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 Vol. XXXIV • No. 6 • March 20, 2009
 
 I’m convinced that by reexamining every dollar (no let me correctthat: every penny) that passes through our church, we’re positioningourselves for future freedom to do God’s work, unhindered. Oh whata day it will be when gifts exceeding those planned for will be usedfor ministry rather than for meeting budgetary shortfalls. That day iscoming.As 1 Corinthians 12:12-13 tells us, while we are each uniquelysingular, we are all in this together, and together we will
drink of theSpirit 
and respond in a way that lifts our eyes heavenward and opensus to receive all that God has planned for FBC Decatur.Dreaming of fish and loaves,
 fish and loaves
,
 Beth Smith 
Reexamining, Rebuilding, Reinventing…
It takes resources to “do” ministry, to launch andsustain ministry.
Q
: How much ministry can I “do” for $100?
A
: About $100 worth.
Q
: How much ministry can God “do” for $100?
A
: Reread the fish and loaves story found in Matthew 14.Last year when the congregation approved the 2009 Ministry ActionPlan, we promised ourselves that we would
reexamine
the plan inearly 2009 to make any necessary adjustments. Well, we’ve beenheavily engaged in reexamining our situation and will offer acongregational report Wednesday night, March 18. In the meantime…Prayer and thoughtful deliberation led the finance, budget and pastoralteams to discern that we should rebuild our 2009 plan around lastyear’s actual giving rather than the budget. Deacons agreed, so wetook last year’s total, actual giving and decreased it by 10%, creatinga 16% overall decrease from budget. Trimming $350,000 from analready lean plan is neither easy nor fun. However, the spirit in whichthese teams approach their necessary work is nothing shy of inspiringly God-led.Prior to beginning our work, Pastor Julie shared with us a CD titled“Vision-Driven Budgets” featuring Billy Hybels of Willow Creek Community Church. The CD’s title may send your head bobbing andnodding with boredom, but the message is exciting and has given ushope, vigor and inspiration for our task. We’re going beyondrebuilding and into reinventing that which our budget can be and dofor our church.With Willow Creek’s model as a backdrop, we’re laying groundwork for a God-honoring budget, where proactive vision-based budgeting isused to allocate our resources to where God is moving within thechurch. (Where do you feel God moving in the church?)As we aim to resource God’s work in our church, we mustacknowledge that we’re beginning with minimal wiggle room, sowe’re asking questions such as:
•
How do we present user-friendly financial data to thecongregation?
•
Which ministries are priorities? What are our ministrydreams? How do we resource these dreams?
•
What changes do we need in our existing ministries? Howdo we believe the Holy Spirit operates in our congregation?Does it breathe life into a ministry for a season or in perpetuity? How do we discern the whims of the Spirit?
•
Who are our new young leaders who are dreaming upKingdom ministries?
•
Who are our seasoned leaders who undergird the church withtheir wisdom?
•
Where can we (God) accomplish the same with less? Howmany color copies do we really need to make?
•
How do we respond in these tough economic times when wemay have the greatest opportunity (responsibility?) to reach people who need to meet God and receive God’s lovingkindness?
•
How do we plan for God’s blessing – plan for that whichGod gives us over the conservative budget?
We Need to Hear From You! 
If you received this issue of 
the Outlook 
 by mail, this will be theLAST issue you will be receiving UNTIL we hear from you. We aretrying to reduce costs and would love to make
the Outlook 
available in more cost effective ways.You can receive an email with a link that will let you know whena new
Outlook 
is available online or you can always access
theOutlook 
on our website (www.fbcdecatur.com). If you would like toreceive
the Outlook 
 by email ONLY please make sure the churchoffice has your correct email address. Also, copies are alwaysavailable at the church to pick up.If you are unable to read
the Outlook 
online or if you are not ableto pick one up at the church we can continue to mail it to but you needto let us know! If we do not hear from you, you will not continue toreceive an Outlook. Please contact the church office(arussell@fbcdecatur.com or 404-373-1653).We will have an old fashioned covered dish after worship on INGSunday, March 29, and the church is providing the paper products anddrinks for the meal. Everyone is encouraged to bring at least one protein type main dish and one other type of dish like a vegetable,salad, or dessert. Please bring your dishes to the Fellowship Hall before worship starts. If you are interested inhelping setup or cleanup for thelunch please let Kurt Varneyknow. (kvarney@fbcdecatur.comor 404-219-3920)
 
 
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