Annual Report of the Senior Pastor

Pastor Warren H. Stewart, Sr.

Greetings in the name of our loving and liberating Lord Jesus Christ.

God be praised for His faithfulness throughout 2021 for us as a pastor and people. From January 1-December 31, 2021, we endeavored to focus on our 2021 Church Theme: LET’S DO THE LORD’S WORK STRATEGICALLY AMIDST OUR NEW NOW! The Scriptural Foundation was Matthew 16:15-19; Mark 1:14-15; Ephesians 5:15-18, 20; I Chronicles 12:32 (NRSV). If ever we had a relevant theme that addressed the opportunities and challenges we faced last year, our 2021 Church Theme “hit the nail on the head” over and over again.

SOME HIGHLIGHTS OF 2021

As God would have it, we were forced to engage in the Lord’s work amidst the continuing COVID19 pandemic during all of 2021. Nobody but the Lord sustained us faced with a myriad of challenges that the pandemic presented to us. How providential it was for the Holy Spirit to lead us strategically no matter what confronted us as a pastor and people. Therefore, I begin by thanking God for His faithfulness. In addition to the Lord, allow me to offer some more words of appreciation. • You, members of FIBC, continue to be faithful to the Lord’s work through FIBC, whether you are present in mind, body, soul and/or spirit. Much obliged. • Our FIBC Staff, which includes members of our Pastoral Leadership Team, Pastoral Staff, Music Ministry Staff and the FIBCO Family Services, Inc. Staff, “worked their behinds off”. With several vacancies at different times in 2021, many of our staff members had to acquire the responsibilities of those vacant staff positions, in reality doing the work of two or more staff persons. Words are inadequate to express my personal, pastoral gratitude to you, FIBC Staff. • High praise goes to our Re-Gathering Task Force that oversees how we persevere in doing holistic Christian mission and ministry amidst the pandemic in a sanitary-sensitive, holy and healthy environment on our FIBC Campus. The RGTF established FIBC COVID-19 Protocols and monitored them regularly. In addition, we have a faithful team of volunteers who serve on Sunday mornings to keep all of our worshipers and worship service participants as safe as humanly possible. • I certainly must give a “High-5” to our multimedia team of mostly volunteers who show up every Sunday morning early and leave after six hours-plus making sure our hybrid worship services function at their optimum for those worshiping in the Sanctuary and virtually. • There are the Sunday and weekday Bible Studies with a committed team of Biblical scholars who teach the Word “in season and out of season” who deserve a hand of applause. • Our Deacons Ministry and Governance Council fulfilled their servant leadership roles overseeing various aspects of FIBC’s work with dedication and determination, with monthly meetings conducted virtually and other responsibilities done in person.

• Several other FIBC ministries “kept the lights on” for their respective ministries via innovative and creative ways in spite of being separated in body, but not in love. What a testimony each of your ministries are in the Body of Christ for which I am very grateful! • Our FIBC Staff Reorganization constituted a major strategic move for FIBC. We secured the services of Pastor Stephen J. Thurston, Consultant, Inpowered Enterprises, in mid-2021 to assist us in evaluating our FIBC Pastoral Staff and Ministries. As a result of his consultation and our participation in the process we reorganized our Pastoral Staff and have begun to assess our ministries. We offer our appreciation to our Governance Council and Deacons Ministry for their input and support of this major undertaking. Sister Renette Shaw ended her record-breaking 9.5 year tenure as the Executive Assistant to the Senior Pastor in order to spend more time with her family. Our devoted, gifted and talented Sister Carolyn Engram-Sullivan retired as our Director of Operations after over 10 years providing servant leadership. We also thank the Reverend Shirley T. Lewis who has been our Minister of Pastoral Visitations since February 2009, and has assisted countless families in the bereavement process and celebrating the lives of their loved ones who have gone to be with the Lord. Our gratitude also goes to Sister Gaynelle Dorsey who was employed as our Receptionist for almost four years as well as Steve Washington who was our excellent drummer for the last seven years. Sister Jocelyn Thomas’ season as our Interim Children’s Ministry Leader is coming to an end and without her we would not have sustained our Children’s and Youth Ministry during the pandemic. With those words of gratitude, I present to you the 2022 FIBC Staff Members, most of whom were interviewed by either the Pastoral Staff Search Committee or the Administrative Staff Search Committee, and approved by yours truly: ✓ Full-Time 1. Dr. Warren H. Stewart, Sr. – Senior Pastor 2. Dr. Karen E. Stewart – Executive Director of Ministries 3. (Vacant) -- Executive Director of Operations 4. Elder April Hawkins – Pastor of Family Life (Beginning 3/1) 5. (Vacant) – Creative Director of Virtual and Multi Media 6. Sister Geralyn Staten – Operations Administrator 7. Sister Nancy D. Hooper – Church Administrator 8. Sister Kym Majors – Administrative Assistant to the Senior Pastor 9. Brother Fodey Barampunde – Custodian ✓ Part-Time 1. Dr. Donta McGilvery – Pastor of Outreach and Justice 2. The Reverend Roland Pierce – Pastor of Congregational Care 3. Dr. Carolyn Watson – Minister of Pastoral Counseling 4. (Vacant) – Digital Pastor 5. Sister Brenda G. Hankins – Minister of Music 6. Sister Tolanda Coker – Database Facilitator 7. Sister Tracy N. Lewis – Social Media Manager 8. (Vacant) – Multimedia Facilitator 9. Sister Myesha Akins – Nursery Worker 10. Brother Raymond Kirkendall – Organist 11. Brother Greg McGlothen – Bass Player 12. The Reverend Kendall Washington – Worship Leader

13. Brother Phillip Shaw – Worship Leader 14. (Vacant) – Drummer 15. (Vacant) Custodian(s)

OTHER HIGHLIGHTS OF 2021

In the areas of Evangelism and Emancipation, we thank God for 63 persons who answered our Invitations to Discipleship for membership from around the Valley of the Sun, across the nation and from the Motherland. Praise God we had our first baptism in almost two years toward the end of 2021. We engaged in “The E & E Connection” as FIBC, FIBCO Family Services, Inc. (which celebrated its 35th anniversary in December), and the Broadway House Apartments in South Phoenix which celebrate a half-century of low-income housing this year. Most of our Discipleship activities continue to be experienced virtually with much success.

Our Financial Stewardship, our income from tithes, offerings and other sources was $1,943,497.23, including the government’s PPE forgiven loan. Of the total income, we thank God for $1,524,422.38, designated as tithes. Our Fund For Missions giving totaled $173,616.84, a large portion of which was designated for FIBCO Family Services, Inc. and Deacons Benevolence. Thank God, our FIBC Legacy Endowment is $160,356.58.

Ministries that are under my senior pastoral oversight will include: • Deacons Ministry • Clergy Caucus • Elections Commission • Tithes and Offerings Tellers Committee • African Worship Service • Broadway House Corporation (not a ministry but serving low-income residents in South

Phoenix)

OUR WALKING THROUGH THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW OF DEATH

In 2021, I personally acknowledged 36 deaths related to FIBC, with 22 of those being our members, which I believe comprise the largest number of deaths in one year related to FIBC in my nearly 45 years serving as your Senior Pastor. Four of our FIBC-related deaths were linked to COVID-19, namely, Dr. Larry Smith, January 1; Sister Barbara Jean Mayfield, January 2; Brother Ralph Lindsey Robinson, January 30; and Dr. Yesupadam Inty of the Calvary Baptist Church, Akividu, India, March 25. The Lord strengthened me to do 19 eulogies. In addition to that, it was my privilege to make approximately 80 pastoral visitations in hospitals, care centers, senior living residences, homes and apartments in spite of the COVID-19 pandemic.

OUR JESUS AND JUSTICE WORK

In 2021, the Lord allowed me to continue to serve for my last full year as Chairperson of the African American Christian Clergy Coalition, which represents over 100 African-American clergy and predominantly African-American churches in the Valley of the Sun. We have been engaged heavily in Criminal Justice Reform in Arizona and received over $100,000.00 in grant-funding for

our efforts from fwd.us, a nonprofit which focuses on the failed immigration and criminal justice system in the USA. FIBC serves as the headquarters for the AACCC as well as the fiduciary agency for the grant funds. I have been involved in several faith-based justice advocate organizations locally, statewide and nationally. I had the noteworthy privilege of being arrested in support of voting rights in Phoenix last summer, along with my longtime friend, brother and colleague, the Reverend Jesse L. Jackson, Sr., the Reverend William J. Barber, an emerging civil rights activist-preacher, my wife, Dr. Karen E. Stewart, Dr. Donta McGilvery and 34 others engaging in civil disobedience. Several of our members are also on the frontline for “liberty and justice for all”, including the Honorable Sandra D. Kennedy, Arizona Corporation Commissioner, Pastor Warren H. Stewart, Jr. and Matthew C. Stewart.

THE FIBC 20/20 VISION PLAN

The Senior Pastor, Governance Council, Deacons Ministry and Pastoral Leadership Team of FIBC have prayerfully and strategically come up with a vision of where FIBC needs to be by the year 2020 and beyond as a pastor and people. This collaborative, strategic and united effort will ultimately lead to our congregation fulfilling our purpose, vision and area for more progress as defined by our Senior Pastor.

1. To be a vibrant, sustaining, transgenerational, Christ-centered church ministering to the holistic needs of our members and others who enter our circles of influence locally, statewide, regionally, nationally and internationally. In progress even while facing challenges of the changing culture, aging membership and the COVID-19 pandemic. 2. To utilize the “dark space” on our FIBC campus for ongoing ministries and services to and for our community throughout the week, which will require upgraded campus space and marketing. With a full year in the pandemic, utilizing our space for external became very minimal. However, as we are adjusting to the pandemic and it has become more manageable, we hope to prioritize decreasing “dark space” on our campus. 3. To fund our FIBC Endowment Fund by, at least, $500,000.00 by 2020, and designating its purpose. Increasing slowly, yet still committed to providing for FIBC’s future. 4. To prayerfully identify God’s person who will become the Lead Pastor to shepherd FIBC at some point beyond 2020, succeeding the Senior Pastor, utilizing the Senior/Lead Pastor

Succession Plan approved by FIBC. God has not yet spoken to me about who my successor might be. Nevertheless, He already knows who, when, where and how, so I will be faithful as your Senior Pastor until He says that it is time for me to retire. 5. To acquire the vacant property adjacent to FIBC to the east of our campus, if it is still available, to negotiate to acquire the property owned by the City of Phoenix to the west of

FIBC’s campus, if it becomes available, and to acquire property elsewhere as deemed appropriate. After purchasing the property to the east of us for over $700,000.00, expanding our campus less than three years ago, our mortgage balance is less than $250,000.00, thanks to your and the Governance Council’s stewardship. We are renovating The Market Place (its current name) and hope to have it ready for multipurpose usage as a small meeting space, a location for small business entrepreneurs and a commercial kitchen by mid-2022.

GOALS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

1. That our 2022 Church Theme will be A PASTOR AND PEOPLE LOVING,

TRANSFORMING, ENGAGING AND PRESERVING WITH GOD’S GOOD NEWS FOR

45 YEARS! The Scriptural Foundation is John 13:34-35; Romans 12:1-2; Acts 1:1-6; Luke 14:3435 (NRSV).

2. That each leader, ministry, worker, pastoral staff member, committee and member will set goals and objectives how each of them will implement our 2022 Church Theme.

3. That the following persons be elected and/or appointed to serve in the following positions, respectively: Church Moderator Pastor Warren H. Stewart, Sr. Church Clerk Sis. Nancy D. Hooper

Chairperson of Tithes and Offerings Tellers Committee

The Rev. Thelma Staten

Vice Chairperson of Tithes and Offerings Tellers Committee

Church Historian Elections Commission Chair

__________________________ Sis. Annette Smith-Willis Sis. Deborah A. Long

4. That due the current FIBC Staff Reorganization in progress, we complete our election of officers and election of 2020 and 2021 Governance Council appointees who have been fulfilling Governance Council vacancies by the end of the first quarter of 2022.

CONCLUSION

What a mighty God we serve! He guided and protected us through an entire year of the COVID19 pandemic. Although we lost more loved ones than in any previous year, the Lord has kept of long and strong. Thank you for your love and support to Pastor Karen and me, especially during this challenging year. Of special note is that Pastor Karen became Dr. Karen Elizabeth Stewart after earning her Doctor of Ministry degree from United Theological Seminary, Dayton, Ohio. Thank you for allowing the opportunity for members of the Stewart-Curry Family to serve the Lord in FIBC. Knowing that FIBC is in transition motivates me to value and make the most of our remaining time together. So, let’s celebrate and actuate our 2022 FIBC Theme: A PASTOR

AND PEOPLE LOVING, TRANSFORMING, ENGAGING AND PRESERVING WITH

GOD’S GOOD NEWS FOR 45 YEARS! Scriptural Foundation: John 13:34-35; Romans 12:12; Acts 1:6-8; Luke 14:34-35 (NRSV).

Growing in Grace,

Pastor Stewart