenses whenever and wherever we could, which included a workable plan to become current in our per-capita dues to Presbytery of the Pacific. • Helped develop best practices and standards related to the Covid-19 pandemic that, to date, have resulted in zero cases of known community spread during a Bel Air ministry.
Mike Yager, Executive Director
• Helped create and implement a return to work policy bringing staff back on campus and thereby working more closely and effectively.
• Continue to leverage our campus to be a blessing for the city including: hosting various events, working towards expanding our beloved and sought-after preschool, and hosting a special needs school that meets on our campus 5 days a week. It has been quite the year to join the team but I am thankful that God has brought me here to Bel Air and that I can bring my experience to maximize our operational effectiveness as we grow to become the Church at Work. With Gratitude,
Mike Yager Executive Director
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BEL AIR CHURCH ANNUAL REPORT 2020–2021
“...we haven’t needed to draw on our line of credit for the second year in a row!”
*CHURCH FINANCIAL SUMMARY. 19/20 Actuals
20/21 Actuals
19/20 Budget
$5,090,134
$4,974,189
$5,121,504
$15,252
$346,939
$172,470
CONTRIBUTIONS Contributions
Restricted Contributions PPP
$674,000
Merchant Fees
$(97,794)
$(89,890)
$(90,000)
$5,681,592
$5,231,238
$5,203,974
Total Program Income
$233,019
$17,715
$180,113
Rental & Other Income**
$375,283
$326,741
$430,000
Subtotal Program Income
$608,302
$344,456
$610,113
TOTAL CONTRIBUTIONS & RECEIPTS
$6,289,894
$5,575,694
$5,814,087
$623,358
$448,028
$560,832
$1,568,328
$1,825,529
$1,610,473
$635,671
$264,748
$255,110
$2,769,156
$2,861,485
$3,171,354
$5,596,512
$5,399,790
$5,597,769
$693,382
$175,904
$216,318
$143,730
$164,715
$190,149
NET CASH FLOW
$549,652
$11,189
$26,169
NET CASH FLOW EXCLUDING PPP LOAN
$(124,348)
$11,189
$34,865
06/30/20 Balance
06/30/21 Balance
Total Unrestricted/Restricted Contribution
PROGRAM INCOME
EXPENSES
Worship Ministries Discipleship & Spiritual Formation
Outreach & Caring Ministries Ministry Administration
TOTAL EXPENSES
EXCESS OF REVENUES (EXPENSES) Principal Payments on Loan
OTHER CASH FLOW ITEMS:
-
Line of Credit Past Due Presbytery Support
TOTAL
-
-
$203,934
$116,644
-
$203,934
$116,644
-
*Church revenue/expenses only, does not include depreciation, swap valuation, preschool, endowment, Deacon, or Vision Campaign. Budget has the $512k online production. ** Preschool rent, paid to BAC Operations, is included in rental income *** 2020/2021 Pastor’s combined salaries $629,610 (based on ytd payroll registers)
BEL AIR CHURCH ANNUAL REPORT 2020–2021
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A LOOK AHEAD...
“Drew’s vision for 2032...unveiled.”
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BEL AIR CHURCH ANNUAL REPORT 2020–2021
BEL AIR CHURCH ANNUAL REPORT 2020–2021
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CONNECT WITH US ONLINE
facebook.com/belair.org @belairchurch youtube.com/belairchurch Bel Air Church Bel Air Church
16221 Mulholland Drive, Los Angeles., CA 90049 | 818-788-4200 | www.belair.org