The PF Women Team at our Annual Team Retreat ~ 2018 Today on Seth Godin's blog, he said: It's tempting to decide to make a profit first, then invest in training, people, facilities, promotion, customer service and most of all, doing important work. In general, though, it goes the other way. Yes, it does. If you are waiting to make a profit before you do these things, in my experience you're not going to make a profit. So many organizations, ministries and churches are struggling with financial issues. I know your pain. As anyone who follows our story knows, our ministry was in a ton of debt four years ago when I came on as director. Since that time, we've gotten out of debt and turned a profit every year. God has done amazing things through out team, for which we give Him the glory! I find that what Seth is saying here is absolutely true, with one disclaimer. For Christian leaders, spiritual disciplines must always be first. Before we started i...
As I have mentioned before here on the blog, we will be launching Celebration Church the weekend of January 29-31. You can read about it here and here. In the days leading up to this we are doing Phase I of the remodeling of our facilities in preparation for the launch weekend. We have been in the midst of a capital campaign to raise funds for all of the projects that we are doing. Our leadership team enthusiastically stepped up to the plate and pledged and gave first. Then, the congregation has stepped up to give to this cause. Everyone is not only giving our finances, we are pledging many hundreds/thousands of hours of manpower time to get the work done. Even Pastor Trinity's father has come from Missouri twice to help us work on it! Ken Mackley is an amazing man!!!
We are still short of the goal of accomplishing everything for Phase I. We are asking for local businesses to help whether through providing materials or a financial gift, and we are having a booklet created to distribute on launch weekend advertising all of our sponsors and thanking them. (All donations are tax deductible as well.) We will also be giving a thanks from our platform, mentioning each one.
My friend Pastor Andrea Fruscella who along with her husband Perry co-pastor's First Coast Christian Center in Jacksonville, approached us about giving a love gift from their church to help. I had never mentioned it, nor asked. So certainly I was shocked, honored, and so blessed that they have decided to do this. Is this amazing, or what??!! We decided to invite all of our church people to let their friends and family outside of the church know about what we're doing in case any of them would want to donate and be a part of the launch of Celebration! We created a letter for this purpose (for both business owners and friends) and a JPG copy of it is posted above -- just click and it will enlarge so you can read it. This letter details the special projects we are accomplishing in Phase I, with God's help.
If anyone reading wants to be a part, just let me know, or if you prefer to be anonymous just send it directly to Northside AG at 16235 Lake Magdalene Blvd, Tampa, FL 33613. (You are sending to Northside AG because although legally we have already secured the name Celebration Church (of Tampa) and are good to go in that regard, we don't start banking as Celebration Church until the last weekend in January.)
Any amount is a huge help! One of the most touching things for me has been seeing the little children bring their pennnies and turn their pledge cards in for $1.00 or 50 cents for Celebration Church! They are amazing!!!
Any friend or family member who gives will also be listed in our book of supporters and will be acknowledged from the platform (whether you are there or not).
The most important thing is that you support us with your prayers and I know many if not all of you are doing that, so THANK YOU from the bottom of our hearts for helping to make this God-dream come true for all of us!
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