Financial Update: December 27, 2011

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Thank you for your faithful, generous giving to Bethlehem’s many global and local ministries in 2011. With several days remaining in our 2011 fiscal year, we need about $800,000 by midnight this Saturday, December 31, to meet anticipated 2011 Church & Missions (C&M) expenses.

2011 C&M Operating Budget Financial Details:

• 2011 C&M contributions of $8,277,089 in the first 52 weeks of 2011 (through the fourth weekend of December) are 2.6% above 2010 C&M contributions of $8,065,784 at the same time last year.
  • Our 2011 budget of $9.7M is an 8.3% increase over 2010 C&M contributions of $8,953,365.
• 2011 C&M expenses are projected to be about $9,100,000 at the end of 2011. We need about $800,000 before midnight this Saturday, December 31, to meet anticipated C&M expenses before the end of the year.

God has faithfully provided for our needs in so many ways at Bethlehem, and caused his grace to abound among us.  May we continue to trust him to enable us to bountifully sow the seed of the Gospel to our Twin City neighbors and to the nations:

The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.—2 Corinthians 9:6–8

Please pray for hearts of cheerful generosity as 2011 concludes, and as the Lord leads, consider how you might participate in meeting this need. To be credited toward 2011 expenses, gifts that are mailed must be postmarked by 12/31/2011. If it’s more convenient, you may also give online via e-check or credit card at our hopeinGod.org website, as well as view your up-to-date giving report for all gifts given throughout the year.

Here’s one example of how all our Church & Missions gifts together might add up to meet anticipated 2011 C&M expenses (750 gifts totaling $802,000):

• 100 gifts of $25: $2,500
• 125 gifts of $50: $6,250
• 150 gifts of $100: $15,000
• 125 gifts of $250: $31,250
• 100 gifts of $500: $50,000
• 72 gifts of $1,000: $72,000
• 40 gifts of $2,500: $100,000
• 20 gifts of $5,000: $100,000
• 10 gifts of $10,000: $100,000
• 5 gifts of $25,000: $125,000
• 2 gifts of $50,000: $100,000
• 1 gift of $100,000: $100,000

Note: To review your 2011 year-to-date giving report online ...

• Go to Bethlehem online “Giving” page.
• Sign in (it’s as simple as providing email address and password).
• If you do not yet have an account, you will need to first be validated by a Bethlehem staff member. (Email Paul Johnson.)

You may then access your complete giving history for both the current year (2011) and the previous year (2010), and you are provided an opportunity to make an immediate contribution, if desired.