Stewardship 2023

The Joy of Graceful Giving

Desert

Beloved Desert Hills family,

One look at the church calendar and the rooms full of excited faces and great ministries, and it is easy to see that our faithful God is doing something wonderful in our midst. The year 2022 brought ex panding ministries to children and youth, more quality adult Bible studies and classes, fitness classes, beautiful Arts at the Rocks concerts, Desert Hills’ very own music school, and more. It also brought some incredible campus beautification and improvement projects – a gorgeous exterior paint job for the sanctuary, sealed and painted parking areas, covered solar parking, a remodeled and confi gurable fellowship center stage area and numerous audio-visual improvements campuswide. Our first two new member classes were full and we climbed over a membership of 500 for the first time in many years. And with all the expanded ministries came the need to bring on some very talented staff members who have already made huge contributions. In all this, I, like you, know that this growth and these blessings are truly a gift from God. For this, we should celebrate and express gratitude for His provision.

Yet with all this growth, I would like to celebrate another group who has been incredibly faithful –that being YOU - my amazing church family! It is no secret that increasing our number of programs, ministries, and mission opportunities has also brought the need for additional resources and staff. More so, your church leadership is only getting started, for 2023 will bring even more by way of new ministry offerings as we turn our focus outward to our surrounding community, create more gospel bridges to draw people to our campus, and welcome all who gather here as family. Early next year we will be kicking off an exciting new worship service that will cater to younger families and their child ren. This will be fully complemented by a host of support ministries relating to children, youth, adults, hospitality, and assimilation. We will also be expanding our care-related ministries with new support groups, classes, and activities. In addition, we will be challenging more of you to become part of our home group ministry as we remain committed to becoming more like Christ and doing life together. And because our campus is getting older, we will be taking care of some much-needed capital imp rovements to ensure our campus stays attractive, cool, and leak free.

Consequently, while we will continue to trust in the Lord’s provision and faithfully strive to fulfill His mission to the north Scottsdale/Carefree/Cave Creek area and beyond, I know it has been your fi nancial generosity and prayers which have enabled us to keep all our ministries progressing, to add exciting new ministries, to keep the lights on, and to bring honor and glory to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. You truly have caught the vision of Desert Hills being the light on the hill (in front of the Boulders!) that impacts our community. I cannot thank you enough for your support! Yes, we are cer tainly moving in the right direction. And my fervent prayer is that we will continue to pull together to make great strides in remaining a Great Commission Church and celebrating our faithful God by loving each of our neighbors.

To that end, it is my desire that as you read the enclosed report, you will be able to better understand our present financial situation and what we expect in 2023. More so, as we embark upon our steward ship campaign, I would respectfully ask that you please prayerfully consider how your pledge of time, talent and treasure can help us continue to do the work God has for us. Together, let us remember that everything we each have is a gift from God, that He promises to meet all our needs according to “the riches of His glory in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:19), and that He will certainly protect our finances if we obey and cheerfully give Him the first fruits of our labor (2 Cor. 9:7). And let us strive then to trust and obey and to courageously step out in faith.

Gratefully and Prayerfully,

Jim Noble

Senior Pastor, Desert Hills Presbyterian Church

Table of Contents

Letter From Pastor Jim

What Is Graceful Giving and A Pledge

Stewardship-Frequently Asked Questions

An Update From Your Finance Team

Responding To God

Appendix A: Additional Ways To Give

Appendix B: What Is The DHPC Foundation?

A Prayer To Our Faithful God

Stewardship

is giving back to God a portion of what God has given us—and in that giving back, we worship God. We can give back some of our time, our talents, and our financial gifts.

Giving provides one way to grow our faith.

WHAT IS GRACEFUL GIVING?

It is the fruit of prayer. Our giving begins not by looking in our wallets or at our bank statements, but by getting on our knees and turning our eyes toward God’s Graceful Giving to us.

It is a matter of the heart. As we pray, God will guide us. We should not feel pressured or under duress. If we come to God in prayer, asking that He guides us in how to respond to His generosity, we will land in the right spot.

It is a portion of what God gives to us.

God does not ask for all He has given to us to be given back to Him. Instead, in order to grow His King dom and serve His children, God invites us to give back to Him. The Biblical teaching is that we give to him a “tithe,” a percentage – usually about 10 percent.

True Graceful Giving blesses others.

Such generosity will inspire within us not resistance, but a sense of inspiration that we are being used by God to carry on His work in the world and we are blessing others by supporting the Church.

Graceful Giving is a wonder to behold.

Graceful Giving is a gift that is given willingly and joyfully. Paul wrote to the Corinthians, “Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” (II Corinthians 9:7)

Graceful Giving begins with a prayer-saturated decision. Before you make any decision about what you will commit to our Lord’s work at Desert Hills – please pray and read the pages that follow. Only then, by God’s grace, make your own pledge and be a Graceful Giver whose gift comes from a cheerful heart.

What is a pledge?

A pledge is your promise to give a certain amount of money to support the life, mission and ministry of Desert Hills Presbyterian Church. A pledge is made in “good faith,” but may not in fact reflect the actual amount you are ultimately able to give.

Why do we pledge?

As members and friends of Desert Hills Presbyterian Church, we are all stewards of our shared mission to know Christ and make Christ known, by developing disciples in meaningful community and doing the work of Christ in our neighborhood and world.

For the church, there is a practical reason why we ask for your pledge. Each year the elders of Desert Hills must create an operating budget based on the total amount of income we expect to receive the following year. “Good faith” pledges serve as the foundation for planning the future year’s ministries and expenses. If the total amounts pledged do not cover the projected expenses, then reducing ex penses means that mission outreach, education and other important programs, and possibly the staff who support them, might need to be cut.

Asked Questions

Why can’t I just put money in the offering basket when I feel led to do so?

You certainly can and thank you, for this is always appreciated! However, we do want you to receive proper credit for your generous gifts. For example, in addition to $905,000 in pledges for the 2022 church budget, members and friends of Desert Hills have made cash gifts of nearly $232,342 to date through loose plate offerings that are directed to the church’s General Fund. Cash gifts cannot be traced to a giver’s name if the gift is not placed in a marked envelope with the their name and/or giving unit number.

How do I submit my 2023 Pledge Commitment?

A pledge card is being mailed. If you prefer, you may complete your commitment online at www. deserthills.org or use the QR code provided here.

PLEDGE

When is my pledge due?

We hope to have most commitments delivered to the church in time for Commitment Sunday, October 30. Your prompt response is greatly appreciated and will allow our church’s Finance Committee and Session the time to make any necessary changes to the church budget before our church’s fiscal year begins on January 1, 2023.

How can I contribute my pledge at Desert Hills?

The church offers several ways by which a tither can contribute:

• Pledge envelope with giving unit number placed in the offering basket

• Pledge check mailed to the church office

• Online and secure one-time or reoccurring gifts from

How

The

(deserthills.org)

after a

an essential

valuable

AN

Operating Fund

The 2023 Working Budget was prepared by Session using estimated pledges and loose offerings from the congregation based on past history and anticipated expenditures. After careful planning, we were left with an approximate deficit of $57,000 to fund our activities that we would like to make up. The Operating Budget is composed of two categories that comprise 79% of the budget. They are Buildings and Grounds and Staff and are basically fixed costs. Only 21% of the Operating Budget is flexible and can be cut and continue to effectively carry out the existing and “new to 2023” programs and ministries of Desert Hills Presbyterian Church. We are fortunate that gifts to personnel from the house sale and Neighbors in Need have helped keep the staff costs to that level. But in the future, we will need to fund them from our normal contributions.

WHERE DOES IT ALL GO?

2023 PROPOSED BUDGET EXPENSES

2022 2023 2023 Budget Budget % of Budget

STAFF* 803,167.00942,710.0069.04%

BUILDINGS & GROUNDS 133,250.00135,850.009.95%

FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT 58,000.0065,250.004.78%

OUTREACH MINISTRIES 125,000.00144,825.0010.61% DISCIPLESHIP MINISTRIES 27,725.0030,945.002.27%

LEADERSHIP MINISTRY 13,000.0013,000.000.95% WORSHIP MINISTRIES 11,350.0015,850.001.16% MUSIC & ARTS MINISTRIES 9,800.009,800.000.72%

CONGREGATIONAL LIFE 6,250.006,250.000.46%

DEACONS MINISTRIES 640.00 900.000.07%

TOTAL: 1,188,182.00 1,365,380.00 100.00%

* Staff cost for 2023 shown above, is reduced by 2 gifts to $846,710. One is from the house sale and is for $66,000 to cover the cost of a full time audio-visual employee. The other is from Neighbors in Need and provides $30,000 for health and fitness. The 2023 staff budget also includes a staff cost of living increase of 6%.

RESPONDING TO GOD

We worship God with our gifts, and He teaches us to trust Him to meet all our needs.

He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, gra ciously give us all things? (Romans 8:32)

For the Lord God is a sun and shield; he bestows favor and honor. No good thing does the Lord withhold from those who walk uprightly. (Psalm 84:11)

Give generously to them and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to. (Deuteronomy 15:10)

When we give freely, we demonstrate our love of Christ and our commitment to living in His image.

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal; but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Matthew 6:19-21)

In His love, God encourages us to be exceptional stewards, joyful and willing to praise Him in all things.

Each of you must give as you have made up your mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. (2 Corinthians 9:7)

Appendix A: Additional Ways to Give

Did you know that there are other ways that you can assist Desert Hills Presbyterian. Church in meet ing needs that cannot be met by the operating budget?

Here are a few ways to include us as you consider how your legacy might include Desert Hills:

• Bequest in a will

• Structure an annual gift through trusts and gift annuities

• Gift of real estate

• Transfer existing IRA and/or life insurance proceeds

• Gifts of stocks, bonds and personal property

• Gifts of cash, memorials and securities

• Giving to the Desert Hills Presbyterian Church Foundation (Explanation found in Appendix B on page 8 or at www.dhpcfoundation.org.)

Desert Hills Presbyterian Church is required to comply with IRS guidelines in order to maintain our charitable tax status as delineated under the IRS Code section (501)(c)(3). Please consult your financial advisor or elder Oran Brown (Finance Committee) for more information regarding these options listed above or to pursue other avenues for making financial contributions to the church.

Foundation Purpose

DHPCF is an IRS qualified 501(c)(3), nonprofit corporation that exists to assist members and friends of DHPC who have the ability and desire to financially support the Church in its efforts to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ throughout our local community and beyond.

Foundation Management

The Foundation is managed by a Board of Directors whose primary mission will be to provide a per petual source of income so as to ensure the organization’s financial viability. Funds generated by the DHPCF endowment and specific gifts will be spent as directed by the DHPC Session working in con junction with the Foundation Board or the donor.

Classification and Manner of Giving

The Session of Desert Hills Presbyterian Church encourages its members and friends to think serious ly about how they can help support, improve, and expand the Church’s ministry over the long term. Gifts may include cash, securities, real property (real estate and valuable tangibles), life insurance and life income plans (annuities, pooled funds and trusts). Gifts may be made in a lump sum, installment gifts over time or gifts from wills and estates.

Donors may attach any condition or restriction to their gifts so long as they are legally and morally acceptable, will not adversely affect the mission of DHPC or the fund’s nonprofit status, and are ap proved in advance by the Foundation Board. The Foundation Board and the Session of Desert Hills Presbyterian Church would prefer that gifts be made to the Foundation’s General Endowment Fund without restriction so that the Session and the Board will have the flexibility to designate uses of the funds wherever the need is greatest at a particular time.

For More Information

Conversations and questions about the Desert Hills Presbyterian Church Foundation endowment program are always welcome and appreciated. All members of the DHPC Foundation Board may be contacted through the Church office at:

Desert Hills Presbyterian Church Foundation 34605 North Tom Darlington Drive Scottsdale, AZ 85262

Telephone: (480) 488-3384 Email: admin@deserthills.org

Please take advantage of the wealth of information provided at The DHPC Foundation website: https://dhpcfoundation.org.

A Prayer To Our Faithful God

As We Consider Our Pledge of Time, Talent & Treasure

Gracious, loving, and generous God, giver of all that is good and true and beautiful and life-giving, grant to us Your wisdom as we seek to become a church full of Graceful Givers. You have given so much to us not only through the giving and sacrifice of your Son Jesus Christ for our salvation, but also in your daily provisions. Help us then to give back to you a worthy tithe of our time, talent and treasure – that it might properly reflect our thanksgiving for all we have received, for all you have purposed us to be, and for all you have challenged us to become as your church. May the pledges we bring and the life that we live as living sacrifices unto You, be the “first fruits” of all we have and not what we have left over, so that we may live out as closely as possible how you gave and continue to give to us. In Jesus’ name. Amen.