Financial Update

You may have received this letter last week with your third quarter giving statement. If you did, I invite you to read it again. If you did not receive it, I invite to read it now! Thank you for your generous spirits and your servants' hearts….

Hello Friends,

Church budgets are a unique thing! They are very similar to "for profit" business budgets, but on the revenue or income side we are not reliant on sales of products or services, but instead we depend upon giving, tithing, building use revenue, fundraising, grants and other 'out-of-the-box" streams of income. Years ago, churches were able to support themselves solely upon giving and tithing. That is no longer our current reality. Churches that are sustainable and even growing have realized that in addition to giving and tithing (which is an important Spiritual disciple in one's relationship to God) they must also pursue other streams of income. 

I am happy to tell you that the finance committee is currently discussing and making plans to implement alternate income streams including the use of our bunk rooms upstairs in the education building, grant opportunities, fundraisers and other uses of our buildings that would bring in income. This will supplement your generous giving and tithing and help us to fully fund our budget. If you have any ideas or would like to help work on other revenue streams, please reach out to Mary Olson, Chair of Finance, or myself. 

Meanwhile, I am very happy to tell you that we have a lot of positive and exciting things happening here at Key West UMC! Here is a short list of examples:

1. Our children and youth programs are growing! They have doubled in size since last year. 
2. We are getting ready to welcome new members at Wednesday Night Worship (at least three, maybe more).
3. We are rolling out a new Connect Group program that will help us all be better connected and grow in faith.
4. Advent is right around the corner which means lots of wonderful opportunities to celebrate, serve, connect, enjoy beautiful music and worship together.
5. We will be announcing a new confirmation program for youth in January!

These are just a few of the wonderful things that God is doing here at KWUMC! None of this would be possible without your generosity! This brings me to a request. We are just coming out of the summer months which are the leanest months of the year for attendance and giving. You all were incredibly generous at the beginning of the year and we had somewhat of a cushion built up for the months when our expenses remain the same (or in some cases go up, i.e. electricity) and our giving goes way down. However, that cushion has been used up and our cash flow is low as we wait for our snow birds to return and giving to once again increase.

What can you do to help? Here are a few ways:

1. If you are planning an end-of-year gift, please consider giving it now. 
2. If you are someone who gives to non-profit organizations around the holidays, please consider us for that gift and give it a bit early.
3. Are you able to take a step up in your regular giving for the remainder of the year or even just a month?
4. Invite people to church! They will be blessed to worship with us and, if they choose to give, that will be a blessing to us.

Thank you all again for your incredible generosity and commitment to God and the ministries of Key West UMC!

Grace and Peace

-Pastor Madeline