Sometimes, when the world is upside down, it is easy to lose focus. When the things that brought us stability or comfort are threatened, or even completely disappear from our lives, we tend to lose perspective. We focus on things that don’t matter, and we lose sight of the things that do.
As 2021 winds to a close, we could easily name things that feel upside down to us: a lingering pandemic, an economy still struggling to rebound, and now a sanctuary fire that has destabilized things even more, just as we were starting to get our feet under us. Perhaps you have a list of your own: family tragedies, life transitions, or financial or emotional unpredictability. For the last 166 years at First Baptist, we have faced complex and difficult challenges, yet we have found ways to be innovative, creative, and ambitious in the midst of them. How? When the world gets turned upside down, we maintain our focus.
This year, as we begin to plan for the upcoming 2022 ministry budget, we face a plethora of questions and uncertainties. It would be easy to let those unknowns destabilize us. And yet, we as a Finance Ministry team know the importance of planning, commitment, and maintaining our focus when the world seems upside down. You are invited to join us in that work by completing the online pledge form below.
The first three weeks of November, our worship series will explore to this message. As we continue our narrative journey, we will rediscover the stories of Solomon, Amos, and Jeremiah, as each of them in different ways maintain focus on God’s call and worshipful work during tumultuous times. As these heroes of Scripture maintain their focus, they show us the path to do the same. Each of these weeks, you will be invited to continue to give to the 2021 ministry needs, as well as consider your giving for 2022. Please submit your pledge by November 21, so that we as a Ministry team can begin our work of budgeting.
Thank you for your tremendous generosity throughout these last tumultuous years, and thank you in advance for your support as we Welcome, Worship, Work, and Wonder in 2022 and beyond. If you have any questions or clarifications, please contact one of us as the members of the Finance Ministry team, listed below.
In God’s abundant Grace,
Joe Karnes – Chair
Craig Weinaug – Steward
Dava Cooper – Treasurer
Marylee Southard – Financial Secretary
Holly Grassy – Bookkeeper
Ken Hite – At-large Committee Member
Joanna Gillette – Moderator
2022 Maintaining Our Focus 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.
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.