[ Sanctuary Fund ]  [ Pathways to Faithful Living ] [ Naming Gift ]

Dear Friends,

Thank you for being a part of the dream and vision for ministry at Birmingham UMC. 2005 has been yet another incomparable year in which we have witnessed God’s presence in living out His intended future for this faithful church.
As exciting as moving into our incredible new facilities has been, seeing what has happened because we have obeyed what we believed God was calling us to do is even more exciting:

• Already this year 121 persons have joined the church and so many new visitors are coming each week. Almost half of these new members are new Christians.
• Last Sunday there were 178 children and 44 adult teachers in Sunday school. That is approximately an 80% increase since we moved in.
• The middle school and high school programs are experiencing the same remarkable growth.
• Worship too has been so amazing with a 50% plus increase.
• Right in the middle of our growth, our mission outreach has been just phenomenal.

The center of what is happening here is really a function of the spiritual hearts of the people like you. Without that there is no reason to build, but with it anything is possible. Without your gifts and those of others like you, very little of what has happened would have been possible.

You may already be one of the 298 persons who have given and or made a Faith Commitment to the Sanctuary Fund. (This is what we named the building fund for our new land and building facilities). The name Sanctuary means ‘Safe Place’ and describes the spirit of what is happening here. Originally it was a 3-year commitment. Based on that there is about one year left.

If you were not a part of the Sanctuary Fund before now, here is an opportunity to make a year-end gift or even a faith-pledge for the next 12 months. Also if you have already completed your pledge, please consider a one time year-end gift.
Woven into the extraordinary surge in ministry growth has been the remarkable way in which persons have responded to the “Pathways to Faithful Living” project. This plan was prayerfully prepared to underwrite the ministries and operating expenses of our church in 2006. To date, some 187 families and individuals have made faith commitments of $1,050,000.

If you haven’t had the opportunity to make your faith commitment, please consider doing that by the year end. In this season our calls for needs for helping families is overwhelming. Any year-end gift for mission and ministry will make a big difference in what we can do.

Be assured God will lead you in your giving. Please use the enclosed card and envelope to mail your gift or place it in the offering plate if you prefer.
Joy and Merry Christmas,

John and Judy
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