The Purposes of This Offering
To Meet the Spiritual and Physical Needs of the Less Fortunate In Our City Through Community Ministry
Through the NOW IS THE TIME Special Offering, we have a unique opportunity to help those in the greatest need in our city, both spiritually and physically. We will collaborate with local organizations that are really making a difference in peoples’ lives and at the same time sharing the love of Jesus in very practical ways.
That’s why we partner with Phoenix Rescue Mission – because they have consistently made a difference in peoples’ lives through the Center for Women & Children, clothing and food programs for the poor and job training to help people get back on their feet. We will also partner with organizations like Habitat for Humanity (by volunteering to build houses and donating Bibles) and Teen Challenge (by serving regularly and growing this partnership). As a church, we can make a difference in their lives through our serving and giving.
To Support Global/U.S. Missions
We are a church that supports missions. This focus will continue as we have a great opportunity to assist missionaries around the globe who are reaching out to every identified people group, especially those in highly unchurched countries like that in the 10/40 window. Through cooperative efforts with other mission-minded churches, we are designating a portion of the Special Offering to support North American and International Missionaries. In addition, we will be supporting Compassion International, Samaritan’s Purse, and Dare 2 Share.
To Fund The 2012 Benevolence and Counseling Ministry of the Church
Since our inception, our church has served people at their time of greatest need. To date, we have been able to approve all valid requests for benevolence funding due to your generous giving to our annual offerings. The Benevolence Ministry has allowed us to come alongside of people in distress due to difficult financial times, the loss of a job or apartment, or a death in the family. In addition, we would like to provide for those who need professional Christian counseling. Marriages can be saved because we are able to help. We are anticipating and preparing for an increase in benevolence requests in 2012 due to the current economic climate.
To Enhance Kids of Adventure and Metamorphosis Student New Initiatives
We are a church that loves to invest in children and families. We consider it an honor to be in a great position to help a family make the best impact on their child’s life, help them raise a child that will choose to follow Jesus, and have a strong home. To do this, we have designed a fantastic experience for children on Sunday called KOA. We are always looking to make BIG improvements in KOA and 2012 is no different! We have several planned improvements over the course of the next year that will help you ensure that this is the best hour of your child’s week, and that will put us in the best place to invest in your family spiritually.
In addition, we also want to continue to offer the best opportunity for the people of Metro Phoenix to become fully developing followers of Jesus Christ! To do that, we want to use the best resources, offer the greatest opportunities to grow spiritually, and create unique and creative settings to consider a relationship with Jesus. In 2012, we will need to stay ahead in our equipment, facility setup, transportation, and resourcing to see this happen. In addition, we want to be prepared to respond to any new ministry opportunities that God presents us in the coming year.
To Expand Our Campus Physically and Virtually
On January 3, 2010, we launched our virtual online weekly services through livestreaming our 10:45 service via the internet. We have viewers all over the United States, Mexico, and as far away as Germany, Ireland, and Scotland. In Germany, there are large cathedrals that are empty and very few churches like Adventure who are a church to the unchurched. The potential for a church our size making an impact in Europe is greater than we could ever expect.
We are planning for larger growth this coming year and our children’s ministry fills all of our children’s ministry space. We were able to renegotiate 1/3 off our lease rate thanks to the economy. We are readying ourselves to grow into the next 3,000 square foot space next door for KOA. Some small changes would need to take place before the move in.
Your support of the NOW IS THE TIME Special Offering will help Adventure –continue to grow and impact one of the greatest unchurched regions in America. Our focus to reach unchurched people in our area of influence is a strategy that will make a difference to the Kingdom of God.