MISSION: POSSIBLE

According to the Evangelical Christian Credit Union, an average church in the United States spends only one percent of its budget to support local benevolent programs. Similarly, only two percent of a church’s budget supports foreign missions.

Hearing this unsettling news sparked something deep in the souls of Summerfield residents Kevin Ganus and his wife, Mona.

“If churches say their goal is to spread the gospel through missions and help the poor with finances, then they should meet those goals,” said Kevin, an ordained minister who previously served as pastor of four local churches and assistant pastor at three churches.

That prompted Kevin and Mona to form Abundant Grace Fellowship, a church that puts its mission of outreach and benevolence into action. Their 20-member congregation began services last February and meets Monday evenings at Best Western in Leesburg. Kevin is pastor, while Mona is worship leader.

Money collected through offerings is used for two purposes: to financially assist locals in need and support overseas mission projects, including construction of a church in The Philippines.

“Approximately 85 percent of church funds go toward building maintenance, staff salaries, and administrative costs,” said Kevin, who also works as a financial advisor for Wells Fargo Advisors.

“Our goal is to turn that upside down and give away 85 to 90 percent of the money that comes in.”

Reaching that goal is easily attainable because the church’s only expense is monthly rent. Neither Kevin nor Mona receives a salary. That frees up money to assist people in the community experiencing difficult situations, including a single woman enduring cancer treatments and a pastor in Sumter County battling kidney problems. In addition, the church helped pay funeral expenses for widows and provided money for families who have children with disabilities.

“We help people who through no fault of their own need assistance,” Kevin said. “Most of the people we help are not members of our church.”

Abundant Grace

Fellowship members are equally excited to assist in the construction of a church overseas. For the first time, a 50-member congregation in The Philippines will have a church building to worship God. It’s particularly gratifying for Mona, a native of the Philippines and a former member of the international organization spearheading the project.

“We’re very excited about carrying out what Jesus said to do, which is giving to the hungry and needy while spreading the gospel locally and overseas,” Kevin said. For more information, visit Abundant Grace Fellowship’s Facebook page or call Kevin at 352.516.2968.