May 15, 2025
Dear Central Church,
I had a Sunday School teacher named Buba Gray. Most people who go by that nickname spell it with three “b’s.” Buba, however, could only afford two. He was a simple guy but deeply in love with Jesus. He shared something with us one morning that I still remember today, “Little things make a big difference over time.”
I’m seeing this play out in my life as my oldest son, Paul, prepares to graduate. The journey through school is a series of little things that add up over time. Eventually, they make a big difference…like High School diploma difference!
I’ve seen this principle especially at work in how we steward the resources that God gives us. When we give consistently and regularly to God’s mission through the local church, it makes a big difference over time.
As we close our current fiscal year, our leadership team also has an important task before them: to establish a ministry budget for 2025-26. Here’s where we are currently at in that process:
Received through May 11 in Tithes and Offerings: $1,701,000.
Projected through the end of current fiscal year: $1,770,000. This is $80,000 under our projected budget of $1,850,000.
The majority of our budget dollars are spent on salaries and ministry programming, and the reality of a reduced budget is less resources for those items. Would you consider helping us improve this over the next year? I’m praying that we would see an outpouring of generosity that enables our leaders to set a robust and aggressive budget that enables us to continue to “impact our community with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.”
Here are some “little things” that will make a big difference moving forward:
If you’ve never been a regular financial supporter, take the leap of faith to begin this spiritual discipline. A recurring gift to the church is the best way to do this consistently, especially as we approach the summer vacation season. You can set up a recurring gift by clicking here.
Making a Qualified Charitable Distribution from your IRA or a gift of non-cash assets like stock or other securities. Pastor Raymond Moore is an expert in this area and is ready to assist you: raymond@centralchurchonline.com.
Giving a tithe on a recent bonus, tax refund, or other windfall “blessing” that has come your way.
With the Lord’s help, anything is possible! Let’s be faithful and do what God has called us to do!
This Sunday, we’ll continue our sermon series, “If God is For Us…” We’ll be looking at the truth that Jesus lives to intercede FOR us, bringing our requests, petitions, and needs to the Father. If you have a heavy burden or concern, we’re planning to close the service with a special time of prayer in which our pastors will be available to anoint with oil. The burdens we carry can be heavy, but we do not carry them alone…God is FOR us!
In Resurrection Hope,
Pastor Mark