Exponential Booklet by Lakeside Christian Church

LAKESIDE CHRISTIAN CHURCH

ALL THE BELIEVERS WERE ONE IN HEART AND MIND. NO ONE CLAIMED THAT ANY OF THEIR POSSESSIONS WAS THEIR OWN, BUT THEY SHARED EVERYTHING THEY HAD. WITH GREAT POWER THE APOSTLES CONTINUED TO TESTIFY TO THE RESURRECTION OF THE LORD JESUS. AND GOD’S GRACE WAS SO POWERFULLY AT WORK IN THEM ALL THAT THERE WERE NO NEEDY PERSONS AMONG THEM. FOR FROM TIME TO TIME THOSE WHO OWNED LAND OR HOUSES SOLD THEM, BROUGHT THE MONEY FROM THE SALES AND PUT IT AT THE APOSTLES’ FEET, AND IT WAS DISTRIBUTED TO ANYONE WHO HAD NEED.

ACTS 4:32-35 2

WHAT YOU’LL FIND INSIDE... LETTER FROM JAMIE

HISTORICAL MILESTONES

EXPONENTIAL OVERVIEW

HOW YOU CAN HELP

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

SERMON NOTES & DEVOTIONALS

LEARNING FROM THOSE BEFORE US Dear Lakeside, The book of Acts paints the picture of a people who did not consider any of their possessions as their own. They were a people who kept a very loose grip on things; a people who were not defined by stuff; a people who realized that the eternal matters more than the temporary. They were a people defined by a radical, over-the-top, exponential generosity. As I think about that kind of generosity, the from time to time giving lands and houses in addition to everything else brand of generosity, I find myself asking this question, “Why did they choose to live that way?” Why did they choose a pattern of living and giving that could be best described as exponential generosity? At the risk of oversimplification, it seems their generosity was a reflection of their high level of trust in Jesus and a high sense of urgency to be the good news and to share the good news of Jesus. Another question to consider: What would happen if every one of us chose to embrace this brand of generosity embodied by the first Christians? What amazing acts could we accomplish for God with an exponential generosity motivating us? I can’t help believe that the more generous we are as a church, the more impact we make in this world for Jesus.

AND THE LORD ADDED TO THEIR NUMBER DAILY THOSE WHO WERE BEING SAVED. 4

ACTS 2:47

NOW IT’S OUR TURN As a church we are beginning a two-year generosity initiative called Exponential. The goal of this initiative is not simply to raise a certain amount of money and then move on. The hope is that the value of generosity increases in each of us, resulting in an exponential generosity as a church. As our generosity grows we will be able to accomplish some very significant and exciting projects but more importantly we will accelerate our mission to love Jesus and love like Jesus. As I continue to reflect upon the first church and its extraordinary generosity, the final question I ask myself is, “Am I ready to embrace a lifestyle of generosity?” I can honestly say that I am—and I hope you are too. Let’s do this together. Jamie Snyder Lead Pastor

HISTORICAL MILESTONES

JUNE 1967 Evangelist Jerry Scarborough becomes minister of the church.

OCTOBER 1966 The New Testament Church Evangelism Committee (NTCEC) envisions new church plants for Northern Kentucky.

DECEMBER 1967 The congregation chooses Lakeside Christian Church as its official name.

The NTCEC chooses Lakeside Park/Crescent Springs area to plant next church.

MARCH 1967

Seventy-two worshipers attend the first Sunday service at Crescent Springs Elementary School.

SEPTEMBER 1967

MARCH 1968 Construction of the first church building begins.

EARLY 1968

OCTOBER 1970

Lakeside moves Sunday service to the basement of the Lakeside Park City Building.

John Russell becomes senior minister.

Lakeside purchases land on Buttermilk Pike for $15,000 to build its first church building.

JANUARY 1968

Dedication of the first church building. The building cost was approximately $80,000.

MAY 1969

SEPTEMBER 1977 Construction of the second building project, including a new sanctuary and classrooms begins. $500,000 in bonds were sold to finance this expansion.

SEPTEMBER 1993 Construction of the third building project begins, including a new sanctuary, classrooms, and administrative offices. 500+ people regularly attend Lakeside.

JULY 2010 Jamie Snyder officially assumes the role as lead pastor.

Dedication of the third building project. The building cost was approximately $5,000,000.

NOVEMBER 1995 Dedication of the second building project.

NOVEMBER 1979

John Russell retires after forty years of faithful service.

OCTOBER 2010

THEY GAVE THEMSELVES FIRST OF ALL TO THE LORD 8

MAY 2013 Lakeside begins renovation of the former Flickâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Foods grocery store with plans to plant a new campus in Hebron, Kentucky. Total construction cost: $3.5M.

JANUARY 2015 Lakeside begins renovation of the former Hilltop Church of Christ building in Taylor Mill, Kentucky. Total construction cost: $1.8M.

JANUARY 2016 Lakeside reaches record attendance: a combined 3,000 people from all three campuses.

Lakeside becomes a multi-site church by launching a second campus in Hebron, Kentucky.

DECEMBER 2013

Lakeside launches its third campus in Taylor Mill.

NOVEMBER 2015

AND THEN BY THE WILL OF GOD ALSO TO US. 9

CELEBRATING LAKESIDE’S HISTORY...

ALL THE BELIEVERS WERE TOGETHER AND HAD EVERYTHING IN COMMON.

EVERYONE WAS FILLED WITH AWE AT THE MANY WONDERS AND SIGNS PERFORMED BY THE APOSTLES.

... WITH HOPE FOR THE FUTURE 11

WHAT IS EXPONENTIAL? Exponential is a two-year generosity initiative intended to raise the level of generosity among all of us. It is a season where we are being called as a church to encourage the growth happening here at Lakeside. God has done amazing things through Lakeside over the past five decades, and now He is presenting us with quite possibly one of the most life-defining moments we have ever been presented with as a church. We believe God has a vision for Lakeside to be an impact church; a church who transforms the landscape of our community through our church ministries and ministry partners, as well as the landscape of the world through our mission partners.

Generosity is the key to making this transformation happen. But it all begins with us. God is calling us to live lives of extravagant generosity. To be a part of Exponential means to surrender to a lifestyle of generosity. Throughout the next two years, we hope to become a more generous church altogether; a church filled with generous individuals and families. Wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t you join us and consider what it might look like for your life if you decided to embrace a radical generosity; a generosity that makes an impact for Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s kingdom; a generosity we can all participate in at various levels.

JOIN US AS WE LIVE AN EXPONENTIAL LIFE 12

Over the next two years, we will be on a mission to increase our generosity individually to make an exponential impact as a church. This impact will be seen and felt by those who engage in our various ministries in our church, community, and around the world. Plus, this will put us in a position to explore and consider future growth as a church. The primary areas of impact over the next two years are:

EXPONENTIAL INVESTMENT IN OUR VISION Lakeside’s vision seeks to provide appropriate resources for our internal and external ministry efforts. An increase in generosity among Lakesiders will enable us to increase our ministry efforts as well as renovate outdated ministry spaces, including our children’s ministry, worship auditorium, and main lobby spaces at the Lakeside Park campus.

EXPONENTIAL GROWTH IN OUR COMMUNITY Multiplication is a passionate Lakeside value. From 2013 to 2015 Lakeside grew from one to three campuses in Northern Kentucky. Lakeside’s goal is to reduce the debt associated with this campus expansion, strategically positioning and preparing us for future expansion opportunities.

EXPONENTIAL INFLUENCE IN OUR WORLD Lakeside helps spread the influence of Jesus through the efforts of our local and global outreach partners. Currently, Lakeside supports a wide range of organizations from those that provide food and clothing to those that bring respite to broken women, as well as global partners serving Muslim and Hindu nations. We desire to increase that influence substantially through a new and exciting opportunity with Missions of Hope International (MOHI). During the next two years we are funneling our generosity into one single fund that includes all of our ministry efforts. General fund, missions support, campus renovation, debt reduction – it’s all in one fund and for one reason: to help us love Jesus and love like Jesus!

The following pages will explain these categories in greater detail.

INVESTMENT IN OUR VISION Exponential will enable us to increase our general operations efforts as well as renovate outdated ministry spaces. GENERAL OPERATIONS ($4M): Lakeside’s general operations include the funding of our children, student, and adult ministries, as well as the facilities and staff needed to run these ministries. An increase in generosity will allow us to increase our investment in these areas. RENOVATIONS ($2M): The Lakeside Park campus renovation will touch every area of the building, but in particular, there is an increasing need to update and make improvements in the following three areas: 1. CHILDREN’S MINISTRY Lakeside Kids is a thriving ministry with a core group of almost 700 children attending regularly. From preschool through elementary, Lakeside Kids draws on the elements of wonder, discovery, and passion to teach the children. We want each child to have fun, experience community, and most importantly learn about Jesus and how to live more like Him. At Lakeside, and more importantly, to Jesus, children are of the highest priority. Therefore, our intention is to create a new and improved children’s ministry area that matches up with our high commitment to, and love for, children and their families. 2. WORSHIP AUDITORIUM The Lakeside Park worship auditorium was completed in 1995. During the last 20 years the space has played a crucial role in this ministry, allowing for tens of thousands of people to gather for worship experiences, teaching, and most importantly, the meal of communion. Now entering its third decade of existence there is significant need for update and improvement, especially in regards to audio and visual capabilities. As a multi-site church we now rely heavily on the ability to capture and broadcast video teaching.

Therefore, there are some significant modifications that need to be made to the room to allow us to do so to the very best of our ability. In addition, as we transform the room we will update seating, from worn out pews, to nice, new theater seating. 3. LOBBY The lobby space needs to be improved aesthetically, but also expanded. So in addition to new carpet, new lighting, and new paint, we will also be expanding the lobby out underneath the current portico. This expansion effort will create more space to help facilitate our growing congregation.

TOTAL TWO-YEAR GOAL: $6M AREAS OF NEEDED RENOVATION:

UPPER LEVEL RENOVATIONS LAKESIDE PARK CAMPUS

SOUND BOOTH MOVED TO THE FIRST FLOOR

NEW INFO CENTER PLUS: AUDITORIUM TO RECEIVE NEW SEATING

NEW COFFEE AREA NEW VESTIBULE EXPANDED SEATING

EXPANDED STUDENT LOBBY

In addition to these floor plan changes noted above, all areas are scheduled to receive new flooring and paint. Some areas will receive new doors and lighting upgrades as needed. Several rooms throughout will receive audio, visual and lighting upgrades. The auditorium will receive new projectors, screens and lighting. Scope of project subject to change as new information is obtained.

LOWER LEVEL RENOVATIONS LAKESIDE PARK CAMPUS

LARGER HUB/MULTIPURPOSE ROOM FOR ELEMENTARY

GROWTH IN OUR COMMUNITY One of Lakesideâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s five core values is multiplication. When we talk about multiplication, we are talking in terms of multiplying individuals who make the decision to follow Jesus. However, our commitment to multiply Jesus followers has also caused us to choose a strategy that involves multiplication of campus locations. In 2013, Lakeside grew from one campus to two, and then to three campuses in 2015. The development of the Hebron and Taylor Mill campuses has significantly increased our presence and potential in Northern Kentucky, already allowing us to reach more than 1,000 additional people. HEBRON CAMPUS In December 2013, Lakeside officially became a multi-campus church when we developed a campus in Hebron. Within the first two years of opening, the Hebron location has grown to almost 800. TAYLOR MILL In November 2015, Lakeside launched its third campus in Taylor Mill. In the first three months this campus has developed an average attendance of almost 500. Reducing the current debt associated with campus expansion strategically positions and prepares us for growth within our existing campuses, as well as, future expansion opportunities.

TOTAL TWO-YEAR GOAL: $1.6M

LAKESIDE PARK CAMPUS

TAYLOR MILL CAMPUS

HEBRON CAMPUS 21

INFLUENCE IN OUR WORLD Lakeside helps spread the influence of Jesus through the efforts of our local and global outreach partners. Currently, Lakeside supports a wide range of organizations from those that provide food and clothing to those that bring respite to broken women, as well as global partners serving Muslim and Hindu nations. Highlighted below are only a few of these local and global organizations. LOCAL Action Ministries is an all-volunteer food pantry serving low-income families, school-aged children, and senior citizens. They provide for their physical needs, striving to make God’s love and concern for them abundantly clear. Master Provisions connects vital resources such as food, clothing, and shelter to people in need–locally, regionally, and globally. They seek to bring the love of Christ, working in conjunction with strategic mission partners in order to support evangelism and church growth. Revive exists to bring life and love to oppressed and broken women of our community on behalf of Jesus. Volunteers provide transportation, cook meals, and build friendships. GLOBAL Christian Missionary Fellowship (CMF) - The members of CMF’s Kenya Catalyst team (KCAT) work in partnership with Community Christian Church (CCC), the indigenous church planted and discipled by CMF missionaries among the Turkana and Maasai since 1977. CCC now numbers more than 10,000 believers in more than 160 congregations spread over seven counties across Kenya. KCAT envisions a Christ-centered church led by spiritually mature national disciples, actively crossing barriers from faith to nonfaith, including leadership training, literacy and English as a second language, water projects and community gardening, aquaponics, materials production and curriculum development, community health evangelism training, church building construction, child sponsorship, and medical clinics. Christian Arabic Services is focused on the reestablishment and growth of the Christian Church in Muslim Egypt. The areas of focus include constructing an 22

education building in Cairo, providing education programs for leaders and teachers from Egypt and the six other Arabic countries, providing womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ministries for Christian women in Muslim countries, providing teachers and reading materials to illiterate villagers, reestablishing churches in rural areas of Greater Cairo, and translating Christian materials into modern Arabic. Northwest Haiti Christian Mission serves the people of the Northwest region of Haiti by partnering with churches to bring the people in this region out of spiritual, physical, and social poverty. This is done through a diverse collection of programs that include primary schools, feeding projects, orphanages, medical clinics, church planting, a Bible college, and agricultural development. Lakeside supports the village of LaComa and sends a group of students and adult volunteers each year. Missions of Hope International is a new partner for Lakeside. See pages 24-27 for more information.

TOTAL TWO-YEAR GOAL: $2.4M pictured: Community Christian Church

OUR NEWEST PARTNER

MISSIONS OF HOPE INTERNATIONAL (MOHI)

In 1992 a university student named Mary Kamau first stepped foot into the Mathare Valley, a slum in Nairobi, Kenya of about 800,000 people. She was horrified. She saw and smelled open sewers. There were children wandering, aimless and unattended, left to themselves for the day or, in many cases, permanently. Mary began ministering to children in a Mathare church. She met and married Wallace, a young man who was also ministering to churches in the valley. In 2000, they opened a school for the most desperate children. They identified and enrolled 50 four- and five-year-old children, and they began working with families to make health improvements in their homes. Since that time, MOHI has exploded with growth in both facilities and programs.

THERE ARE NOW... 16 schools 13,000 students 80% of the eighth graders from MOHI schools passing the national high school entrance exam (national average is 40%) 14 Outreach Hope churches 2 major medical clinics more than 50 U.S. churches that have committed to a long-term relationship, partnering with a specific community in the Nairobi slums

HOW LAKESIDE WILL HELP MOHI In January 2011, MOHI opened a boyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s high school in an area outside of the city named Joska. It opened with 70 students. This school provides secondary schooling, preparing students from the slums of Nairobi for university. Today, the Joska Boys School has 764 students including children in a primary school opened for the neighboring communities. 230 high school boys are enrolled at the school. The center employs 55 people including teachers, social workers, spiritual trainers, and a nurse. The Joska Boys School provides a conducive learning environment fostering excellence in both academics and personal standards. Eric Munene is a student at Joska. Last year, he attended a different high school, where he sat for his Kenyan state exams for entrance to university. Eric did not earn a sufficient score for direct admission to university. He was extremely discouraged and considered giving up on pursuing further education. However, MOHI worked with Ericâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s guardian and high school administrators to allow him to retake his twelfth grade year at the Joska High School. Currently Eric is doing very well in his studies, consistently scoring high marks on several practice tests for

the state exams that will be administered at the end of this year. Eric plans to study medicine after he passes his state exams. The Joska Boys School also cultivates an environment of spiritual growth among its students. This past term, 125 students accepted Christ as their Lord and Savior. One new believer is seventh-grade student named Ishmael. Ishmael, a practicing Muslim, joined the Joska Boys School last year. After a local pastor and a MOHI discipleship officer began sharing the Gospel with him, Ishmael accepted Christ and was baptized. Lakeside Christian Church, in partnership with Franklin Christian Church in Tennessee, plans to build the Joska Boys Schoolâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first permanent facility. This modern learning facility will provide the space for 40 classrooms and hold up to 1600 students. MOHI has plans to add chemistry, biology, and computer laboratories, workshops for engineering and carpentry, a library, administrative offices, and an assembly hall. Lakeside is beyond excited to partner with MOHI, helping bring the Kingdom of God to the Joska Boys School. This partnership beautifully exemplifies an exponential generosity that will substantially impact our world.

YOUR EXPONENTIAL ROLE - MAKING A COMMITMENT Imagine if we were all together on this generosity journey. Imagine what could happen when thousands of believers who call Lakeside Christian Church their home join together to spiritually impact our city and our world. Imagine what this generosity journey would do in you. We all have a role in the future of our church! GENERATIONS HAVE GONE BEFORE US. NOW IT IS OUR TIME. We are all at different places and we value each person taking the next step up in his or her spiritual journey of generosity as a disciple of Jesus. Where are you now, and where is God calling you?

STEPS IN THE GENEROSITY JOURNEY

LIFETIME

Determine how God might be calling you to grow in your generosity to be part of our expanded investment in God’s Kingdom through Exponential.

Join us for worship services over the next four weeks.

Participate fully in a small group experience.

I’ve decided to make giving an intentional part of my life.

Interact with daily reflection questions in the back of this booklet.

I’ve decided to make my giving to Lakeside consistent.

Join together in prayer as a church during this defining time.

I’ve decided to think of my giving from a long-term lifetime perspective.

SACRIFICIAL

INTENTIONAL

I’ve decided to sacrifice in other areas of my life to give to God.

CONSISTENT

INITIAL

*ADAPTED FROM NELSON SEARCY 28

OVER THE NEXT 4 WEEKS, WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO:

I’ve decided to give to Lakeside for the first time.

Let’s join together as a church and see what exponential things God can do in us and through us when we join together in His mighty and powerful name!

SAMPLE COMMITMENT CARD > This sample commitment card can be used as a worksheet as you consider your commitment to Exponential.

GIFT CHART The chart below represents the generosity needed to reach our two-year Exponential goal.

As you prayerfully consider your life and how God is calling you to grow in exponential ways, use these tools to think about your commitment. Ask Him to make it clear. Ask Him to help you. We encourage you to pray and to expect Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s blessings when you follow His lead.

GIVING SCENARIOS Each of us embarks on the generosity journey at a different starting point. Here are a few hypothetical situations that may be similar to the one in which you find yourself. Each example below illustrates how an individual or family can take the next step on the generosity journey, and how the Exponential commitment card could be completed accordingly. Which giving scenario below fits you best?

INITIAL GIVER 0 2,500 2,500

5,000 500

Michael is a new believer and has never given before. He is now starting several spiritual disciplines, including generosity. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a huge step of faith, but Michael plans to commit 5% of his $50,000 income ($2,500) each year, plus $500 from his savings, for a total two-year contribution of $5,500 to the Exponential initiative.

5,500

CONSISTENT GIVER 500 1,250 1,750

3,500 500 4,000

Jennifer has recently witnessed radical changes in peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lives through the ministry of the church. So far, she has been giving casually, if she has extra cash on hand during offering time. However, she now feels led to become more consistent in her giving. Her plan is to increase her usual annual giving of $500 by $1,250, bringing her to $1,750 a year, or 5% of her $35,000 income. With the addition of $500 from a vacation savings fund, in two years she will have given $4,000 to the Exponential initiative.

INTENTIONAL GIVER 6,000 6,000 12,000

24,000 2,000 26,000

Paul and Rebecca have given consistently to the church at a steady 5%. With a combined income of $120,000, they contribute $6,000 each year. Exponential, however, has prompted them to tithe a full 10%. It will require some lifestyle adjustments to give $12,000 a year, but they know it’s what God is calling them to do. Also, they’ve been saving for a boat but have decided to give the $2,000 in that account as well. They are now planning to give $26,000 to the church over the next two years.

SACRIFICIAL GIVER 7,000 1,400 8,400

16,800 2,000 18,800

Anthony developed the discipline of tithing years ago and has seen God’s provision again and again. He feels blessed to be at a church that shares his passion for missions and helping those in need. Anthony will increase his giving percentage from 10% to 12% of his annual income of $70,000, or $8,400 a year. Over two years, with the addition of $2,000 from the sale of a motorcycle, he looks forward to giving $18,800 to the Exponential initiative.

LIFETIME GIVER 13,500 1,500 15,000

30,000 10,000 40,000

Judith loves to give of her time, talents, and resources. She has given 15% of her $90,000 income ($13,500) to the church in recent years, but is inspired to increase the annual amount to $15,000. A company she invested in years ago is no longer of interest to her, so she is arranging to transfer those shares to the church. Judith can’t wait to give $40,000 to the Exponential initiative! (Contact NAME at NUMBER to discuss tax-efficient ways to give gifts of stocks and other securities.) 31

CREATIVE WAYS TO GIVE Generosity initiatives rely on church members making gifts that expand and accelerate their current level of giving. The best path to increased giving is the spiritual path where you set your heart on things above. Financial priorities then take shape from the spiritual priorities. One way of defining this is “Lifestyle Generosity” - a term used to describe a level of giving that affects one’s living. The challenge of this lifestyle of stewardship is to find ways, boldly and prayerfully, to let your giving touch your living! When teaching God’s people about what to bring when coming to worship on the Passover, Moses commanded them: “Never come before the Lord empty-handed” (Exodus 23:15). From the very beginning, God has been trying to cultivate a culture of generosity among His people. King David declared, “I will not sacrifice to the Lord my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing” (2 Samuel 24:24). David understood the gift that would touch the heart of God must first touch the heart of the giver! This is the spirit of lifestyle generosity: if it is for my God, my gift must have value and meaning to me. Often, lifestyle generosity means giving up something in one area so that you can give more of yourself in another. The three keys to effectiveness in this lifestyle are:

REASSESS LIFESTYLE REARRANGE PRIORITIES REALLOCATE RESOURCES 32

Many believers are amazed at their ability to give more generously to their church. The following seven steps are offered to help you in this regard: 1. PRACTICE PRIORITY BUDGETING Many families will choose to rearrange their priorities and give up something in their current budget in order to give more to a generosity initiative. Priority budgeting may mean postponing a planned expenditure such as a new car, vacation, home remodeling, or other major purchase. Many Christians giving to generosity initiatives find a way to give through sacrificial commitments made in faith and coupled with priority budgeting. 2. REDIRECT PRESENT EXPENDITURES Often, families have significant short-term expenditures for special needs. One example is the large expenditure a family incurs for a child to attend college. One family realized that their daughters would be graduating from college during the two years of the generosity initiative and, as a result, they were able to increase their commitment to the second year of the initiative by thousands of dollars through giving what they had been spending on their daughters’ tuition. Another example would be the cash flow that is freed up when a loan is paid off. 3. INCREASED GIVING WITH INCREASED INCOME Some people receive periodic increases in salary or bonuses from their employers. The temptation for many of us is to simply increase our lifestyle to fit the higher income. However, in many instances families have decided that they will commit the full amount of salary increases to generosity initiatives. 4. GIVE FROM YOUR EXCESS A young man decided that two collectors’ baseball cards worth over $5,000 he had been holding for a number of years would be the most appropriate sacrifice for his family. Some families save money over a period of years for a special project. A couple had saved $80,000 to build a lake cabin. When their church entered a generosity initiative, they decided the needs of the church were greater than their need for a second home. 5. COMMIT UNEXPECTED CASH Often, people pray for God to show them a way they can give beyond what they can presently see or afford. Sometimes, the answers come unexpectedly. One couple had been praying for weeks about their commitment to the church’s generosity initiative. Much to their surprise, they received an inheritance of several thousand dollars. They chose to give the entire amount to their church as part of their two-year commitment, in addition to a commitment from their regular income.

6. SACRIFICE YOUR EXTRA TIME Some family members have extra time they would be willing to use in a parttime job to be able to give more to the church. This is particularly true for families whose children are grown and away from home and for semi-retired or retired couples. A man was in the process of retiring when his church entered a generosity initiative. He and his wife secured new jobs and gave the first two years of their retirement income to the church. 7. DONATE APPRECIATED ASSETS Many people own stocks that are worth significantly more than the original purchase price. That is good news. The bad news is that if these stocks are sold, a significant portion of the gain would be lost to taxation. Gifts of appreciated assets â&#x20AC;&#x201C; typically investment securities or real estate â&#x20AC;&#x201C; can be donated with significant advantage to both the donor and to the church. By transferring ownership of the asset to the church, the donor avoids capital gains taxes on the sale of the asset. In addition, the donor receives an income tax charitable deduction for the full market value of the asset. That, in effect, makes these gifts less costly to make. SELL ASSET AND GIFT NET PROCEEDS

GIVE ASSET DIRECTLY

VALUE OF ASSET

$12,000

ORIGINAL PURCHASE PRICE

$3,000

AMOUNT OF APPRECIATION

$9,000

CAPITAL GAINS TAX*

$2,340

PROCEEDS TO CHURCH

$9,660

$12,000

(asset value minus taxes) *Assumes 12-month holding period, 15% capital gains tax, 6% state income tax rate.

Though it is important to invest your giving to further the mission of the ministry God has laid on your heart, it is also important to consider the tax implications of making a gift to the church. Before making a commitment of this type, please consult your CPA, tax attorney or other financial advisor. 34

A FINAL WORD ON CREATIVE GIVING Giving does not have to be in equal increments over the two-year period of Exponential. You might be able to give more in the second year than in the first. As you think about your financial commitment to the initiative, consider not only your potential to give right now, but also your potential to give in the future. You might be able to make a two-year commitment in which 35-40 percent is given in the first year, and 60-65 percent is given in the second year. Finally, as you consider your financial commitment to the Lordâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s work, you might want to consider estate planning. Many sincere, committed Christian people have not made provision for God in their wills and estate planning. Now might be a good time to do that. It might be as simple as including a provision in your will that 10 percent of the value of your estate will be donated to the church holding your letter of membership at the time of your passing. Or, it could involve a planned gift such as a charitable remainder trust. While such gifts may not provide immediate financial benefit to Exponential, they are marvelous gifts of a faith commitment to carry on the work of the church for future generations.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS What are we going to do with the Turkeyfoot property? Our Turkeyfoot property is a very valuable asset and we are in the process of selling it. In fact, at the time of this publication we have reason to be hopeful that a successful sale is in the near future. Upon the sale of the property the funds will be used to accelerate our mission to Love Jesus and Love Like Jesus.

How much debt does our church have now? Will this initiative get rid of our debt? Currently, the church debt is approximately $5.3 million. When we meet our Exponential goal, $1.6M is allocated to paying down some of the debt to position us for the future.

Are we supporting any local missions with this money? Yes, We currently support numerous local missions and we will continue to do so as our overall level of generosity grows. To learn more about all of our ministry partners, both local and global, visit our website lakeside.org.

Why would I want to give extra money for a building that I no longer attend? We are one church with multiple locations. All locations are impacted by Exponential as it includes ongoing ministry support, funding for previous renovations, and future enhancements. Our mission is to love Jesus and love like Jesus. In all, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s less about us, and more about those we are striving to reach.

How will all of this financial investment enhance our spiritual growth? Any investment into Lakeside, whether with resources or time volunteered, significantly contributes to the success of the overall mission of Lakeside. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re blessed that God is using Lakeside to bring an abundance of life change. Financial investment in Lakeside allows us to provide

programming that equips, sends, and supports our members to love Jesus and love like Jesus.

How soon will we have a 4th campus? Where? Though we absolutely intend to launch an additional campus, at this time there are no firm plans or timelines in place. As soon as any decisions are made we will share the good news with the entire congregation.

How soon will the Lakeside Park Campus be renovated? Renovation will begin early summer and will be nearing completion approximately 7-9 months later.

Why has Missions of Hope International been chosen to be the partnership we support in this initiative? As a church we have multiple mission partners, both local and global. The size, scale, scope, and future vision of Missions of Hope allows the opportunity for a long-term, meaningful partnership. This partnership will pay huge kingdom dividends not only in Kenya, but also within the Lakeside family.

What happens if we raise more than $10 million? We are praying for that very thing to happen in Exponential! Our leadership team will work to determine allocation of additional funds to the funding priorities we have established within the vision for Exponential. Just imagine the impact that can occur when we all choose to live a life of radical generosity. Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s do this, Lakeside!

OUR FIRST EXPONENTIAL STEPS Mark your calendars and plan to attend two important dates on your generosity journey!

1. COMMITMENT SUNDAY - MAY 22

On this Sunday, we will collect our Exponential commitments. At this point in the journey, generosity moves from a concept to a commitment that requires crucial decisions and sacrifice. Commitment Sunday is the place these decisions and sacrifices become real. We encourage you to take the next four weeks praying and being challenged to take this step into your Exponential journey. Be encouraged! You wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t do this alone. Many Lakesiders are committed to taking this journey alongside of you. See you on the 22nd!

BIG GIVE - JUNE 5 2. FIRST On this day, the first of our generous monthly commitments will be collected together as a whole church. In addition, we will announce our total Exponential commitments and celebrate what God has done in each of our lives up to this point. If you are committing stored resources or savings, you are encouraged to give these on this day as well in order to accelerate the vision God has for Lakeside Christian Church. Others may choose to accelerate current giving by offering more than usual on this date to help kick-start our initiative in an exponential way.

Allow it to sink in... We know this booklet contains a lot of information that might seem overwhelming. If that’s the case with you, don’t worry! There will be time to absorb and digest this information in the following few weeks. In fact, for the next four weeks Lakeside is dedicated to discussing generosity and the Exponential initiative to help it all sink in. To help with processing this information, the remainder of this booklet provides ample space to take notes from each sermon, record insights invoked by daily reflection questions, talk to God with suggested prayers, and preview the next Sunday sermon’s message. Our hope is that during this Exponential month we will gain the clarity needed to embrace what it means to live a life of generosity.

LET’S GET STARTED!

WEEK 1 APRIL 24 | FLASHBACK

WRITE IT DOWN | LIVE IT OUT 40

DAILY REFLECTION MONDAY Why would I want to live a life defined by exponential generosity to God and others?

TUESDAY Why wouldn’t I want to live a life defined by exponential generosity to God and others?

WEDNESDAY We’re halfway through the week. Take a look at your notes or watch the “Flashback” message again online (lakeside.org/sermons). Is there anything Jamie said that resonates with you personally?

THURSDAY Prayer - Remember the generosity ladder Jamie spoke about in the “Flashback” message? Envision which rung of the ladder you find yourself (see pg. 28). Take a minute and pray for God’s guidance and your position on the ladder. FRIDAY Prayer - Take some time to pray for the investment in Lakeside’s vision. If you need help with vision specifics see pages 14-15. SATURDAY Prepare For Sunday. Many of us show up to church rushed and unprepared to worship. Read Psalm 24:1. Spend some time preparing your heart for worship and pray for Jamie and his message on the subject of “Ownership.”

WEEK 2 MAY 1 | OWNERSHIP

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DAILY REFLECTION MONDAY: Am I willing to do what it takes to grow up in my generosity?

TUESDAY: If it’s not mine, but His…how much will I give? How much will I keep?

WEDNESDAY: We’re halfway through the week. Take a look at your notes or watch the “Ownership” message again online (lakeside.org/sermons). Is there anything Jamie said that resonates with you personally?

THURSDAY: In what areas of your time and/or resources do you keep a tight grip? Ask God to shed some light on those areas to help loosen your hold. (See pages 32-35, “Creative Ways to Give”)

FRIDAY: Take some time to pray for growth in Lakeside’s community. If you need help with specifics, see pages 20-21. SATURDAY: Prepare For Sunday. Read Matthew 6:21. Pray that God would make your heart receptive for Jamie’s “Heart-to-Heart” message tomorrow.

WEEK 3 MAY 8 | HEART-TO-HEART TALK

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DAILY REFLECTION MONDAY Is my heart really where I think it is?

TUESDAY Am I following through with what it takes to grow up in my generosity?

WEDNESDAY: We’re halfway through the week. Take a look at your notes or watch the “Heartto-Heart Talk” message again online (lakeside.org/sermons). Is there anything Jamie said that resonates with you personally?

THURSDAY What treasures in your life hinder generosity? What treasures encourage generosity? Pray God will help you know the difference.

FRIDAY Take some time to pray for Lakeside’s influence in our world. If you need help with specifics, see pages 22-27. SATURDAY Prepare For Sunday. Read Luke 12:13-21. Take some time to pray for Jamie and his sermon “Living Backwards,” the worship teams, children and student ministries, and the 525+ volunteers who all work together to create a meaningful worship experience.

WEEK 4 MAY 15 | LIVING BACKWARDS

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DAILY REFLECTION MONDAY What kind of life do I need to live?

TUESDAY What would I want Jesus to say about my life in the end?

WEDNESDAY We’re halfway through the week. Take a look at your notes or watch the “Living Backwards” message again online (lakeside.org/sermons). Is there anything Jamie said that resonates with you personally?

THURSDAY What have you stored up in your life? Can some of that storage transfer to generosity? Ask God to help you trust Him instead of stored resources for your well-being.

FRIDAY Take some time to pray for the impact the Exponential initiative will have on Lakeside and beyond. SATURDAY Prepare For Sunday. Tomorrow is Commitment Sunday. Don’t forget to bring your commitment card and mirror. Continue to pray for God’s guidance as we journey toward an Exponential generosity.

THE EARTH IS THE LORD’S, AND EVERYTHING IN IT, THE WORLD, AND ALL WHO LIVE IN IT.

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