THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2014
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Good Shepherd Community Church
CAMPAIGN 2014-2015
CHURCH AND ACTIVITY CENTER IMPROVEMENTS
CHURCH ROOF REPAIRS
ACTIVITY CENTER II EXPANSION
THE GIFT CAMPAIGN WHOSE ECONOMY? It’s tough to find a good investment these days. The need to save—for retirement, for our children’s future education, for a rainy day—is as critical as ever, but factors such as the declining economy and unemployment have made the best investment choices much less apparent than they were a few years ago. Many families today live on a single-income, which makes the thought of cutbacks and unemployment even more daunting. Factor in the rising costs of health insurance, the need to
change your perspective: “Who of you by
save for children’s college and the doom and
worrying can add a single hour to his life?”
gloom we see in the papers every day, and it would be easy to be paralyzed by fear.
IT COMES DOWN TO TRUST
Right now we live in a world of economic
Do I trust God? Is participating in the Gift
uncertainty. Yet, when we set our eyes on the
Campaign a good investment? Absolutely.
things of God, we see that His economy is
Retirement savings can be swept
certain! The question becomes, “Whose
away by one bad day on Wall
economy do I place my trust in?”
Street, but investments
When you read Matthew 6, Jesus asks a question in verse 27 that challenges you to
made toward the spiritual health and growth of my family are eternal.
Together We Can Make A Difference!
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Our gifts will help pay for much needed
The Gift Campaign gives each of us— long-time
improvements, repairs, replacements and a new
members and new-comers alike—a great
building, this facility will enable GSCC to
opportunity to do just that.
minister more effectively to everyone who enters the doors of the church. You will be a partner to a work that will have a lasting impact, both in your home and in our community. What the leaders of the church are asking is for
Please join GSCC Leadership and our families in making a generous and sacrificial offering and commitment Sunday, Dec. 14, 2014. We thank you for your generosity as we partner with God and unite with each other to reach our community in Jesus’ name.
members of this body to prayerfully consider committing to give a significant gift on December 14, 2014, over and above your regular tithe. That may seem like a real stretch in these economic times, however, many people who have participated in previous Gift Campaigns have found that it is not as intimidating as they originally thought.
“For me, the most significant part about being at GSCC is the way we partner with God and unite as family to grow spiritually. It’s a great place where I feel confident that your children are being stretched and encouraged to learn about Jesus Christ and where families are challenged to grow deeper in the their relationship with God. The Time Is Now To Go ALL IN.
More importantly, they’ve also discovered that, by giving sacrificially they released God’s
— Pastor Richard Hinojosa
enablement towards themselves to reap His blessings—financial and otherwise that they never anticipated. Hearing testimonies to that effect is wonderful, but it gets even better. In Malachi 3:10, God actually throws down a challenge for us when it comes to giving. “Test me in this,’ says the Lord Almighty, and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.” When God actually invites us to test him about
It is our desire, at HERO Kids, to come alongside families and to encourage their children in developing a personal relationship with God at an early age, serving as a strong foundation for their lives.
something, wouldn’t it seem a bit foolish not to take him up on it?
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teeming with children! If you’re really brave, come back on a Wednesday night and see how we minister to 40+ teenagers and 60-75 Pond and HERO kids! You can forget about attending a Connect Group on Wednesday night at the church, or using the building for a ministry team meeting, The vision and purpose of The Core Student Ministries is to raise up a generation of young people who understand their value, purpose and the calling they are being raised up to fulfill.
we’ve expanded to meeting in each others homes because... there’s just no space! Shrinking back is not an option. Slowing down is not our choice to make. Waiting for the
GSCC IS A UNIQUE CHURCH Our name suggests that we are also a community. Our fellowship is not only connecting with God through Jesus Christ but connecting with each other. We don’t take that lightly or treat it casually. We are intentional about being relationally authentic and consider it a privilege to love, encourage and serve one another, which then leads us to connecting with those separated from God. All this combines to make GSCC a very unique special place! Evidently a lot of other people believe that too, as we have been blessed by God with consistent growth since the church began. By God’s grace working in concert with faithful
economy to recover would be like asking God to hold off his blessing until the time is right for us to receive it! We believe God is clearly at work, and it is now our opportunity, once again, to respond in faith and trust! To continue fulfilling the vision of GSCC, the time has come to improve and expand on the outside so we may continue growing on the inside. The Gift is a campaign intended to do just that. We’re not building a monument, and we aren’t building an attraction. By God’s grace we are making improvements to provide our children with an excellent place to worship, and adding building space to increase the fellowship of our student believers and non-believers.
obedience, we face a new opportunity in our
The Gift is more than what more square feet can
history to increase our capacity for ministry by
mean, its about more serving hands for God’s
improving and adding to our facilities.
people, His Church. I hope you will have an
Take a look around the next time you come to church. Even after the recent expansion the parking lot is once again beginning to become full again. The hallways in our facility are always
crowded. The children’s rooms are
active role in participating in the Gift Campaign campaign this year at GSCC!
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— Pastor Eddie
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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2014
Our Plans: Phase I! Phase I looks like this: We will address the need to repair/replace the roof of the church and activity center. We will also begin overall cosmetic improvements on the existing offices and facility and continue to make technology improvements. Next, we will begin expansion by creating a youth facility directly behind the current Activity Center. This will allow for continued growth in both areas of our student ministries and the current activity center will then be used primarily for HERO Kids. The HERO Kids activity center will then undergo remodeling to provide a themed and more excellent place for our children to meet, have fun and learn about Jesus! The funds raised through The Gift Campaign will go towards Phase I. After this phase is completed, “future phases” will be introduced in years to come as dictated by the continuing growth of the church.
Expansion Goals To build all the components — roof repairs/ replacement, cosmetic improvements and expand youth, fellowship areas, storage and classroom space—we will need to raise approximately $800,000. Based on the commitments made to The Gift Campaign, our Leadership Council will create a building
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time. Otherwise, we may approach the expansion in smaller phases.
Your Decision to Give Giving to The Gift Campaign is a very important decision, as we are asking that you give over and above your regular tithes and offerings. We encourage you to pray about your Gift amount and or pledge before deciding what you intend to give. Moreover, we ask that you consider the following: • Recall the blessings God has given to you, remembering that everything we have belongs to God and our role is to be a good manager of his resources. • Remember the impact that can be made for Christ through your sacrificial gift. Our church has a unique calling to serve God and the community in Brownsville and the RGV. • Bear in mind that every gift, regardless of size, is an important contribution to God’s work through our church. • Discuss the practical and spiritual implications of your family’s participation with all members of your family. • Pray to discern what sacrifice God is asking of you in this process. Pray also that God will give the Leadership Council and church staff wisdom and strength as they lead GSCC through this expansion.
we come to the $800,000, the closer we will
We would love to see 100 percent of our members and regular attendees support this effort. We are well aware that giving to this building expansion program is a sacrifice, and we thank you wholeheartedly for your generosity as we diligently prepare for the future.
be to building all of the components at one
— GSCC Leadership Council
scenario and the amount we may need to borrow. We as a leadership are believing God to raise $500,000 to $800,000. Therefore, the closer
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Questions and Answers about your decision to give.
would like to make this type of gift, please
How much should I give?
connect you with our council treasurer,
!
contact the church offices and we will Jimmy Barnard.
This, of course, is between you and God. We would ask, however, that you prayerfully consider giving 3 percent of your income over a 3-year period towards Phase 1. You may find it helpful to use the chart, located on the back page, to get a picture of what a weekly or monthly gift of 3 percent of your income would mean over the course of three years. Regardless of the amount you decide to give, all gifts to The Gift Campaign are important and will help us fulfill our mission to spread the love of Jesus.
When should I make my pledge and first contribution? Commitment Sunday is December 14. Please bring your pledge card to worship on that day, envelopes will be made available. If you will not be at church on December 14, you can give anytime before then, simply designate on the envelope and/or in the memo space of your check: Gift Offering. Additionally, you can give online, just call the church offices and we will walk you through the process. It’s safe, secure and
Is my commitment to The Gift Campaign over and above my current annual giving?
simple to use. While you can begin making contributions immediately, the church welcomes your contributions when you are best able to begin fulfilling your pledge.
Yes. A pledge to The Gift Campaign is in addition to your regular giving to GSCC’s general ministry. All gifts to The Gift Campaign will be devoted to improving
How often should I make a contribution toward my pledge? How much you give and when you give is up
and expanding our facilities.
to you. Many participants pay a portion of
Are there other ways I can give?
on a quarterly or annual basis. Others make
Yes! Many people may give gifts of stock,
a one-time contribution. You can select a
mutual fund shares or other property which
donation schedule that works best for you.
can then be used to support the expansion
The Gift Campaign Phase I giving period
effort. You may also realize additional tax
runs through December 2016.
their pledge each week or month. Some pay
benefits by making gifts of property. If you “From the second we walked through the door, you could just tell there is an authentic sense of community. Everyone is genuinely glad to see you… And when you’re brand new to somewhere, that means a lot.” —Recent Guest to GSCC
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2014
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The Gift Campaign Prayer Dear Lord, We trust that as we keep our focus centered on You, that You will provide the resources necessary for the building of Your church here at GSCC. We ask that You connect our hearts to Yours as we look to You for this provision. Now to You who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to You be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen. Gift Campaign Goal and Giving Chart Three Percent Giving Chart Annual Income
3% Total 1-year gift
Weekly Donation
Monthly Donation
$100,000
$3,000
$57.69
$250.00
$90,000
$2,700
$51.92
$225.00
$80,000
$2,400
$46.15
$200.00
$70,000
$2,100
$40.38
$175.00
$60,000
$1,800
$34.61
$150.00
$50,000
$1,500
$28.84
$125.00
$40,000
$1,200
$23.08
$100.00
$30,000
$900
$17.31
$75.00
$20,000
$600
$11.54
$50.00
$10,000
$300
$5.76
$25.00
“And they received from Moses all the contribution that the people of Israel had brought for doing the work on the sanctuary. They still kept bringing him freewill offerings every morning, so that all the craftsmen who were doing every sort of task on the sanctuary came, each from the task that he was doing, and said to Moses, “The people bring much more than enough for doing the work that the Lord has commanded us to do.” —Exodus 36:3