2023 Annual Report by St. Luke's UMC

2023

ANNUAL REPORT

November 9, 2023

Dear St. Luke’s, During our current stewardship series, The Blessed Life, we have looked at what it means to live a life with meaning, along with gratitude and generosity. When we experience the difference God makes through the blessings God gives us, we want to say, “I have a blessed life.” And there have been so many ways God has used us at St. Luke’s to bless others. In 2023 St. Luke’s supported Freedom School, Luke's Leaders, Hub for Hope, Back to School Extravaganza, all age discipleship ministries, Vacation Bible School, Crooked Creek Food Pantry, not to mention our many global outreach efforts and support through the United Methodist Church. Of course, this doesn’t even include our many internal ministries like weekly worship, care ministries, and fellowship opportunities. Thank you for being the church that cares for each other and all in need. The enclosed material offers a story of how God has been working through each of us and what we can forecast for 2024. Sunday, November 12, we will close our The Blessed Life series with a Service of Commitment. You will have the opportunity to support the ministry of St. Luke’s in 2024 as we make a pledge of giving intention. Pledges serve two vital purposes: they help us set personal goals for our own generosity and enable the church to plan accurately for the upcoming year. A commitment card is included to help you start thinking about your pledge. I ask that you bring it to worship with you on Sunday, BUT DO NOT FILL IT OUT YET! We will do that together as an act of worship during service and then bring our cards forward and pick up a gift, a new tumbler that will also be given to guests in the year ahead. For those watching online, we’ll have an online pledge card for you to fill out during this same point in the worship services. You can stop by the church to pick up your tumbler during weekday office hours. If you can’t be here on the 12th, we ask that you mail in your card in the included addressed envelope. I am honored to be your pastor and look forward to seeing you on Sunday. Blessings,

Pastor Rob *You can view your pledging status and giving records at stlukesumc.com/myaccount. Please contact the church Finance Department at faina.klyner@stlukesumc.com or 317-846-3404. To see all of your giving, print statements, etc., log into your account at stlukesumc.com/myaccount.

NORTH INDY

North Indy is our flagship campus. We are a community hub where ministry happens. To support faith through discipleship, we regularly host over 38 Adult Ministry classes each week, and small groups in our Student, Kids, and Special Needs ministries. We support learning through a thriving daily Early Childhood Program, tutoring through FAST, and mentoring through Luke’s Leaders. We are helping people find and give hope in multiple addiction recovery groups who meet here weekly, in our Care ministry groups like chronic pain support, GriefShare, and Divorce Care. Community, hope, and justice are found through work done at Freedom School, by the Indiana Remembrance Coalition, at Crooked Creek Food Pantry, and in service groups through the Creation Care ministry. Hope can be found in all of our ministries whose stories are told in these pages. While we look at the numbers of people who walk through these doors, we know it is the transformation that happens to the hearts of people while they are in this space and those working in our community on behalf of our church. It’s the transformation of our hearts, it’s the transformation of the hearts of people we encounter. It’s the every day. It’s the love of Jesus.

ANNUAL REPORT

MIDTOWN CAMPUS The Midtown Campus will be celebrating their 1st Anniversary in December! This campus has experienced an extraordinary growth in 2023. There are now consistently up to 150 people worshipping at Midtown each Sunday morning! This campus is lead by Campus Pastor, Mindie Moore and nearly every week, new guests arrive to check out the Midtown Campus. Most have a similar story—they have experienced a major faith shift or have grown distant from a previous church community, and they are trying to find their way back to faith. The Midtown Campus is carrying out the spirit of St. Luke's in being an open, inclusive, and Jesus-centered community where people can ask questions, explore what faith means to them, and find community while doing it. Our volunteers are the heartbeat of our worshiping community. Every Sunday and throughout the week, these volunteers are living our mission to find and give hope through Jesus Christ. It might come in the form of a friendly smile in the parking lot, teaching a middle school student about God's love, volunteering at the MLK Center, or helping do repairs around the building. Whatever form it takes, the Midtown Campus is a place where people are worshiping God, discovering their gifts, and being empowered to live out their unique call in this world.

100+

People attended the Fall Festival

New database records created from attendance

56 Attended Inclusive Church: Stories from LGBTQIA+ Christians

92 Adults, Teens, and Kids actively engaged in serving

11 Legacy Members from BRUMC ANNUAL REPORT

69 People in Small Groups

10 New Members

8 Baptisms

DAVID AND SARA COBB

A LEGACY David and Sara Cobb have been long-time members of St. Luke’s. They have many connections. They were married in Robertson Chapel in 1986; their oldest daughter was baptized there in 1989. With work transfers they lived away from Indianapolis for a few years but moved back and rejoined St. Luke’s in 1995. They watched their daughter and son-in-law marry vicariously at St. Luke’s (COVID in 2020 resulted in a beautiful backyard wedding instead of in Robertson), and their first grandson was baptized there last year. Rich connections go back even further. Sara’s parents, Eugene and Barbara Busche, first attended St. Luke’s in 1960. Sara recalls hearing Dick Hamilton preach in the sanctuary, what is now Fellowship Hall/Donut Room, attending Sunday school and being confirmed under the leadership of Fletcher Graham.

David and Sara Cobb

David is currently the chair of Stewardship, hoping this year to set a record for support and enthusiasm of St. Luke’s! Additionally, he and Sara are involved in a small group, having been a part of it for more than 10 years. They have enjoyed the experience, as the small group has welcomed new members with each passing year. Over the years, they have taught Sunday School, mentored confirmands, served on Finance, Lay leadership and Governing Board, participated in visioning, and worked with Bishop Mike Coyner to secure a new senior pastor for St. Luke’s.

Barbara and Eugene Busche

ANNUAL REPORT

Kelly, Caroline &Charlie Scott

BY THE NUMBERS

3,000 ONLINE & IN-PERSON

AVERAGE WEEKLY ATTENDANCE

STLUKESUMC.COM

17,267 3.7K YOUTUBE

614K

VIDEO VIEWS

TOTAL VIEWS

WATCH HOURS

WHO WE'RE REACHING

3,944

NEW PEOPLE FROM EVENTS & PROGRAMS ANNUAL REPORT

102,558 NEW VISITORS TO THE WEBSITE

RACIAL JUSTICE IMPACT When faced with challenges of poverty, food insecurity, or housing instability, well-intentioned people of faith often ask the question, "How can we help?" However, the work of anti-racism is different; it requires us to first consider, "How can I examine myself?" This redirects our efforts from jumping in to "save" marginalized communities to instead begin the transformation with ourselves. It is work that requires patience, empathy, and care so that trust can be built, and a more cohesive community can be formed—a beloved community. St. Luke’s is committed to moving from transactional acts of charity to transformational, justice-centered faith-in-action. People sometimes wonder why we call Freedom School a racial justice or anti-racist initiative for St. Luke’s. The Children’s Defense Fund (CDF) Freedom Schools program is historically rooted in the Civil Rights movement; it was developed by the Black community for the Black community. And as an act of anti-racism, St. Luke’s commits the resources and voice we have (our “privilege”) to amplify the leadership and voices of the Black community. We intentionally defer to these leaders for their solutions and seek to learn from them. This is why our volunteer training focuses so much time on anti-bias training and self-reflection. This is why we spend time learning from communities and histories that are different from our own. As you read this journal entry from one of this summer’s Freedom School scholars, you can see her internal transformation in self-awareness, self-confidence, and resilience learned from discovering her own strengths and agency in her life. May we all learn from her experience! “From my first day to now has been a big change for me. When I first got here, I was scared that no one would like me because of my face or think that I was a mean person. But it was the opposite. Terry told me that everything would be okay and made me laugh all day. Noah showed me that even though you have lost some people in your life, it’s ok to tell someone. Carson taught me how not to be scared to ask questions. My teachers have taught me how to be myself. Miss Kyli, thank you for making me more confident in myself. Miss Z, thank you for teaching me not everything needs to be said. Miss Kendrick, thank you for putting up with me because I know I can be a handful. Thank you, Freedom School. I love ya!”

ANNUAL REPORT

INCLUSIVE, JUSTICE SEEKING LOVING LIKE JESUS

A SUMMARY OF ACTIVITY AND IMPACT IN ST. LUKE’S ANTI-RACIST EFFORTS: 87 Freedom School scholars (first-eighth grades) 78 Luke’s Leaders (sixth-eighth grades) 120 Freedom School and Luke’s Leaders family members attending a St. Luke’s Sunday service 150 St. Luke’s volunteers for Freedom School 22 St. Luke’s mentors for Luke’s Leaders 88 leaders completing Outward Focus (anti-bias) training, emotional CPR training, and/or Racial Equity Institute training 90 people attending Racial Learning experiences sponsored by St. Luke’s (Walk-and-Talks, Louisville trip) Continued community partnerships with YMCA, ProAct Indy, Indianapolis Freedom School Partnership, United Methodist Freedom School Partnership, Indiana Landmarks and Historic Preservation, IU Health’s Grassroots Maternal & Child Health, Hosted Unwelcomed: A Fair Housing History of Sales & Lending Discrimination and the 2023 Housing Symposium Hosted a memorial service for families of 2022 Gun Homicide Victims Hosted a showing of “The Working Hungry” documentary and the 2023 Hunger Symposium Hosted “MEET THE PEACEMAKERS: From the Frontlines of Reducing Gun Violence in Indy” Hosted Pitch Day for graduates of Crooked Creek CDC’s business incubator Dedicated a state historical marker in downtown Indy to honor the lynching of John Tucker Participated in multi-faith book study, “Poverty, by America” Black authors book studies The Color Purple The Yellow House Begin Again Their Eyes Were Watching God The Bluest Eye How to Fight Racism

ANNUAL REPORT

OUTREACH & JUSTICE

87 250K+

53,562

200+ ANNUAL REPORT

FREEDOM SCHOOL SCHOLARS DIAPERS DISTRIBUTED THROUGH HUB FOR HOPE

SCHOOL SUPPLIES PROVIDED TO WASH. TWP. STUDENTS TREES GIVEN AWAY BY CREATION CARE MINISTRY

OUTREACH & JUSTICE

A MOM AND HUB FOR HOPE BY: LISA ROCKACY, VOLUNTEER Hebrews 13:2 “Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.”

Every 3rd Saturday of the month this year, I opened up our Hub for Hope Diaper pantry with the anticipation of the mothers, caregivers, and children we would get to see and serve that day. As usual, there were mothers waiting up to an hour before our opening. We see moms, dads, older siblings, grandmas, social workers, adoptive and foster parents all coming to get diapers. As moms come back month after month, we are building a bridge, one diaper at a time, to connect them to St. Luke’s, to hope, and to Jesus. Qwana, a single mom of three, with a set of twins who just turned 3 and a 4 years-old has a bright, sunny personality, and a giant smile to match. Every month she comes in, grabs a snack, sits down on one of our comfy couches, and the kids go straight to the play area. As she sits, smiles, and thanks us, I see her relax and get comfortable. There is a lightness and sense of relief in her that grows while she’s there. She greets people in the line who she recognizes. She probably is one of our biggest referrers of other mothers to our program and seems to be able to refer across cultural and language barriers. We asked her what Hub for Hope has meant for her family. She shared that with three kids she used to map out different times and locations of other diaper pantries, having to drive further, only to find they didn’t have the right sizes or were out of resources. At times she would have to go up to three different places to get this basic resource she needed for her children. Recently divorced, putting herself through school, recovering from a major surgery in the past year, Hub for Hope has made her feel welcome and cared for. It’s important to reflect on the ways we show love and hope to our neighbors. The weekend of I Love My City we shared about 50,000 diapers with the Indiana Diaper Bank and smaller diaper pantry partners. I love to see our shelves full, but I REALLY love to see our shelves empty. That is the work. That is the hope. That is the love. That is the hospitality. That is generosity.

ANNUAL REPORT

CARE MINISTRY

1215 23 73 ANNUAL REPORT

PRAYER REQUESTS

PEOPLE ATTENDED DIVORCE CARE

PEOPLE ATTENDING GRIEF SUPPORT GROUPS

NEW HERE & HOSPITALITY

135 565

3,320

273 ANNUAL REPORT

PEOPLE ATTENDED STARTING POINT NEW ADULT DATABASE RECORDS CREATED FROM WORSHIP NEW RECORDS CREATED IN DATABASE

NEW KIDS AND STUDENTS

KIDS MINISTRY THE STORY OF JON, A VOLUNTEER FOR VBS BY: AMY BOLES, DIRECTOR OF KIDS MINISTRY

When Jon registered to volunteer for VBS to be a Small Group Leader for the five full days, none of us knew him. He hadn't volunteered in Kids Ministry before, no one on the Kids team could remember having a conversation with him, or even meeting him. Jon was a mystery. Due to vacations, Jon attended our VBS training online, completed his background check and Safe Sanctuaries quickly and timely, asked good questions via email, and expressed excitement and nervousness because he had never done anything like this before. Friday of VBS week came, and Jon said that it had been one of the best weeks of his life. He shared that often, during his normal, regular life, he operates under constraints when it comes to sharing his faith. He was feeling empty and a little lost and decided signing up to serve for VBS would be something out of his comfort zone and maybe, just maybe, he would hear from God or at least feel closer to God again. And by the end of Day five, Jon was amazed to share the ways he had seen God in new ways through the eyes of the kids in his group. Jon left VBS week overflowing with God's goodness and love and gratitude, thanking us for letting him be a part of the week. I think about Jon a lot. Someone from the 'outside' being willing to step into an unknown world; searching, HOPING to see God, willing to be uncomfortable because living in the comfort wasn't working anymore. Because I've been where Jon has been. Searching. Hoping. Praying to see and feel God. And I can be tempted to wait. To wait in my comfortable place on God. But what Jon taught me is experiencing God in a fullness to overflowing might require more. He saw God in new ways because he said yes and stepped into the unknown space of being a Small Group Leader for VBS. Jon made a difference in the lives of the kids in his group, but I think he would say the biggest difference was in himself.

ANNUAL REPORT

KIDS MINISTRY

300 70

1000+

600+ ANNUAL REPORT

KIDS ATTENDED VBS

BIBLES GIVEN TO 3RD AND 4TH GRADERS PEOPLE ATTENDED EASTER EGGSTRAVAGANZA

KIDS AND FAMILIES ATTENDED TRUCKTOWN

STUDENT MINISTRY60

Students and leaders went on mission trips to Belize and Kansas City

100+

Students and leaders attended Middle School Mayhem

200 High School and Middle School students are engaged in Small Groups! MEET BRANDI GORGEL, VOLUNTEER STAFF

Brandi is a volunteer staff member in our Student Ministry. She has given countless hours as a volunteer over the last 10+ years. There are many reasons she volunteers: her experiences in youth group, the value she receives out of it, the time afforded to her by making the most of her illnesses, and more. She recently finished out a group of high school seniors after being their leader for 7 to 8 years and then jumped right back in with a new group. She is volunteering multiple times a week doing all kinds of tasks. She organizes gatherings outside of small groups to ensure all her students feel connected. She has made an invaluable impact in our ministry.

ANNUAL REPORT

Kelly, Caroline &Charlie Scott

FACILITIES TEAM

MEET THE ST. LUKE'S UMC FACILITY VOLUNTEER TEAM!

These are some of our very committed church members and followers of Christ. They are active in St. Luke's and support the church in many ways with the mission in mind. They meet every Monday morning for coffee, donuts, and discussion followed by their workday. From changing light bulbs to carpentry, nothing is too small a job for this team. Commercial grade painting is also part of their skills. The skill levels of this team are surpassed only by their individual enthusiasm to serve and their commitment to truly fellowship with one another. They both love and fear our Lord in the biblical ways as true Christian men of God. The past few years this team has saved the church over $100,000 per year in outside labor costs.

ANNUAL REPORT

2024 BUDGET FACILITIES & GROUNDS

APPORTIONMENTS

22%

17%

19%

MULTI SITE MINISTRIES

ADMINISTRATION & OPERATIONS

10%

WORSHIP & GUEST EXPERIENCE

14%

DISCIPLESHIP ADULT & FAMILY MINISTRIES

MISSION & CARE

2024 GOAL FOR FINANCIAL COMMITMENTS: $5,546,000 (pledge and/or recurring or electronic gifts)

CONGREGATION COMMITMENTS TO SECURE DURING ANNUAL STEWARDSHIP CAMPAIGN

$5,546,000

$1,310,000

$500,000

75.4%

17.8%

6.8%

pledging recurring gifts

other income sources

Outreach & missional

TOTAL INCOME NEEDED TO FUND ST. LUKE’S MINISTRIES IN 2024 $7,356,000 ANNUAL REPORT

2024 AT A GLANCE

IN 2024 WE EXPECT TO CONTINUE INVESTING IN OUR PEOPLE, OUR COMMUNITY, AND OUR CHURCH.

TOGETHER WE WILL:

Build leaders in our community through the St. Luke’s Leadership Academy. Host inviting events for kids and families in our community, like VBS, Eggstravaganza, Mayhem, and more. Grow Disciples of Jesus through classes and groups with enriching biblically-based content. Offer hope to a community through Outreach programs like, Freedom School, Hub for Hope, and Luke’s Leaders.

ANNUAL REPORT

Spread the love and hope of Jesus through domestic and international missions trips for our students while continuing to educate and support teens and their families at Teen Responders and invite nights. Continue to care for and improve the spaces where ministry happens at North Indy and Midtown. Effectively grow relationships and reach new people in our digital spaces for our online community.

FINANCIAL COMMITMENT FAQ Q. Why do we ask for an annual financial commitment/pledge?

Q. Can I set up a recurring electronic gift?

A. Your commitment is the basis for how we fund our budget as a church. Your financial commitments tell us if we will have the resources to put desired ministry into action in the coming year.

A. Absolutely! After you’ve submitted your 2024 commitment/pledge, go to the website: stlukesumc.com/give and click, “Set up Your Electronic Giving.” You can use a bank account (lower fees for us) or a debit/credit card.

Q. How can I submit my commitment/pledge for 2024?

Q. Can I prepay by 2024 commitment/pledge?

A. You can make your commitment in these ways: ONLINE: visit stlukesumc.com/give and click on “Submit Your 2024 Financial Commitment.” IN-PERSON: bring your commitment/pledge card to worship on Sunday, November 12. DROP OFF: bring your card to the main office any week day between 9AM-5PM. MAIL TO: St. Luke’s United Methodist Church, 100 W. 86th St. Indianapolis, IN 46260

A. Sure! You can either drop off a check at the church office or make a one-time gift online at stlukesumc.com/give. Indicate that it is for 2024. We also accept stock transfers by calling the church office. REMEMBER: YOU ONLY NEED TO SUBMIT YOUR PLEDGE ONCE EACH YEAR!

ABOUT US St. Luke’s United Methodist Church is an open community of Christians helping people find and give hope through Jesus Christ - regardless of their gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, nationality, disability, or socioeconomic background. We work to ensure that our congregation and its leadership represent the community in which we are located. We are dedicated to including women, people of color, and LGBTQIA+ as staff and in positions of leadership and decision making. We renounce the way religion has been used throughout history to support racism, war, discrimination, genocide, violence, and poverty, and we pledge to rid ourselves of the conscious and unconscious biases when sacred stories are used to uphold injustice. We are particularly sensitive to the issues facing our brothers and sisters of color and LGBTQIA+ individuals, both within the United Methodist Church and in the general society. We pledge to be leaders in eradicating racism and discrimination.

ANNUAL REPORT

CONNECT WITH US EMAIL

info@stlukesumc.com WEBSITE

www.stlukesumc.com PHONE

317.846.3404

ANNUAL REPORT

NORTH INDY

100 W. 86TH STREET INDIANAPOLIS, IN 46260 317.846.3404 stlukesumc.com

MIDTOWN

6185 GUILFORD AVE. INDIANAPOLIS, IN 46220 317.846.3404 stlukesumc.com/midtown