2014 Annual Report “Oh, give thanks to the Lord! Make known His deeds among the peoples! Talk of all His wondrous works! Glory in His holy name! Remember His marvelous works which He has done, His wonders and the judgments of His mouth” - Psalm 109 February 27, 2015 2014 ANNUAL REPORT February 27, 2015 TABLE OF CONTENTS General Information Page 4 Leadership Information Page 4 Vision Statement Page 5 Statement of Values Page 5 Report of the Nominating Committee Page 6 Policy for Absentee Balloting Page 6 Personal Profiles of Nominees Page 7 Senior Pastor’s Report Page 10 Executive Pastor’s Report Page 12 Youth Pastor’s Report Page 13 Children’s Ministries Report Page 14 Care Ministries Report Page 15 Worship Director’s Report Page 16 Academy & Preschool Report Page 17 Deacon’s Ministry Report Page 18 2014 Financial Report & 2015 Proposed Budget Page 20 Resolution to Modify Quorum Page 30 Guidelines for Business Meetings Page 31 2014 ANNUAL REPORT February 27, 2015 MEETING AGENDA Opening Prayer Roster Report Reading of Minutes Pastor’s Report Report of the Nominating Committee Election of Officers Report of the Committees and Ministries 2014 Financial Report 2015 Proposed Budget Old Business New Business Resolution: Modify Quorum Adjournment Closing Prayer The Mission Church 2014 Annual Report THE MISSION CHURCH GENERAL INFORMATION Contact Information: Schedule of Services: Address 4101 Route 52 Holmes, NY 12531 Church Office (845) 878-3380 phone (845) 878-3316 fax (845) 878-7750 Academy Sunday Morning Worship Services 8 AM, 9:30 AM, & 11:30 AM Wednesday Night Services Royal Rangers & girls ministries Adult LifeGroups/Bible Study Friday Night Service Youth Service Website Facebook www.missionchurch.com www.facebook.com/ TheMissionChurchHolmesNY General Delivery Pastor Gregg Johnson Pastor Jason Murphy Pastor Olga Brandenberger Pastor Rafael Lebron Pastor Jorge Pabón Cris Lebron Michele Massi info@missionchurch.com pastorgregg@missionchurch.com pastorjason@missionchurch.com pastorolga@missionchurch.com pastorrafael@missionchurch.com pastorjorge@missionchurch.com cris@missionchurch.com academy@missionchurch.com 7 PM 7 PM 7 PM Church Office Hours: Tuesday - Friday 9 AM - 4 PM Melissa Goncalves melissa@missionchurch.com Audrey Bogert audrey@missionchurch.com Wendy Catapano wendy@missionchurch.com THE MISSION CHURCH LEADERSHIP INFORMATION Pastoral Leadership: Academy & Preschool: Lead Pastor Pastor Gregg Johnson Executive Pastor Children’s Pastor Youth Pastor Worship Director Care Ministries Pastor Assistant Pastors (Volunteer) Pastor Jason Murphy Pastor Olga Brandenberger Pastor Rafael Lebron Cris Lebron Pastor Jorge Pabón Pastor Paul Di Toro Pastor Patria Pabón Pastor Kathy Dana Pastor Alex Goncalves Pastor Melissa Goncalves Elder Tom Readyoff Deacons Pastor Kathy Dana Rich DeFeo Steve Hoffmann Manuel Quezada Michael Sanchez Jerry Sauder Trustees Gerard D’Ambrosio Steve Fehr Rich Langford Marcelo Prandi Terry Doyle Michael Civitano Administrative Staff: Executive Assistant Office Assistant Treasurer Maintenance Page 4 Melissa Goncalves Audrey Bogert Wendy Catapano Rick Ranieri Director Michele Massi Church Ministries: Altar Ministry Audio/Visual Support Benevolence Breaking Free Children’s Ministry Chosen Generation College Moms’ Prayer Evangelism Explosion Fellowship Coordinator Fishes and Loaves Greeters Intercessory Prayer Jail Ministry LifeGroups Meal Train Men’s Ministry Missions MITTS Safety/Security Student Ministries Ushers Walter Hoving Home Women’s Ministry Worship Ministry Marcelo Prandi Cris Lebron Pastor Kathy Dana Pastor Jorge Pabón Pastor Olga Brandenberger Jane Mück Jayne D’Ambrosio Mike Sanchez Heidi Smit Terry Doyle Pastor Jorge Pabón Evans & Judy Olang Pastor Paul Di Toro Pastor Alex Goncalves Pastor Kathy Dana Paul Wareing Jenny Pandolfo Amarylis Brinn Pete Dandreano Pastor Rafael Lebron Jim & Janet Dunn Yesenia Maida Eileen Fehr Cris Lebron THE MISSION CHURCH VISION STATEMENT Proclaiming Christ. Making Disciples. Raising Leaders Proclaiming Christ. Proclaiming Jesus as the Way, Truth and Life while bringing people to a saving faith in Him demonstrated by repentance from sin, baptism in water and membership in a local body. Training Disciples. Bringing believers into Christ-like maturity demonstrated by obeying the Word of God, loving God with all one’s heart, soul and mind and loving one’s neighbor as one’s self. Raising Leaders. Equipping saints for their ministry in the church and life mission in the world by developing their gifts and empowering them as effective influencers for the glory of God. THE MISSION CHURCH STATEMENT OF VALUES The Authority of God’s Word The Bible is verbally inspired of God and is our final authority on all matters of faith, doctrine and morality. The church will only be as strong as the individuals’ commitment to model the character of Jesus Christ and walk intimately with the Holy Spirit. The Call to Prayer and Fasting “My house is to be called a house of prayer.” The effectiveness of our church is proportionate to our faithfulness in prayer. God’s provision comes to us only in response to our faith expressed through prayer and fasting. The Sanctity of Marriage and Family The biblically modeled family is God’s foundation for a healthy church and strong society. As such, it should be nourished, served and strengthened. The Power of The Holy Spirit All ministry and spiritual activity is most effective and fruitful when offered under the guidance and anointing of God’s Spirit. The Priority of Worship The worship of God is our ministry to Him and should be biblically modeled and offered in reverence with humility and joyfulness. The Mandate of Spiritual Warfare The reality of the invisible realm of spiritual conflict demands biblical confrontation through intercession and ministry with discernment and grace. The Response to the Great Commission We are called to “go into all the world.” Therefore, the scope of our vision reaches beyond our community to the uttermost parts of the world. The Responsibility of Stewardship Each believer is called to be a faithful steward of his time, talent and treasure. We must be available to serve, minister selflessly and tithe of our finances. The Need for Unity Among Believers Any community of human beings will have conflicts and misunderstandings. As believers we should be devoted to one another in love and remain committed to resolve differences. The Call to Holiness Page 5 The Mission Church 2014 Annual Report REPORT OF THE NOMINATING COMMITTEE Report of the Nominating Committee February 27, 2015 Be it known that at a regular monthly meeting of the Board of Trustees, a Nominating Committee was formed for the purpose of presenting nominees for two available positions of Trustees to be filled at the Annual Business Meeting according to Article III, Section 7 of the By-Laws of The Mission Church. Being the current terms of Gerard D’Ambrosio and Richard Langford will complete on February 27, 2015, the Nominating Committee set out to present two nominees for two available positions for a total of four nominees. After prayerful deliberation, a preliminary list of names was developed. These individuals were then approached regarding the possibility of being nominated as potential Trustees. As a result, the Nominating Committee is very pleased and excited to present the following names for nomination to the position of Trustee of The Mission Church: Christine Addonizio Pete Dandreano Richard Langford Matthew Spaier The election shall be held at the church’s Annual Business Meeting on Friday, February 27, 2015 at 7:00 PM. Two out of the above four nominees will be elected upon a majority of votes cast, ignoring blanks, a quorum being present. Respectfully, The Nominating Committee Pastor Gregg Johnson Tom Readyoff Steve Fehr Pastor Patty Pabón POLICY FOR ABSENTEE BALLOTING 1. Members shall qualify for absentee ballots who are unable to attend meeting due to the following: a) Employment obligations (i.e. required to work) b) Out of state (i.e. will be located in a state other than NY during meeting) c) Incapacitated (i.e. sickness or injury prevents attendance) 4. Ballots will be available 10 days prior to business meeting date. 3. Ballots will be anonymous and placed in an unmarked envelope. That envelope shall then be placed in another envelope marked with member’s name. Once received, the member’s name should be marked on roster as having submitted an absentee ballot and unmarked envelope will then be removed from marked envelope to be counted during election. The number of votes being cast will reflect the number of absentee ballots submitted. 4. Absentee ballots are only used for first round of election. They cannot be used in subsequent rounds. Therefore, the number of votes being cast must be recalculated to remove the number of absentee ballots submitted. Page 6 NOMINEE PROFILES Christine Addonizio My name is Christine Addonizio. I am an accountant, and I’ve lived in Stormville since 1997 with my husband, Paul, and our two teenage boys. I have been blessed to have been raised in a Charismatic Christian church, however, since leaving the city, it took many years to find a “home church.” Paul and I prayed for such a church as this to raise our children. How blessed we are to say we are members of The Mission Church since 2011 and know our boys are being raised with the same Christian values, with plenty of opportunities to encounter our Lord. The boys attend youth group on Friday nights, each have attended Mission trips, one to Africa, one to Puerto Rico and both to Cuba. They look forward to attending one right here in New York City this summer. They are both very much involved with Fine Arts drama and the worship and media teams. As for myself, I serve our church in the Usher ministry, youth group and various other areas as needed. I also help prepare and attend the Midnight Runs, In His Service days and Sandy relief runs. I enjoy serving God in The Mission Church and look forward to seeing my children’s children serve here. Peter Dandreano Peter Dandreano has been the Safety and Security Ministry Leader with The Mission Church for over six years and a member of The Mission Church for over seven. As the leader of this ministry, he has implemented many new security policies and trained many church members. Peter has worked with church leaders and board members to increase the safety of the church and Preschool Academy. Peter has been married to Kristen Dandreano for over twelve years and have two daughters, Rebekah, twelve and Rachael, nine. They live in Patterson, and moved up from Scarsdale, NY almost nine years ago. Kristen and Peter met and were married in a nondenominational Pentecostal church in White Plains, NY. Peter was saved when he was twelve years old, and his family attended Yorktown Assembly of God Church for many years. Currently, Peter is a Police Officer with the Greenburgh Police Department and assigned to the Crime Prevention Unit. As the lead officer of the Crime Prevention Unit, he is the coordinator of the Community Emergency Response Team, President of the Westchester Citizen Corps Coalition, Advisor for the Explorer Post, Neighborhood Watch Coordinator, Regional Coordinator for the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee, Coordinator for the Child Passenger Safety Program, and Coordinator of the Westchester Safe Kids Coalition. Last year, Peter was elected to the Patterson Town Board. In his first year in office, he has implemented an Emergency Management Committee, revised the Town’s Emergency Management Plan, started a Neighborhood Watch Program, and assisted with improving the quality of life in the town. Peter also represents the Town of Patterson on the Putnam Traffic Safety Board and is the Chairman of the Community Outreach and Education Committee. For the past three summers, Peter has volunteered as the medical director for the Patterson Recreation Department Summer Camp. Peter is very interested in serving as a Trustee with The Mission Church. He feels it is a great opportunity to serve the Lord and use his experience to help with the operations of the church. If elected, he will serve with passion and dedication. Page 7 The Mission Church 2014 Annual Report NOMINEE PROFILES Rich Langford Rich Langford has been a member of The Mission Church for well over 20 years. At various times during his membership, he has served as Teacher, Administrator, Deacon and Trustee. Rich is married to Stephanie (Pomposello) and has three adult children: Rich, who will be receiving his PhD from Yale in Economics in May, and will marry Lizbee Kearney shortly after, Julia is a recent Psychology graduate from Gordon College and is pursuing a career in teaching, and Genevieve (Gennie), who has Down syndrome, and is our special blessing. Rich graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1982 with a B.S. in English. After serving in the navy for 5 years, he ended his military career as a Lieutenant and married Stephanie in 1987. He commenced his civilian life as the ticket manager in the transportation department of the Board of Education in the City of New York. After close to 20 years working at the Board of Ed., he left as Deputy Chief Information’s Officer in 2006 to explore other career opportunities. Rich is currently a Senior Education Solution Specialist for Microsoft. Rich and Stephanie have been LifeGroup leaders for many years and enjoy the valuable relationships they’ve developed during that time. Rich is an avid Jets fan, enjoys golf just as much as football, if not more, and faithfully stands by the Mets. He also enjoys reading and video games. Stephanie is a homemaker. She volunteers at Hopeline Pregnancy Center, enjoys caring for the little ones as mom’s meet for MITTs (Mother’s In Touch Together) and advocates for Gennie. Stephanie loves the outdoors (especially the shore) and, to her surprise, is developing an affection for golf. Matt Spaier Professional Experience: Mr. Spaier is the owner of Satellite Investigations, Inc., a Private Investigations business. Founded in 2005, the business has grown at a 15-20% rate yearly. He handles all administrative duties, as well as investigations. Mr. Spaier has also been called to testify in both Federal and State Court. He has a B.S. in Criminal Justice from John Jay College of Criminal Justice. He is a Partner for Justice with the NYS Trial Lawyers Association and the Secretary for ALDONYS. Church Experience: After being raised Jewish, Mr. Spaier came to know the Lord on 6/2003 when he attended Times Square Church in NYC. He got saved and was baptized on 1/2006. On 6/2007, he moved to Patterson, NY with his wife, Nydia. They began attending Patterson Baptist Church. On 10/2007, Mr. Spaier joined the Worship Team. In 2008, he was elected a Trustee and served as a trustee until leaving for The Mission Church on 2/2010. Prior to leaving Patterson Baptist Church, he served as the interim Music Director. He also held about 7 other ministry positions including public relations, which consisted of maintaining the church website and changing the signs at the church. Mr. Spaier began serving on the Worship team on 10/2010. From 7/2013 until 12/2013, Mr. Spaier was asked to serve as the Interim Music Director before the arrival of Cristian Lebron. He currently is involved as a music director for the team. Mr. Spaier was also part of the Hurricane Sandy mission team. Mr. Spaier also works in mentoring the youth of the Worship Team and was a youth leader at the 2014 Hillsong Conference in NYC. His long term goals are to get more involved in mentoring and missionary work. He also would like to share his experience as a small business owner and leader with the church. Mr. Spaier and his wife have a son, Micah and a daughter, Abigail. Page 8 Page 9 The Mission Church 2014 Annual Report PASTOR’S REPORT FOR 2014 “…Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.” - Ephesians 5:25The Greek word for “church” is “ekklesia.” It means “the called-out ones.” It refers to those who’ve been called out of darkness to walk in the light of God’s truth. The church is not a building, it’s not a sanctuary, it’s you and me and those in our circle of fellowship whom God has called together to serve and glorify His Name for such a time as this. Christ loves His church. He gave Himself for her—or us that He may sanctify and cleanse us and straighten out all our wrinkles. We may not be perfect, we may still have our kinks and blemishes, but Jesus loves us and is committed to making us into a “glorious church.” Pastor Gregg Johnson That’s not to say that a building isn’t important, it is. In fact, it’s very important. Just as every team needs a field and every town needs a hall and every family needs a home, every church needs a place to assemble to serve, worship, and grow together. About three years ago, our congregation decided to enlarge and improve our “home.” We began a building project to construct an Academy and Preschool, which would also provide us with much needed classroom space for our children’s ministries, as well as renovating our sanctuary, enlarging our lobby, updating our administrative areas and making much needed improvements to our parking lot and grounds. Now, almost three years later, the building project is coming to a close and we rejoice over the faithfulness of God which has enabled us to complete it with funds still remaining in our building fund. Of course, we do have a mortgage, but we believe God will—and has been—providing in such a way that we will retire that debt early and move forward into our next phase, the construction of a new sanctuary! With regard to costs, last year I informed the congregation that the project was estimated to cost approximately $3,900,000. Fortunately, God has so incredibly blessed us that we were able to fund additional upgrades such as air conditioning, extra landscaping, additional appliances and equipment, a water filtration system, added architectural fees, and much more. At completion, the actual cost of the project will be approximately $4,200,000. Although there is an increase over last year’s projection, we should have approximately $85,000 remaining in our building fund, now identified as our capital fund. Out of this, we plan to do a much needed replacement of the metal roofing over our original building. Even more exciting is the fact that our original mortgage amount was $2,999,000 requiring a minimum mortgage payment of just over $17K per month. Praise God and Page 10 thanks to the congregation’s faithfulness, we’ve been able to exceed that minimum and pay about $23K every month. I believe we are going to retire this mortgage in record time and move to our next phase of construction, an 800 seat sanctuary, all for the glory of God!! Special appreciation goes to our building committee for their hard work and oversight, especially Gerard D’Ambrosio, Mike Civitano and Rich DeFeo. As important as our building may be, that’s not our focus. The building is only a tool to help us achieve what God has called us to do: win the lost and make His Name famous! And thank God for the victories of 2014! In 2014 we added 45 people to our membership roster. This brought our active membership total to 365 at the close of the calendar year (up from 332 at the end of 2013). Our average Sunday morning attendance for 2014 was 441, a slight increase from 2013. But even more exciting than that is the increased involvement we see in our multiple opportunities for discipleship. More and more people are being raised as leaders, more people are going on the mission field, more people are serving in ministry, more people are winning souls and bringing friends to church, and more people are joining LifeGroups and connecting in fellowship, discipleship and service. I thank God for the numeric growth, but more importantly, I thank God for the spiritual growth in the lives of individual Christ followers. With such growth comes an increase in our financial activity. In 2013, our overall tithe income was $965,232, while in 2014 we saw this boost to $1,024,088 (a 6 percent increase). This represents an estimated 65% of our congregation being significant, regular givers (i.e., tithers). We thank God for this growth, especially in an economy that continues to struggle and impact many churches negatively. With all this financial activity comes a huge accounting task and Wendy Catapano does an exceptional job. She is a true professional and a hard worker. I know I speak on behalf of the trustee board in saying that Wendy is a gift from God to our church and exercises the utmost integrity and expertise in fulfilling her duties. Foreign missions continues to thrive in The Mission Church. In 2014, our church funded missions with a $45,000 subsidy and the generous pledges of our church totaling $55,229. Out of this, we supported 19 home and foreign missionaries and national pastors, constructed a church in Honduras, provided digital training resources to over 4,000 pastors, conducted five leadership conferences in Ghana, Uganda, Kenya and Cuba (2) and sent a team of 40 missionaries from The Mission Church to Cuba to preach the gospel and conduct service projects. Special thanks to Pastor Kathy Dana, Jenny Pandolfo and Pastor Dave Arena for serving with me on the Missions Committee to plan and oversee this very important work of our church. As the church continues to grow, so does the challenge to sustain that growth. For this reason I am especially grateful to God for the excellent pastoral staff that serves our body. Time and space will not allow me to adequately acknowledge each member of our team and the intricate role they play; suffice to say, the growth and health of our church is directly related to their loving sacrifice and hard work, together with their spouses. Please pray for each one listed below: Pastoral Team Pastor Jason & Irene Murphy Pastor Rafael and Lillian Lebron Pastor Jorge & Pastor Patria Pabón Pastor Olga & Pastor Fredrick Brandenberger Pastor Alex & Pastor Melissa Goncalves Pastor David & Veronica Arena (relocated to Florida) Pastor Paul & Deborah-Lee Di Toro Pastor Kathy Dana Tom & Nancy Readyoff (Elder) Cris Lebron (Worship Director) As we consider how God has been enlarging our church, we must acknowledge the godly individuals who comprise our Board of Trustees. God has blessed us with the finest men and women in leadership that any church could hope to have. It is because of their faith, dedication and strategic thinking that our church is now enjoying the growth we have been praying for. As well, we need to appreciate our Deacon Ministry, led by Pastor Kathy Dana. Our deacons have done an incredible job overseeing requests for assistance, organizing work days and serving those who find themselves in challenging times. Please continue to pray for these leaders and their spouses as they are listed below: Administrative Team Michele Massi Melissa Goncalves Audrey Bogert Wendy Catapano Rick Ranieri Academy Director Executive Assistant Office Assistant Treasurer Maintenance I would also like to acknowledge the incredible job that Michele Massi and her team of excellent teachers are doing in The Mission Church Academy and Preschool. I truly believe, to the glory of God, that this is the best preschool program in the Hudson Valley. Every child, parent and family who has come through our school testifies of the great impact made by our biblical emphasis and high standard of academic excellence. With a program like this, it’s no wonder it continues to grow. In September of 2013, the Academy enrollment was 43. As of September 2014, enrollment has grown to 52. We look forward to soon advancing our vision of adding more elementary grades as enrollment permits. On a personal note, I wish to express my love and appreciation to my partner and best friend, my wife Laura. This past year has been a very challenging and demanding year and I thank God for a wife who is a patient encourager and inspires my resolve to be the best husband, father, pastor, and Christian that I can be. In closing, I want to say that 2014 has brought us closer to where God wants us to be and 2015 has even greater promise. I believe it will be a year of growth and enlargement, never before seen in The Mission Church, all for the glory and exaltation of our Lord Jesus Christ! Respectfully submitted, Pastor Gregg Johnson Trustees Steve & Eileen Fehr Marcelo & Christine Prandi Mike & Theresa Civitano Terrance Doyle Richard & Stephanie Langford Gerard & Jayne D’Ambrosio Deacons Pastor Kathy Dana Jerry & Donna Sauder Mike & Pat Sanchez Richard & Madeline DeFeo Steve & Marisol Hoffmann Manuel & Maria Quezada I want to also acknowledge the excellent administrative staff that continues to meet the challenges of a busy, growing church. These are dedicated, hard working fellow laborers in Christ, who are also our employees laboring behind the scenes. Day after day, week after week, they faithfully serve our body and ensure operations run smoothly and efficiently. Let us be sure to thank them for a job well done. Page 11 The Mission Church 2014 Annual Report EXECUTIVE PASTOR’S REPORT “I remain confident in this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living” Psalm 27:13 The old hymn says, “Count your blessings. Name them one by one. Count your blessings and see what God has done.” James 1:17 reminds us, “Every good and perfect gift comes from above.” It is a great exercise to routinely take a look at history, both recent and Pastor Jason Murphy distant, for the purpose of recognizing the good things that God has done in our lives, and specifically for this purpose, the life of The Mission Church. One of the most evident blessings of God upon The Mission Church are all the tremendous people who faithfully volunteer their time and talent to serve alongside our Pastoral staff. Without the great people of The Mission Church, much of the ministry that happens here would not be possible. Every Sunday, seventy or more people respond to the call to serve the five hundred or more people who enter our doors to worship God. The Greeter team, led by Pastor Patty and Pastor Jorge Pabón, welcome with extended hands and warms smiles all who enter our building. Our tremendous team of ushers, led by Jim and Janet Dunn, faithfully serve with excellence and smiles those who enter our sanctuary ready to worship God. Our Welcome Center staff, led by Jason Higdon, is ready and waiting to assist you in any way possible. With eyes watching carefully, our Security Team, led by Peter Dandreano, establishes an environment of safety which facilitates our ability to worship God freely. A tremendous addition to our Sunday morning offering has been our Café team led by Heidi Smit. A great cup of coffee and a delicious bagel is the perfect opportunity to sit and make a new friend or reconnect with one more familiar. In addition to those I have mentioned, both Cris Lebron, and Pastor Olga each have tremendous teams of people who faithfully serve on Sunday and throughout the week. To each of you who serve on one of these teams, I would like to extend my appreciation for your service to God. We have continued to see growth in our LIfeGroup ministry. Each and every week, groups of people meet either in the church or in the homes of our church members for a time of prayer, fellowship, and the study of the Word of God. To each of those serving as LifeGroup leaders, I would like to extend my appreciation for your willingness to open your lives and your homes to the family of God at The Mission Church. At the end of 2014, The Mission Church was blessed to add Pastor Alex Goncalves to our pastoral team. Pastor Alex will serve as our Discipleship Pastor and as a result, will assume the responsibility of leading our LifeGroup ministry. Although Page 12 Pastor Alex will assume leadership responsibility of our LIfeGroups, I look forward to continue serving as a LifeGroup leader. One of the most exciting developments over the last year has been the growth of our Wednesday evening ENCOUTNER meeting in the sanctuary. We were sorry to see Pastor David and Veronica Arena leave us for sunny South Florida. I believe he would be pleased to know that his vision for a time of worship, prayer and the presence of God continues to occur each week. As we hunger and thirst for the presence of God in our lives, God is faithful to respond to us. I would encourage each and every one of you who are available on Wednesday evening to come out and experience the presence of God. The items mentioned above are just a small fraction of the good things God has done at The Mission Church. As I reflect upon the goodness of God towards The Mission Church over the last year, I am increasingly excited for what God has in store for us in 2015. Pastor Jason Murphy YOUTH PASTOR’S REPORT Greetings to All: Pastor Rafael Lebron In 2014 The Mission Church students started the year with a series called #WATSUROBSTACLE; a truly amazing month, where we saw many new faces. Our leaders and I challenged the students to overcome their obstacles of witnessing in their schools. We had them take selfies with their friends, post them on our website and invite them to come to our meetings. It was a fantastic way to witness to their school mates. say that the moment for us leaders was when one of our male students got so touched by the Holy Spirit that he could not stop weeping. To see the student body surround him and pray for him was very touching. On our way home, I approached him and questioned him as to what happened. His answer was, “I felt such an overwhelming sense of God’s love and I could not contain myself.” WOW!!! My hope and prayer is that our students would hold on to and remember these moments and encounters with God for the rest of their lives. In His Service, Pastor Rafael The month of February is always our coaching season for Fine Arts. The Mission Church is so blessed to have such amazing talent in these precious vessels of clay. They took their gifts and talents to Convention 2014 and it was unbelievable. We had students advance to nationals on their first time competing in fine arts. As in previous years, our students made the choice to go on a mission trip Instead of advancing to nationals. What hearts to serve. In between quarters we have movie nights and Lou's Diner runs. A Lou's Diner run is when we invade the dining facility down the block till closing time on select Friday nights. We actually jam pack it with our students and leaders and on occasion some parents show up. What a blast! While holding our Friday meetings at the diner, we are also able to minister to Gary & his help while students enjoy a night out. The 2014 Missions trip to Cuba was epic. To invade Cuba with a team of over 40 students & leaders is something that only God could have orchestrated. The doors of opportunity that were opened and the lives that were touched go beyond words. At the conclusion of our journey, after having trained the youth from our hosting church to minister in a program called Pequenos Gigantes, we turned over all our music, props and even our T-shirts to their team. Today, the ministry is running on automatic pilot; it’s better than we could have ever dreamed or imagined. In December 2014, I received an email that notified us that the church running the program was being interviewed on the local radio station about Pequenos Gigantes. To God be all the glory! In conclusion, we ended 2014 doing things a little different from previous years when it came to our Fall Retreat. This year the place was MADISON SQUARE GARDEN and the event was the Hillsong Conference called “NO OTHER NAME.” The conference was for three days and two nights. Our very own Michael Civitano was chosen to sing our National Anthem in front of over 5,000 people. Mr. Civitano nailed the song without a hiccup! But I must Page 13 The Mission Church 2014 Annual Report CHILDREN’S MINISTRIES REPORT Our motto in children’s ministries is “Clearly Seeing What Cannot Be Seen.” In 2014, we clearly saw God move in various ways in our midst. Allow me to share some of these ways with you. (If I were to report all, this report would be too long). It was evident that new families with children entered through the doors of The Mission Church. Rangers and Girls Ministries attendance increased about four times compared with two years ago and about 1/3 more than in 2013. We are beginning to see families who were formerly just dropping off a child on Wednesday now attending Sunday services regularly. Pastor Olga Brandenberger We clearly saw God move in the lives of children. One little boy in the Sunday PreK-K class exclaimed, “I love Sunday School!”(By the way, this is one of the families who crossed over from Wednesdays to Sundays). Then there is the little girl in the same class who shouts out with glee, “another one, another one!” because she wants to sing another worship song (this is after we already sang about 3 or 4 worship songs). The move of God was manifested in our Special Needs Ministries, God Is Able, with a more dedicated and passionate staff raising the bar in how they minister. We have only begun to scratch the surface of being able to reach families with special needs children. God at work was exhibited in our junior staff team (those under 18). God is raising up youth to become not only the teachers of God’s Word tomorrow, but the teachers of God’s Word today- a powerful army raising up the next generation. The move of God was revealed through the launching of our very first Kids’ worship team/band rehearsal this past May. Currently, the children can play 6 songs. We have kids on drums, keyboard and singing praises unto the Lord. Can you see God moving? The youngsters are leading us in worship full of thunderous praise that makes the enemy flee. We observed God working in how zealous the children are about reaching the lost and making a difference now through missions giving and praying. The children raised $1,349.29 for missions this past year. To God be the glory for this, also! As we hosted the Momentum staff training conference (where about 50 children’s ministries team members attended), each staff member reached another level in their calling to raise the next generation of believers. In addition, November 2014 saw a team of leaders being Page 14 raised from among the staff. They’ve come together to dream, plan and prepare for the future direction of the Mission Possible Kid’s Ministries. Can you see God moving clearly? The best is yet to come! We continue to see God impact families in our community through our annual events – VBS, Fall Family Festival, The Easter Eggstravanganza—all were well attended. Unfamiliar faces walked through the doors to hear about Jesus, to interact with each other and to know that this place we call The Mission Church is a place they can call home. Lastly, I’m privileged to be part of a team of men and women who are totally sold out in reaching children and families with anointed fervor. As I close, I want to express how full of gratitude my heart is towards each one of them. I wish I could list each name down on this page but space does not allow me to. These are the brothers and sisters God has called, the ones He has placed His Spirit, strength and desire in to reach the lost children and families for His Kingdom. Thank you for answering the call, it could not be done without you. You have made the mission your own and we know with God the mission IS possible. I started with our motto “Clearly Seeing What Cannot Be Seen.” I see the church rising up and taking its place to reach this next generation clearly seen on the horizon (those yet to come). To God be the glory for all He has done and for all He has yet to accomplish! John 14:12, “ Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.” THE BEST IS YET TO COME! Pastor Olga Brandenberger CARE MINISTRIES REPORT It is an honor and privilege to serve as the Care Pastor. It gives me great joy to touch people’s lives and care for their needs. Pastoral Care is responsible for all aspects ensuring the care and the connection of our church family; from first time visitors, to full involvement in hospital/ home visitations, and reaching out to people with any needs and concerns. I could not have fulfilled my position as a Care Pastor Pastor Jorge and Patty Pabón effectively without the help and support of my lovely wife, Pastor Patty. Her passion and zeal to help others and walk them towards a journey to discover true freedom, the abundant life God intends for every believer, is evident. Thank you, Patty, for always being by my side. Greeters Ministry With the current growth in our church, we have developed an amazing team that comes every Sunday morning ready to serve and greet every single person that walks in the doors of The Mission Church. My goal is to demonstrate friendliness, compassion, and the love of Christ to all, with the purpose of assimilating them into the Body of Christ. Our visitors are very important to us, and we strive to greet them every Sunday morning with an authentic welcome. The feedback I get from all the visitors is how they felt the presence of God and how they felt welcomed. To all our greeters thank you for serving! Holy Spirit. I want to thank Gloria Favreau and Pastor Paul for serving and facilitating in our group sessions. Gloria is a licensed Life Coach and Pastor Paul is a licensed CASAC-T. They both bring extensive teaching and great impartation to our groups. This ministry is unique in the sense that it is open to the community. We have seen people come into our groups, get saved, set free from their addictions and soon after, join our church. It has been an amazing life experience for Pastor Patty and I. We are passionate to see people live a life of freedom to obtain all God has for them. God is good! We are so grateful to God, Who has given us the opportunity to serve in this capacity. We love what we do. 2014 was an amazing year and we have seen a tremendous growth in our ministry. We are excited to see what God has for us in 2015. THE BEST IS YET TO COME! Please continue to pray for our ministries as we continue God’s journey in our lives. Respectfully yours, Pastor Jorge Pabón “Then you will call upon me and go and pray to me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek me and find me, when you search for me with all your heart.” -Jeremiah 29:1213 Pastoral Care Ministry Every Tuesday morning, our staff meets to discuss any needs and concerns of the church. For the last two years, I have served as the Care Pastor that has brought lasting fruit into the lives of many people I encounter. I have immersed myself in the work of pastoral care for which God has equipped me in gifting, temperament and aptitude. The unique privilege of a Care Pastor is to come alongside a person or a family in times of need to help them through their challenges and difficulties they are facing. It has been a privilege and an honor to work with dedicated people such as Elder Tom and Pastor Kathy. They both bring so much wisdom and life experience to the table. What an amazing team! Breaking Free Ministry In addition, (my wife) Pastor Patty, and I oversee a dynamic ministry called, “Breaking Free.” It has been an amazing four years. Breaking Free is designed to help people with substance abuse and life controlling issues. We walk them through their hurts and pains that have been rooted from their past and continue to affect their emotional, relational and spiritual development. There have been great victories in people’s lives and they have been SET FREE and transformed by the power of the Page 15 The Mission Church 2014 Annual Report WORSHIP DIRECTOR’S REPORT OVERVIEW: This year has definitely been one of development, growth, and challenge. Our teams have not only grown in their abilities and gifting, they are also capturing the true purpose of the ministry God has individually placed them in. Here are some areas in which our team has grown: Cris Lebron - Our creative outlook has developed and expanded. Creativity does not merely flow from music, it flows from the depths of who God created us to be. We have characterized all our teams (Media/ Worship) as branches stemming from what is now the name of our teams as a whole ‘Creative Team.’ From this heading, we have created a pool of people that contain different gifts and abilities not necessarily related to music. But rather, artists, photographers, dancers, stage designers, graphic designers, etc. - Evaluations and auditions for our Worship team has really opened the door to people who want to join our team, and has also created a mindset of excellence and heightened responsibility. This process will continue to be implemented. - Our Media team has developed in their abilities as sound technicians and graphics operators. They are also understanding the weight that they carry every Sunday and the responsibility that is attached. - Our Worship team was given the privilege of traveling and ministering in Praise and Worship, specifically in a church located in NYC, in the country of Cuba, and in an Assemblies of God Women’s Conference titled ‘Embrace,’ where over 400 women attended. - The Christmas Cantata, “Relationship Restored” was an amazing avenue in which the gifts and talents that live in our church family were displayed for the purpose of demonstrating Jesus, in bringing lost souls back home to the Father. This production has opened our eyes to see the possibilities that are still available for us creatively. Targets for this year: - To increase in growth in both the Media and Worship teams. We are still desperate for worship leaders that will be able to lead a service with technical skill and spiritual maturity. We are also in need of a strong Media team leader that also shares similar characteristics that were mentioned above. - Creating more avenues where our Creative team’s abilities (artists, photographers, etc.) can be displayed in the life of our Church. Page 16 Future Vision: I truly believe this year is a year of equipping, empowerment, and executing. Equipping our team members to lead themselves and the others around them in skill and in spirit. For me personally, to release our team members to take on more responsibly and to appoint leaders in our team to empower the next generation and to personally flourish themselves, and to continue to establish excellence as our team’s culture, and to execute with skill and a perfect effort. Conducting worship seminars, leadership workshops, worship recordings, and hosting special worship guests are all things that I see us overseeing and being a part of. The best is yet to come! Cristian Lebron WORSHIP&DIRECTOR’S ACADEMY PRESCHOOLREPORT REPORT “And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful…And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” Col. 3:15, 17 enter into the public school systems and their teachers and administrators continually express, “there is something so different about that school.” (The Academy) Of course, the difference as we all well know, is God’s love and His continual presence. His love and faithfulness never cease to amaze me! As for the future, I am truly confident and excited to see where He is about to bring us next! May His will be done! We have so very much to be thankful for here at the Academy. Not only for what God has done and is doing; but what He is about to do in His school and the lives of His people! In reflecting upon the past ten years at the Michele Massi Academy Director Academy, I am truly grateful and humbled by God’s faithfulness, presence and sovereignty. His hand has truly been over His school (the Academy) on Route 52 that began with only seven students in January of 2005, yet continually graduates an average upwards of 30 -35 students each year. Under His insight and direction, the Academy’s marquee “Original Enrichment Program ©” was developed within that same year, thus setting a new pre-elementary standard. In 2008, the Lord continued to direct His vision and further expanded operating curricula with the addition of two Kindergarten programs as well as adopting an official new name; The Mission Church Academy & Preschool. The Academy quickly became the model of a school that truly provides young children with specialized training in various subjects and skills area while exemplifying and instilling the model of God’s love. Within that same stretch of time, we opened up before and after school faith based programs and eventually moved into a new Christian Education Facility in 2012 that now houses vital and developing Toddler programs. The Academy continually enlists parental/family involvement by pouring into outreach programs such as Operation Christmas Child, Cure for kids with Leukemia Outreach, the Carmel Holiday Parade, and Pajamas for children in need, just to name a few. Side-by-side participation during these outreaches has proved to be an effective means to build a more intimate relationship with our Academy families and demonstrates our care and God’s love. Such outreaches have been just some of the turning points and revelations that continue to take place in Academy families, as we continue to see attendance and assimilation into our church at healthy rates. All of such are just a brief example of God’s amazing and daily testimonies. Academically, the Academy continues to set new standards for early childhood and pre-elementary education in the Hudson Valley as we remain committed to maintaining and surpassing the current level of excellence at the Academy. We stand poised and eager to undertake the opportunity of expanding the Academy to adopt the future programs inclusive of first through fourth grade and confident that the Lord will continue to deliver students to His ministry; thus expanding upon the Academy’s foundation on the scripture verses, “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.” Prov. 22:6 and “This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.” John 15:12. Before closing, I would especially like to thank Pastor Olga who continually provides an interactive “Chapel” program for our students each week as well as Pastor Rafael who is always ready to be of assistance and share God’s love with the Academy children; Ms. Heather and our worship leader, Cris Lebron, for their relentless patience in providing assistance with the Academy’s daily celebrations. In addition, I would sincerely like to thank the Academy staff for their commitment in serving our students and staying on course for His great plan! (Ms.Stephanie, who has been with the Academy from the onset, Ms. Dawn, Ms. Jenn, Ms. Kristen, and Miss Roxanne). A special thanks to Pastor Gregg, Pastor Jason and all of the Pastors and leadership of our church; the Educational Advisory Council, Board of Trustees, and especially Audrey and Melissa who are always ready to lend a helping hand, and so many others who play vital support roles to the Academy. Most importantly, I would like to thank my family for all of their endless prayers, support and patience throughout the journey of God’s great plan! In His love and service, Michele A. Massi Through it all, we continue to see Academy families from differing ethnicities, faiths and walks of life being saved by the “mere” and persistent work of God carried into their households’ by their children – our students. (Praise the Lord!) Over fifteen families have been assimilated into our church as members, most serving in some ministry capacity, while countless others have either attended church services and/or events. Our alumni students continue to share God’s Word by living testimony as they Page 17 The Mission Church 2014 Annual Report DEACON’S MINISTRY REPORT "Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith." Galatians 6:10 The Mission Church has a culture of compassion and service to our congregation and our community. The Deacon ministry serves in the practical, spiritual, and temporal matters of the church. By the call of Pastor Kathy Dana God to the ministry, the deacons are committed to Biblical stewardship of the resources of the church as they have been entrusted to them. Pastor Kathy Dana coordinates all activities of the Deacons ministry, and works closely with Care Pastor Jorge Pabón in the coordination of pastoral care as needs are identified. Pastor Kathy represents the deacons at the weekly Pastoral Care meeting for review of developments for benevolence needs, and other relevant issues of the congregation. The deacons serving are: Rich DeFeo, Steve Hoffmann (Service Projects), Manny Quezada, Mike Sanchez (Evangelism), and Jerry Sauder. The deacons meet monthly to review benevolence activities, as well as to plan service projects for the future. The Deacon ministry administrates benevolence to individuals and families of The Mission Church. The deacons compassionately disburse funds to those in need, with a view toward discipleship, accountability, encouragement, growth, education, and guidance for improvement for their financial future. In 2014, thirteen families received benevolence assistance in times of crisis. Our church members have been very generous in supporting benevolence through the special consecrated offering and monthly donations to the Benevolence fund. The deacons assist in pastoral care needs by providing mentoring, prayer, encouragement, home, hospital, and rehab facility visits, facilitating transportation, advocacy, financial guidance, and service needs. Activities in 2014 The Benevolence pantry serves 5-10 families per month from donations received from our congregation. (Thank you Audrey Bogert for helping with distribution!) A total of 51 prepared meals were provided to seven families in need due to illness, surgery, etc.(Thank you to the coordinators Dori Slattery, John Schroeder, and Barbara De Maio, and a BIG thank you to volunteers who prepared those awesome meals!) Thanksgiving and Christmas Blessings to 14 households in our church and community. Evangelism Explosion Classes in the Spring and Fall (Thank you to Joanne Temmel, Deacon Mike, and team!) Page 18 There were two "MISSION: In HIS Service Days" in Spring and Fall. They were great days of service and fellowship work done to glorify God. Additional projects were identified and spilled over even to additional days of service to households in need due to illness. Deacon Steve Hoffmann coordinated teams for a total of 42 volunteers for both days, serving 19 households in our congregation. Work well done! The Mission Church is a caring and compassionate church with a growing culture of people helping people whenever and wherever needs are identified. We encourage everyone to get involved in serving the needs of the church. I consider it an honor to serve with Rich, Steve, Manny, Mike, and Jerry in the Deacon ministry. We pray for wisdom, mercy, and grace in ministering to the church. The deacons are servants providing compassionate care to the Body of Christ of The Mission Church. Thank you for the opportunity to serve the Lord in serving as coordinator of the Deacon ministry. Sincerely, Pastor Kathy Dana Page 19 The Mission Church 2014 Annual Report 2014 Profit and Loss and Balance Sheet - and - 2015 Proposed Budget Page 20 The Mission Church 2014 Profit and Loss General Fund Report Description 2014 2014 2015 Actual Budget Budget Income Interest Income 4 0 0 783 0 750 -45,000 -45,000 -45,000 1,024,088 994,189 1,030,343 979,088 949,189 985,343 979,875 949,189 986,093 24,791 25,853 25,853 478,023 475,206 505,089 58,545 58,000 58,000 20,000 20,000 9,336 Security System Monitoring 1,550 1,500 1,500 Maintenance & Supplies 5,047 4,250 5,200 Trash Removal 3,639 3,100 3,700 Grounds Maintenance/Snow Removal 9,412 8,000 15,650 150,000 150,000 150,000 39,752 39,600 42,000 Building Equipment Maintenance 8,610 7,000 6,000 Building Equipment Purchases 2,500 2,900 2,720 240,510 236,350 236,106 Café Income Tithes & Undesignated Offerings Missions Subsidy Tithes & Undesignated Offerings - Other Total Tithes & Undesignated Offerings Total Income Total Expenses General Fund Expenses: Total ACADEMY EXPENSES (subisdy) Total EMPLOYEE EXPENSES Total ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES BUILDING & GROUNDS Capital Improvements Building Savings Cleaning & Cleaning Supplies Total BUILDING & GROUNDS Page 21 The Mission Church 2014 Annual Report The Mission Church 2014 Profit and Loss General Fund Report Description 2014 Actual 2014 Budget 2015 Budget Total Expenses MINISTRY EXPENSE Sunday Fellowship 6,488 5,500 8,000 19,294 21,500 21,500 442 550 550 1,081 1,050 1,050 658 750 1,000 18,569 16,000 16,000 Chosen Generation 663 725 250 Pastoral Care 393 750 500 0 30 30 Worship/Audio Visual 5,982 6,000 6,000 Life Groups 2,681 3,200 3,200 35 300 200 -783 1,000 500 MITTs 699 750 750 Ushers 309 300 300 Women's Ministry 464 1,200 1,200 23,992 25,000 25,000 80,967 84,605 86,030 11,358 9,000 9,000 3,850 3,850 3,850 600 600 500 1,848 2,125 2,125 83 1,550 1,550 Flowers/Plaques/Gifts 2,461 2,125 2,200 Donations 3,610 3,610 3,610 517 500 500 Kitchen Expense 3,630 3,630 3,630 Petty Cash, Gen Ministry, etc. 1,744 657 1,500 29,701 27,647 28,465 Total Children's Ministries Walter Hoving Home Visitations Safety & Security Ministry Breaking Free Total SPECIAL EVENTS & OUTREACH Intercessory Altar Workers Men's Ministry Total Youth Ministry Total MINISTRY EXPENSE MISCELLANEOUS Total Seminars,Conferences,Education Vans & Transportation Sanctuary Supplies Guest Speakers/Honorarium Furniture & Fixtures Church Picnic Total MISCELLANEOUS Page 22 The Mission Church 2014 Profit and Loss General Fund Report Description 2014 Actual 2014 Budget 2015 Budget Total Expenses UTILITIES Telephone 6,399 6,318 6,300 Fuel Oil 12,930 15,000 10,000 Electric 30,128 20,000 30,000 234 210 250 49,691 41,528 46,550 Total Expenses 962,228 949,189 986,093 Net Income/Loss 17,647 0 0 Propane Gas Total UTILITIES Page 23 The Mission Church 2014 Annual Report The Mission Church 2014 Profit and Loss Academy Report Description 2014 2014 2015 Actual Budget Budget INCOME Tuition & Other Income $ 173,717 $ 150,000 $ 183,900 TOTAL INCOME $ 173,717 $ 150,000 $ 183,900 Salaries & Supplies $ 198,508 $ 175,853 $ 209,753 Church Subsidy $ (24,791) $ (25,853) $ (25,853) TOTAL EXPENSES $ 173,717 $ 150,000 $ 183,900 Net Income/Subsidy $ EXPENSES Page 24 - $ - $ - The Mission Church 2014 Profit and Loss Building Report Description 2014 2014 2015 Actual Budget Budget INCOME Building Pledges $ 160,266 $ 140,000 Interest Income $ 1 $ TOTAL INCOME $ 160,267 $ 140,000 $ 140,000 Building Program Expense $ 1,165,350 $ 950,000 $ 950,000 Mortgage Interest $ 147,340 $ 140,000 $ 140,000 TOTAL EXPENSES $ 1,312,690 $ 1,090,000 $ 1,090,000 Net Income/Subsidy $ (1,152,423) $ (950,000) $ (950,000) - $ $ 140,000 - EXPENSES Building & Grounds Page 25 The Mission Church 2014 Annual Report The Mission Church 2014 Profit and Loss Missions Report Description 2014 2014 2015 Actual Budget Budget INCOME Faith Promises $ 55,230 $ 45,000 $ 55,230 Mission Trips, Designated, Other $ 137,533 $ 40,000 $ 40,000 Church Subsidy $ 45,000 $ 45,000 $ 45,000 TOTAL INCOME $ 237,763 $ 130,000 $ 140,230 Support, Trips, Other $ 218,464 $ 130,000 $ 140,230 TOTAL EXPENSES $ 218,464 $ 130,000 $ 140,230 Net Income/Subsidy $ 19,299 $ EXPENSES Mission Expense Page 26 - $ - The Mission Church 2014 Profit and Loss Benevolence Report 2014 Actual Description INCOME Benevolence Income $ 19,041 TOTAL INCOME $ 19,041 Benevolence Expense $ 16,135 TOTAL EXPENSE $ 16,135 Net Income/Subsidy $ 2,906 EXPENSE Page 27 The Mission Church 2014 Annual Report The Mission Church 2014 Profit and Loss Resource Center Report 2014 Actual Description INCOME Resource Center Income $ 8,021 TOTAL INCOME $ 8,021 Resource Center Expense $ 3,352 TOTAL EXPENSE $ 3,352 Net Income/Subsidy $ 4,669 EXPENSE Page 28 The Mission Church Balance Sheet as of December 31, 2014 Dec 31, 14 ASSETS Current Assets Checking/Savings 399,922.16 Accounts Receivable -18,515.36 Total Current Assets 381,406.80 Fixed Assets Building 4,000,000.00 Total Fixed Assets 4,000,000.00 Other Assets 600,000.00 Land Total Other Assets 600,000.00 4,981,406.80 TOTAL ASSETS LIABILITIES & EQUITY Liabilities Current Liabilities Credit Cards Other Current Liabilities Total Current Liabilities 2,142.65 23,717.75 25,860.40 Long Term Liabilities AG Financial Mortgage Total Long Term Liabilities 2,908,124.83 2,908,124.83 Total Liabilities 2,933,985.23 Equity 2,047,421.57 TOTAL LIABILITIES & EQUITY 4,981,406.80 Page 29 The Mission Church 2014 Annual Report RESOLUTION TO MODIFY QUORUM February 27, 2015 WHEREAS Article 8, Section 5 of The Constitution of The Mission Church states, “No record of any Special or Regular Business Meeting of The Mission Church shall be made unless a minimum of twenty-five percent (25%) of the Active Members shall be present to constitute a quorum” AND WHEREAS The Mission Church often has difficulty achieving a twenty-five percent quorum, often causing meetings to be begin late due to waiting for enough people to arrive in order to achieve a quorum, AND WHEREAS The Mission Church has had to cancel and reschedule or actually call people on the phone during meetings to achieve a quorum, AND WHEREAS The membership of The Mission Church continues to growth at a healthy and robust rate, thereby requiring even more members to be present to achieve a twenty-five percent quorum, AND WHEREAS It seems impractical and burdensome to require a twenty-five percent quorum, AND WHEREAS A twenty percent quorum is an adequate minimum amount required to expedite the business of The Mission Church, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT: Article 8, Section 5 of The Constitution of The Mission Church be modified to read, “No record of any Special or Regular Business Meeting of The Mission Church shall be made unless a minimum of twenty percent (20%) of the Active Members shall be present to constitute a quorum.” Presented by: Pastor Gregg Johnson & The Board of Trustees of The Mission Church Page 30 GUIDELINES FOR BUSINESS MEETINGS 1. Remember, the Lord is on the throne. Relax and enjoy your salvation even at the business meeting. Business meetings are celebrations of praise. 2. Never be insistent on your own views. The future may demonstrate a better solution. The Bible assures two or three witnesses are better than one. 3. Don’t forget that the same principles of thoughtfulness and consideration apply here as in all Christian living applications. 4. Be careful that none of us talk too much and some too little. There will be opportunities given to hear all points of view. 5. We must not confuse volume with virtue, but speak calmly, respectfully and to the point. 6. We should stick with the subject at hand and not walk down side roads that evade our distinct destinations. 7. We should weigh facts and figures carefully, and avoid such statements as, “They said…,” “They have proven…,” etc. 10. optimistic; have absolute faith in God. After a difficult subject has been openly discussed and no common course of action appears, it is best to table the matter for additional prayer and consideration. how fortunate we all are to have our Lord trust us enough to place the work of His eternal kingdom in our hands. We dare not treat lightly our Father’s faith in our faithfulness to His will. Page 31
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