St. Mark Finance Update (Arabic) 11.3.09

Two weeks ago the church annouced a finiancial deficit of $250,000 which is due to the church's operating expenses being higher than the Churh's contribution income. To put it plainly the services & ministries being offered by the Church exceeds the amount of committed tithers/donors.

As a Church, God has blessed us with an ambitous vision, one of change. To change the world through service. Just as Christ came to serve us He wants us to serve others. We can see this spirit of service in our school which brings people of different backgrounds together in Christ and educates the next generation of Godly leaders (Copts and non-Copts alike). We see Christ in our mission work which trains our youth and young adults to be bold and unafraid in Him; to change their prespective by leaving their comfort zone to serve those in need. We see our Lord and Saviour in our continual investment in our servants who serve the Chruchs' youth. We see Jesus in our zeal to spread God's Word globally through Orthodox Sermons. We see Christ in every uninsured patient we treat through the St. Luke Hope Clinic. And we see Christ's spirit of service in our 3 priest who are committed to sheparding God's people.

The word "we" is used to emphasize that this is OUR Church and that we are all members of the same body. Christ is the head of that body body and we are the members that make St. Mark's a Church. God has blessed us and this Church, and will continue to do so but we must all do our part. For a lot of members this has become a money issue, which now because of the defict it has become, but it should not be that way. The sad truth is that if everyone gave their tithe, the church would never have to come to its memembers with a deficit. In fact if the average person made $35,000 and if they gave their tithe or $350/month then the Church would have all the resources it needed (and then some) to support our services. Instead the Church's financial load is being shouldered by a small percentage of the congregation.

So the Chruch has 2 goals with this message.
To close the short term gap of $250,000 by asking each individual member to donate $500 or for each family to donate $1000 above and beyond what they regularly contribute to the Church.
To ensure this situation does not happen again by addresses the long term issue of tithing by increase to number of committed reoccuring donors.

To those of you who have been supporting your Chruch throughout the years we thank you for your geneoristy and for going above and beyond your "fair share". The Church agrees that it is not fair to burden those who are already giving with a request to give more but we know that God's blessing wil not be fair as well:

He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. 2 Corinthians 9:6-8

Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness 2 Corinthians 9:10

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• Coptic
• Saint
• Mark