I’m so glad I’m a part of the family of God…
The opening line of this Gaither standard recalls small-town Sunday night hymn-sings and televised specials from Opryland. But it also brings to mind the relationships of community that are best represented by the metaphor of family. This year has been an amazing year for our church family, as we have paid off (and burned!) our longstanding mortgage, supported our pastors through self-care journeys, and supported creative and innovative ministries within the First Baptist Church family.
We as a Finance Team have watched your consistent and open-hearted giving in 2026. Each month, we have marveled at how you have embraced our ministry as a congregation. But why stop now? The time has come for us to start thinking about 2027, and continue to be family together. Below is a form that you may complete to share your 2027 pledge with us for your annual giving. This pledge allows us to create a ministry plan for our seven Ministries:
- Missions, who are preparing for a return trip to Nicaragua, sustaining critical caring ministries in our building, and sending funds beyond our walls to our mission partners
- Evangelism, which includes staff who reach out to visitors and maintain this website, the new “front door” of the church (not to mention buying Munchers’ donuts for our Welcome Coffee meetings!)
- Facilities, who make sure that the building is welcoming and comfortable for members and visitors, and funds a building manager who keeps it that way!
- Deacons, who provide parties for our Senior Friends who cannot make it to church as often as they would like, and resources for members who are grieving loved ones
- Worship, which includes the budget needs of communion supplies, organ maintenance, sheet music for our choir, building upkeep so our two worship services can happen, technical needs to broadcast livestreamed worship to participants around the country, and the salaries of (at least parts of) seven different staff positions!
- Spiritual Formation, which needs your help to buy books for Sunday school, supplies for Vacation Bible School, and to assure that we have a ministry staff who focus on the needs of children, youth, and families
- Finance (that’s us!) who fund the salary of a bookkeeper to keep it all organized, as we work to help the church remember its stewardship priorities
How will you pledge to support these Ministries through our annual ministry plan? As household costs for gas, utilities, and food rise nationally, they are also rising for our staff and our church. Please remember that to simply continue our current level of ministry, we need to increase our giving to keep up.
We think of those who dedicate their time, talents, and energy to caring for our church family—our staff. We want to be a church that demonstrates gratitude for their ministry with fair compensation. As we plan for 2027, we support reasonable cost-of-living increases for our staff as an important part of our stewardship.
Again, a pledge card is included and can be turned in physically or virtually. If you have any questions about our plan, or anything about our shared story of stewardship, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We love watching God turn your generosity into changed hearts and minds, including among those who wouldn’t necessarily call themselves part of First Baptist. Consider our “extended family” …
…An elderly couple, confused about the ever-changing tax structure, who find answers and support from caring and knowledgeable experts.
…A family who moves to town but doesn’t speak English well and struggles to find community. Within our walls, they find a weekly Bible study and worship service, offered in the language of their hearts.
…A young person who finds a place where they can worship God, learn about Scripture, and serve others, even though the congregation that baptized them has told them that they are no longer welcome there.
…A single father, embarrassed to ask for help, drives through the church parking lot, holding back tears as volunteers pile food into his trunk.
Each of these examples teaches us a different element of family, and come from the hospitality that we show as a congregation to other organizations and churches that use our facility for their work. They are thankful for our hospitality, as we are thankful that we can join them in their mission.
Galatians 6.10 tells us, “So then, whenever we have an opportunity, let us work for the good of all and especially for those of the family of faith.” So please prayerfully consider what it might mean to share generously this coming year. In November, we’ll talk more of family in our worship service, listening to the stories and “saints” of our Family who have shown us the way. May our stories of faith, and our current opportunities to serve, inspire us to sing…
…joint heirs with Jesus, as we travel this sod.
For I’m a part of the family, the family of God.
Blessings, from your FBC Finance Team:
Dava Cooper (Chair), Marylee Southard (Vice Chair), Ramon Schmidt (Steward), Brenda Schenkel (Treasurer), John Pauls (Financial Secretary), Holly Grassy (Bookkeeper), and Hannes Combest (Moderator)
Thank you for taking the time to make your 2027 pledge!
2027 Stewardship Pledge Form
NOTE: The following form will submit your information to Breeze, our church management software (CMS). You can read Breeze’s security policy re: how they handle data HERE. Breeze will then forward the information to Holly Grassy, FBC’s bookkeeper. Holly is the only person who will see your form.
More info:
Now that I’ve pledged, how do I give?
Again, thank you so much for your commitment and your generosity!
Here are three ways you can make your pledge payments:
1) Online at https://1330fbc.breezechms.com/give/online. Choose “Operating Fund” from the top drop-down menu. You may also a select a frequency option from the second drop-down menu if you’d like to automate your giving. Choose your form of payment from the third drop-down menu. (ACH is the option with the lowest fee, 1% + .25 per transaction. Credit card payments have a fee of 2.9% + .30 per transaction.)
2) By simply texting an amount to 785-333-5300.
3) By mailing a check made out to First Baptist Church, 1330 Kasold Drive, Lawrence, KS 66049.
Need help with setting up a Breeze account for recurring giving, or other giving-related questions? Contact FBC bookkeeper Holly Grassy.