It is exactly one year ago. At our annual meeting, that I introduced
the ‘coffee mug challenge’. Our proposed budget deficit at that time was
to be around $30,000. How could we possibly do this, I wondered? The idea
of the coffee mug challenge was that if 100 people ‘bought’ the
equivalent of one mug of coffee a week for the church – say $3 – and
added that to their regular giving, then over the course of a full year
$15,000 would be added to help further God’s mission in the Frankston
area.
Well, over 100 people responded to the challenge and at the end
of our year (the church financial year finishes on 30 September) we have
ended with a surplus of $1,800. Well done! Our overall level of giving
was up $20,000 on the year before. This is a terrific blessing!
Well, we are now 12 months on and looking to the year ahead. This
will be our first full year of an expanded staff team, so there is yet
another step to take in advancing God’s cause in Frankston through St
Lukes. Our expected deficit this year will be $20,000 unless we do
something about it.
I wondered, can we do it? What can we do?
The answer – a piece of cake!
A mug of coffee on its own most often needs something with it.
Toast? Cereal? What better than piece of cake? A piece of cake also costs
about $3 a slice (probably less at Coffee on Kareela!).
If 120 people ‘bought’ one piece of cake a week and added that to
their regular weekly giving, then the addition to our overall income
would be $18,000. That would be a huge achievement.
So from today I have available small plates suitable for a piece
of cake. If you would like to be one of those 120 people, then simply
take one of the plates and we will know that you have signed up.
Maybe there are some of you who haven’t started giving as yet,
some of our younger people, or some who may be struggling to make ends
meet from week to week. Perhaps this could be a place to start your
giving to God.
It may seem a simple thing, but I can’t tell you how much
encouragement it brings to see the church moving forward in this way.
Resources are released for God's glory!
So, if we pull together, if we rise to the new challenges
together, will we be able to look back in twelve months time and say that
we have done it – that God has done it through us? I think we can. A
piece of cake!
phil.hurwood@stlukesfrankston.com.au