Mission: Equip all to be the heart, hands, and feet of Jesus in the world! TABLE OF CONTENTS Letter from the Lead Pastor & President...........2 Communication Touchpoints............................5 Church Snapshot.................................................6 Preschool Snapshot.............................................7 Financials..............................................................8 MLST Status...........................................................9 2019 Minutes.......................................................10 2020 Minutes.......................................................11 2020 Annual Gathering Agenda......................12
Dear Brothers and Sisters, Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today’s trouble is enough for today. Matthew 6:33-34 The above passage from Matthew speaks directly to us this year as we have faced unprecedented struggles caused by the global pandemic of COVID-19. But instead of focusing this report on our hardships and difficulties, we would like to celebrate the blessings, victories, and successes that God has provided. The Pivot to Virtual In mid-March, we were forced to stop all face-to-face gatherings and move all of our ministries online. It’s important to recognize that your Abiding Hope staff and leaders were able to “pivot” our ministries within two weeks. Some ministries, such as our Preschool, were forced to stop until we received clearance from the state and county to reopen. Thankfully, our Preschool re-opened partially in June and then fully in August. We also began to gather small groups of people in August.
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Several of our shifts to virtual will be maintained beyond COVID-19. For instance, we plan to continue to provide a weekly online worship experience. Certainly, once we reopen to face to face worship we’d prefer people to attend on site. However, we recognize that people can’t make it to worship every week and having an online option is a way to stay connected. Also, we’ve learned that an online worship experience is a safe and easy way for new people to check us out and learn a bit about our congregation. It can be an effective entrée for guiding new people into Abiding Hope.
In addition to maintaining an online worship presence, we have converted our Confirmation Ministry called “Affirm” to a family-based, self-driven model. In the past, confirmation was the only ministry that we offered for middle school aged kids. It was primarily an instructional model that incorporated a few retreats. The shift to a family-based model is intended to be more experiential and promote full family participation in the confirmation process. Families receive guidance from the pastors and can work through the process slowly or quickly, whichever works best for them. In addition, we now provide alternate ministries for middle schoolers that are not related to confirmation. We hope this expansion will enable us to reach more youth and families. Facility Upgrades This year, we’ve been afforded the time and resources to engage in some necessary and overdue investment in our facility. A hailstorm last year damaged our roof badly enough that our insurance company covered a full replacement. We received the new roof early in 2020. We delayed, however, replacing the skylight in the worship center until we could do some research into materials and find a replacement that is a bit more opaque so as to reduce the ambient light and increase the visibility of the screens. The new skylight will be installed before the end of the year. Last year, we converted all interior lights to LED and this year, thanks to a generous donor, we will be converting all exterior lights to LED. Thanks to another generous donor, we were able to replace our parking lot this year. The new parking lot is a bit larger and affords more parking spots than the previous one. This was an expensive and badly needed project. We are grateful to be able to make this happen. We have removed all of the desks from the seminar room and are working to make the room more accessible to our Preschool and other ministries. More on this to come. The Music Center is being transformed back into a chapel that can be used weekly by the Preschool. We also plan to utilize that space for midweek contemplative services as well as smaller weddings and funerals. Staff Development This year, we lost two staff people: Paul Schultz, Lead Servant for Resources, and Andrea Meier, Administrative Assistant. With COVID-19, we decided not to fill either role. We have shifted some of their responsibilities to others and will continue to assess staffing needs as we go. We would be remiss if we did not take a moment to celebrate our incredible staff and the amazing work they have done this year. Someone once said that adversity doesn’t only create character, it reveals it. God has blessed us richly at Abiding Hope with amazing staff people who have risen to the occasion throughout this year to provide tremendous leadership and consistent ministries. We thank God for their work among us. Congregational Development It’s also important that we say thank you to the countless people at Abiding Hope who have risen to the occasion by continually helping us to execute worship, small groups, youth ministries, confirmation, retreats, care ministries, and every other thing that we continue to do through this pandemic. Your tireless efforts mean the world. THANK YOU!!! We are especially grateful to those who have made generosity to Abiding Hope a top priority this year. Receiving the Federal Paycheck Protection Program Grant in April certainly helped us to keep all of our staff employed and paid. However, it’s the weekly, monthly, regular giving that enables us to meet our obligations and continue to stand with the poor and powerless of the world.
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What’s Next? None of us knows how long this pandemic will force us to continue to avoid large gatherings. However, we are confident that the Holy Spirit will continue to bless us with all that we need to be the heart, hands, and feet of Jesus in the world. We are reminded daily that we are all Children of God and as such we get to be God’s servants in the world. What an amazing gift! We’ve all had to adapt to the changing environment of today’s reality, but we can still maintain a focus that fulfills our Christ identity and purpose. We would like to challenge you to create a plan to support the mission of Christ at Abiding Hope: • Pray – Please hold our congregation and leaders in your daily prayers. We have our Abiding Hope prayer group on social media. Please check this for who needs your prayers. How is your prayer life? Do you focus on the spiritual needs of others? Can you become more intentional in your prayer life? Who are your prayer partners? • Worship – Make watching our worship services a part of your weekly routine with your family. Please share the links for our services with your friends and neighbors. Our schedules continue to adapt and probably will continue to do so. We have noticed many engage our worship services at different times throughout the week. Plan ahead for yourself and your loved ones to enjoy the gift of worship. • Serve – If you are not in a small group, please reach out to the church office and we’ll get you connected. Also, please find other ways to use your gifts and abilities through Abiding Hope and in the community. Watch the Abiding Hope emails for ways in which you can serve. Who is it in your family, neighborhood, workplace, school that God is calling you to serve? Create an ongoing plan for walking alongside and serving others. • Give – Your generosity matters! Please be sure to make your commitment for 2021 and stay current in your giving. Be wise with your giving as well. Are there specific strategies that would allow you to increase your giving, such as matching funds from your work? What are tools and resources to help you leverage your gifts? Do you need guidance to understand how to maximize your gifts? You may also ask what resources are available to increase your giving? If you need help, let us know. We’re here for you. • Share the Good News – Be an ambassador for Christ and share your faith story with others. Help lead others to Abiding Hope by inviting them to experience us through our online worship and/or social media. Be intentional in your plan to carry the message which means give some thought to how you might share the Good News with others. You may very well be the one who God uses to bring one of his flock home. Be bold and be alert for those who need your message. Trust the Holy Spirit to guide you. We have a history at Abiding Hope of being bold as we equip all to be the heart, hands, and feet of Jesus in the world. Let’s lean into who we are. Let’s embrace our current situation and adapt for greater impact. Afterall, God is counting on us just as we count on God. We thank God for you and the many blessings that we enjoy at Abiding Hope. Thank you for your ongoing faithfulness to Christ’s mission. We look forward to all that lies ahead trusting that the Holy Spirit will continue to fuel us so that all people may experience real life in Jesus’ name. With abiding hope, Rev. Dr. Douglas Hill Lead Pastor 4
Christian Holgard Congregation President
COMMUNICATION TOUCHPOINTS
92,152 emails opened
8,055
3,917
devices attended live worship
podcast plays
Video views
including worship
14,792 on Vimeo 5,745 on YouTube
20,537 total Users in 32 countries have watched worship
*Stats as of November 11, 2020
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CHURCH SNAPSHOT
As we all know, this year was very different. Here is a snapshot of some of our impact!
132
218
households particpating in small groups
18
participants in our Small Gatherings
4
baptisms
Stephen Ministers
7
funerals
Social Media Interaction
+180
followers on Facebook
New
Facebook Prayer Group
30
students gather a month for All In (high school ministry)
13
students attended the Confirmation retreat 6
+154
followers on the Family Support Network Facebook
240
Instagram followers
14
students confirmed through Affirm
300+
kids participated in the Trunk or Treat event
235
218 141
60 2019-2020
Summer Enrollment
Enrollment
Waitlist
PRESCHOOL & KINDERGARTEN SNAPSHOT 2020
140
*Started at 297 but 157 withdrew due to Covid
291
2019
2020-2021
2019-2020 School Year
$4,800 raised in the trike-a-thon for St. Jude
435
people attended the Thanksgiving Feast
225
pounds of food collected for the Action Center
500
people attended the Christmas Pageant
$1,925 raised in the Basket Extravaganza
515
people attended the Hoe Down
MLST and the Congregation approved a loan to purchase property to open a second location as an Inclusive Nature School for children ages 3-6. This is currently on hold.
THE SCHOOL CLOSED FROM MARCH 16 - MAY 31 DUE TO COVID-19 The school re-opened and has remained open since June 1 The leadership and staff has implemented new and creative operations to provide safe care 7
FINANCIALS 2020 Projected
2020
General Giving: $1,694,573 Other Income: $134,934 PPP Loan/Grant: $305,000 Preschool Net: $79,767
Total Income $2,214,274
2020 Spend Plan General Giving: $1,975,000 Other Income: $25,000 Preschool Net: $150,000
Total $2,150,000
$285,000
Debt Reduction
$289,954
Outreach
$219,686
Salaries/Benefits
$1,011,801 (991,801 + 20,000)
Congre. Life
$38,140
Worship
$25,115
Communications
$15,906
Property
$285,611
General Church
$203,911
$245,000 $1,060,200
$51,900 $47,900 $15,400 $170,400 274,200
Total Expenses: $2,090,124 $2,150,000
2021 Spend Plan
2021
General Giving: $1,975,000 Other Income: $25,000 Preschool Net: $150,000
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Total
$2,150,000
2020 Spend Plan General Giving: $1,975,000 Other Income: $25,000 Preschool Net: $150,000
Total $2,150,000
Debt Reduction
$285,000
$285,000
Outreach
$245,000
$245,000
Salaries/Benefits
$1,060,200
Congre. Life
$31,750
Worship
$47,900
$47,900
Communications
$35,500
$15,400
Property
$183,700
General Church
$260,950
Total Expenses: $2,150,00
$1,060,200 $51,900
$170,400 $274,200
$2,150,000
MISSION LEADERSHIP AND SUPPORT TEAM (MLST) 2021 Member
Term
Yrs Remaining
President
Christian Holgard
2nd
2
Secretary
Daryl Lindeman
2nd
1
At large team member
Nicole Manutes
2nd
1
At large team member
Joe Wurst
2nd
1
At large team member
Amy Corneillie
1st
1
At large team member
Kim Sandman
1st
1
At large team member
Jim Sponnick
1st
2
Welcome new MLST member, Jim Sponnick! Jim Sponnick has served as an engineer, program manager, and vice president in the space launch industry for over 33 years, designing and managing the Atlas and Delta rocket systems and providing launches for NASA, the Air Force, and various private U.S. and international companies. He has 184 space launch missions to his credit and was awarded the Distinguished Public Service Medal for his leadership in launching five key NASA missions in 2011, including the JUNO mission to Jupiter and the Curiosity rover to Mars. He is currently serving as a consultant and senior advisor for the development of new space launch systems. Jim and his wife Deb have been members of Abiding Hope for 20 years, and their children Adam and Lisa were both confirmed at Abiding Hope. All four of their grandchildren attend Abiding Hope Preschool and Kindergarten. Since retiring from full time work, Jim has renewed his involvement with the church, including leading the Abiding Hope video system project, LED lighting upgrade projects at Abiding Hope and Christ the King, and leading the current parking lot LED lighting and skylight replacement projects at Abiding Hope. Jim’s greatest passion is continuous improvement – always finding ways to improve current systems and processes. 9
2019 ABIDING HOPE ANNUAL GATHERING MINUTES December 8, 2019 (approximately 60 people in attendance)
1. Call to Order 2. Opening Prayer (Pastor Doug) 3. President’s Report (Stacia Rumer) 4. Recognition of MLST outgoing president, Stacia Rumer, and outgoing MLST member, Stephanie Harper. Introduction of MLST nominees, Kim Sandman and Amy Corneillie. 5. Lead Pastor’s Report (Pastor Doug) A. Congregational values B. Leadership changes 2017 – 2019; 7 new staff members in the past two years C. Recognition of each staff member and roles D. 2019 focused on building ministry teams; 2020 will focus on drawing people into teams E. MLST member status for 2020 6. Financial Report (Paul Schultz) A. Review of 2019 actual expenses compared to the 2019 spend plan B. 2020 spend plan – essentially the same total as the 2019 spend plan C. The Forward in Faith pledges for 2020 have been encouraging D. The next Generous Life cycle will be mid-2020 to mid-2022 E. The preschool operation generates excess revenue 7. Preschool Expansion (Pastor Doug and Erin Fisher) A. There is a long waiting list for the existing preschool, and there is a significant need for special-needs preschool services B. A business plan has been prepared for an integrative and nature based special needs preschool C. Properties are being evaluated and mortgage alternatives are being researched D. There is a potential to be operational by the fall of 2020 There was a general consensus by the meeting attendees to support continued research and evaluation for the preschool expansion plan. After more details are known a separate congregational meeting is to be held to seek approval to proceed. 8. Constitutionally Mandated Actions A. Approval of 2018 annual meeting minutes B. Approval of the Financial Report C. Approval of MLST member nominees Steve Smith moved that the three items be approved. Gene Selzler seconded the motion. Attendees approved the motion, and a motion to adjourn the meeting. 9. Closing Prayer (Pastor Jay)
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SPECIAL CONGREGATIONAL MEETING MINUTES January 26, 2020 at 11:45 am (approximately 80 people attending in the church sanctuary)
1. Call to Order (Chris Holgard, MLST president) 2. Opening Prayer (Pastor Doug) 3. Overview of a potential nature based & special needs preschool offsite expansion (Pastor Doug and Erin Fisher) 4. Discussion of the large need for this type of learning, and special needs assessments & therapies in our community (attendees) 5. A commitment to keep the congregation informed on progress and to hold a future congregational meeting to vote on any proposed additional indebtedness for preschool expansion (Chris Holgard) 6. Closing Prayer (Pastor Doug) 7. Adjourn 12:30 pm
SPECIAL CONGREGATIONAL MEETING MINUTES April 5, 2020 at Noon (approximately 65 parties participating via Zoom)
1. Call to Order (Chris Holgard, MLST president) 2. Opening Prayer (Pastor Doug) 3. General Abiding Hope finances, considering the COVID pandemic (Pastor Doug) 4. Update on the potential funding sources for the potential purchase of a property for a nature based, special needs (along with non-special needs) preschool expansion. (Pastor Doug) 5. Briefing on the business plan for the preschool expansion with nature based learning and onsite contracted special assessments & therapies (Erin Fisher) 6. Discussion of various aspects of the operations of the existing Abiding Hope preschool and the proposed offsite preschool expansion. (Pastor Doug and Erin Fisher) 7. Pastor Doug reminded the meeting participants that voting Yes does not mean that the church will buy the property for preschool expansion, only that the church leaders could continue to investigate details, perform business analysis, and pursue lending options 8. A motion generated from the MLST was posted for voting via a Zoom poll. President Chris Holgard called the question: Are you in favor of authorizing the MSLT the option to increase the indebtedness of Abiding Hope Church by up to $2,000,000 to expand the Abiding Hope preschool and to navigate through the COVID-19 pandemic 9. The Zoom poll produced these results: YES: 53 NO: 3 ABSTAIN: 9 10. Closing Prayer (Pastor Doug) 11. Adjourned at 1:06pm
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2020 ANNUAL GATHERING AGENDA DECEMBER 13, 11:00 AM VIA ZOOM • • • •
• • • •
• •
Call to order Opening Prayer President’s Report Outgoing MLST Recognition & Introduction of new MLST nominees Lead Pastor’s Report Financial Report Preschool Expansion Constitutionally Mandated Action -Approval of 2019 Minutes -Approval of Finance Report -Approval MLST Nominees Motion to Adjourn Closing Prayer
Abiding Hope Church 6337 S. Robb Way Littleton, CO 80127 abidinghope.org