Navigating through Treacherous Waters

THE AM QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER | 2020

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A LETTER FROM VICE CHAIRMAN Dear Bishops, Pastors and Church of the Lord, ¡Paz de Cristo! Today, I thank the Lord for the opportunity to write to you. The Apostolic Mutual team continues to be focused on the national commission of the Apostolic Assembly, United Expanding the Kingdom of God with Power.

In the present state, our society is in a transition of confusion and despair.

The world is unsure of this specter, vehicle of death; a virus that has frantically stopped the pace of society. Humanity is unsure of what will come tomorrow.

In this second edition of our newsletter, Apostolic Mutual and I want to announce that we continue to make progress in our desire to assist our congregations with their mortgage needs. We are prepared to assist pastors who have our mortgage program. The board has prepared a plan to extend a helping hand and assist during this volatile time.

Personally, I have embraced the words of the Apostle Paul, “Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.” (2 Corinthians 5:9). Our vision is that even though we are in a difficult period because of the circumstance, we have a promise that HE is with us, Matthew 28:20. The apostle emphasizes that our eternal reality transforms difficult times into hope. He uses the word, philotimoumetha in Greek which means to LONG, to WORK. We long to serve our entire Church at Apostolic Mutual. We know that these times only confirm that even difficult times will not stop the advancement of the Church. We will continue to work in offering plans of financial security to our congregations and the pastoral body.

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LEFT TO RIGHT, BOTTOM ROW SANTIAGO CALDERON, Marketing Director ESTEBAN ROBLEDO, Loan Officer GLADIA PACHECO, Business Relations BACK ROW DOMINIC MOSCHETTI, Creative Director FELIPE LUGO, Vice Chairman EDDIE CAMPA, Executive Director

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We will continue to serve. We don’t need to regress due to the circumstance.

We will continue, “United Expanding the Kingdom with Power” through Apostolic Mutual.

17 “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. 18 As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.

19 And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth. 20 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; 21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. 22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one…” (John17:17-22) Praying for our beloved Apostolic Assembly, Bishop Felipe Lugo Vice Chairman

THE AM QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER | 2020

FEATURED ARTICLE NAVIGATING THROUGH TREACHEROUS WATERS It was a Monday morning when I received a call from my church treasurer that she was unable to make the church deposit because the bank was closed. There was a notice on the door that said due to the Covid-19 Virus the branch location was closed. It was alerting its banking customers to utilize the ATM machine and online banking for their financial needs. I think it was at this moment that reality began to sink in about the economic impact the Coronavirus was going to have on our churches.

It is difficult to determine the lasting impact this virus will have on the economy; however, the church will be impacted and not just the way we do church. Decreases in contributions will create cash flow issues in some churches as a result of unemployment, reduced hours or limited opportunities to give if online platforms are not an option. For the church and for all of us, these are treacherous waters that we have not navigated through before.

graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you.’ So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me. – Acts 27:23-25 NIV The storm that Paul had to endure was not of his own doing but a result of the decision of others. The Lord assured him that he was going to make it to his destination; however, Paul needed not to have fear but to have faith.

The fact is we are going to have to navigate through some challenging times whether they are economical or not. As pastors, leaders, and members of the church, there are circumstances that are beyond our control. God’s plan and purpose for our local churches is going to be reached, but we must have enough faith to weather the storm. Paul told the men on the ship, “Keep up your courage.” We can be courageous in the storm because God is greater than the present circumstance.

Looking at Paul’s shipwreck in the book of Acts, we can gain some helpful insight to help us navigate through the storm.

LISTEN TO THE WARNINGS “Men, I can see that our voyage is going to be disastrous and bring great loss to ship and cargo, and to our own lives also.” But the centurion, instead of listening to what Paul said, followed the advice of the pilot and of the owner of the ship. – Acts 27:10-11 NIV Prior to sailing, Paul discerned that a storm was imminent and warned the centurion. Not following the counsel of Paul, the centurion listened to the pilot and the owner of the ship and decided to sail on since they believed the harbor (Fair Haven) was not a convenient place for them.

With the economic storm approaching, it is imperative that we pay attention to the economic warning signs and make the appropriate adjustments sooner rather than later. Failure to make necessary adjustments because change is inconvenient could prove damaging to the integrity of the local church leadership. Furthermore, it will be costly to the overall financial health of the local church.

HAVE FAITH Last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me and said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar; and God has

LIGHTEN THE LOAD When they had eaten as much as they wanted, they lightened the ship by throwing the grain into the sea. – Acts 27:38 Why would they throw the grain into the sea? They needed to lighten the load of the ship. A ship carrying cargo sits deeper in the water which is dangerous in shallow water.

According to the verse, the men threw the grain overboard so the ship would sit higher in the water in case they were

THE AM QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER | 2020

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NAVIGATING THROUGH TREACHEROUS WATERS blown near land where their boat would get destroyed on the shallow reefs and rocks.

When day light came, the sailors saw land. They cut loose the anchors that held back the ship in order to move forward.

Part of navigating through treacherous waters requires the church to make some difficult decisions. Some of those decisions may involve budget cuts in order to stay afloat.

When revenue becomes shallow (decreased), budget cuts are necessary to lighten the load. This may involve scaling back on unnecessary spending and focus on what is needed to operate. Budget cuts are never convenient, as a matter of fact, they hurt. It is better to hurt for a season than to drown. Budget cuts can cause the church to think outside the box and find creative ways for effective but frugal church programing.

There are some things that are best left at sea for us to make progress. As a pastor, I have used this storm to learn a lesson. All aspects of my church have been impacted from worship services, to ministries, to church administration, to finances. In evaluating, our church is making the necessary adjustment required to navigate through these treacherous waters. I have discovered unfruitful ideas and methods which I have learned to let go in order to move forward and embrace the future.

LET GO Cutting loose the anchors, they left them in the sea and at the same time untied the ropes that held the rudders.

Then they hoisted the foresail to the wind and made for the beach. – Acts 27:40 NIV

Times might be uncertain right now, but not the future.

The future of the church is glorious. Let us move forward united as fellow partners in Christ by working and praying together. Let us navigate through these uncharted waters by becoming wiser in our faith and stronger from it. Remember that God’s grace is sufficient and in our most vulnerable moment, His power is made perfect.

stated the following, “We have audited the accompanying financial statements of Apostolic Mutual, Inc., which comprise the statement of financial position as of June 30, 2019, and the related statements of activities and cash flows for the year then ended, and the related notes to the financial statements.”

2018-2019 AUDIT A financial audit must be conducted in order to review the financial statements of an organization. It confirms if the financial records are an accurate representation of the transactions made by the organization. Audits can be performed by internal employees, a CPA firm, or by the IRS. In the fiscal year 2018-2019, Apostolic Mutual had a financial audit performed by an external CPA office who reviewed the financial statements.

It is with great satisfaction for Apostolic Mutual to announce to our constituents that the 2018-2019 audit has been completed and finalized. The auditing CPA firm 4

The auditing firm’s responsibility consisted of expressing an opinion on the financial statements based on the audit.

They conducted the audit in accordance with the auditing standards accepted in the United States. Those standards require that they “plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free from material misstatement.”

The auditing firm stated the following, “We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our audit opinion.”

Finally, in their opinion, the financial statements referred to “present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Apostolic Mutual, Inc. as of June 30, 2019, and the changes in its net assets and its cash flows for the year then ended in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.”

We are grateful for this positive result!

THE AM QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER | 2020

DIRECTORS & EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

JOHN FORTINO CHAIRMAN

FELIPE LUGO VICE CHAIRMAN

EDDIE CAMPA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

JOSEPH A. RODRIGUEZ DIRECTOR

JORGE MONTES DIRECTOR

LEOBARDO MAFFEY DIRECTOR

ABEL RODRIGUEZ DIRECTOR

GIL AGUILAR DIRECTOR

New Directors and Members Earlier this year, the Board of Directors unanimously elected two new members in order to fill two additional positions. We know that their contributions will not only bring an additional perspective but also continual professionalism.

Congratulations to the following newly-elected Members of the Board of Directors:

LOAN COMMITTEE FELIPE LUGO ELISEO RAMIREZ GEORGE LOPEZ MARTIN AMADOR CELEDONIO SALDAÑA FINANCE COMMITTEE GIL AGUILAR SUZANNE VALENCIA ISAI BAEZA COMPLIANCE COMMITTEE JORGE MONTES YVONNE VASQUEZ ERICKA JUÁREZ

YVONNE VASQUEZ ATTORNEY

SUZANNE VALENCIA CPA THE AM QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER | 2020

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GIVE FAITHFULLY Giving faithfully can mean to give with faith, to be loyal or to be consistent. While giving in faith is developed through a trusting relationship with God, loyalty is also developed out of relationship. Loyalty requires a willingness to make an investment and personal sacrifices to strengthen a relationship. This relationship can be with the local church and its leadership. Just because someone is consistent in going to church does not make them a loyal member. A loyal minister or leader is the person who sees their church as more than a place of worship, but they see the bigger picture and want to be personally invested in it. Giving faithfully involves faith, a personal sacrifice, and consistency.

A. GIVING IS AN INVESTMENT INTO THE FUTURE

Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously

will also reap generously. – 2 Corinthians 9:6

B. GIVING SHOWS OUR FAITHFULNESS TO GOD Looking at the man, Jesus felt genuine love for him. “There is still one thing you haven’t done,” he told him.

“Go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven.

Then come, follow me.” – Mark 10:21 NLT

C. GIVING SHOWS THAT I AM LOYAL TO THE CHURCH Then the leaders of families, the officers of the tribes of Israel, the commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds, and the officials in charge of the king’s work gave willingly. They gave toward the work on the temple of God... The people rejoiced at the willing response of their leaders, for they had given freely and wholeheartedly to the LORD. David the king also rejoiced greatly.

– I Chronicles 29:6-7, 9 NIV

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THE AM QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER | 2020