2020 Mid-Year Report

We will be the church that does everything in its power to let the next

generation know the Lord and what HE has done for us.

Title

Mid-Year Report

Does it Matter?

Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the the throne, and to the Lamb. Revelation 7:9-10

We will not hide them from their children; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the LORD, his power, and the wonders he has done. Psalm 78:4

Our work matters because we know the day will come when every human who ever lived will stand in God’s presence and their home for eternity determined.

Tim Niekerk Senior Pastor

Does it matter?

By any standard, 2020 is a year of extremes. From pandemics to (un)civil unrest to a seeming drought of common sense, this year will be a watershed for social issues and popular culture. Humanity is in a turmoil seeking a cure for a disease, accountability for injustice and a return to a predictable ebb and flow of life.

While the world seems to be driven by fear and uncertainty, the challenge to the Church is to stay immersed in God’s Word and connected to Jesus. Even today, as our familiar ministry time together is spent apart, we continue to serve.

As Christ followers, we are assured a place in Heaven for eternity, not because we did righteous things but because Jesus imparts His righteousness to us through faith. With God’s gracious heart beating within us, we live to see all people share an eternity where injustice, illness and inequity are no more.

Our call to make Jesus’ saving work real in all lives provides all we need to know our ministry empowered by God’s Holy Spirit matters.

While the months ahead will call for continued adaptation in our events and calendars, our staff will continue to turn obstacles into greater occasions for serving. And while the world waits for news of a life saving cure from a virus, I know our Salem family will continue to boldly share the news of an eternal life-saving God.

WO R S H I P Stan Nelson, Director of Worship

Does our worship matter?

Absolutely!

“Worship matters because worship is what we were created to do.”

Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. Psalm 63:3

Our Salem School Christmas program this past December would likely be included on a Salem ‘top ten’ list. God’s Spirit used the collaboration, the patience and the diligent effort of all involved to glorify God and make Jesus real for hundreds. I left determined to lead our worship teams so our Sunday morning times together might open eyes wider to God’s splendor and majesty.

Within weeks a virus tarnished the thought of grand gatherings for worship. However, limitations to our worship together led us to innovate with lighting, setting and camera angles, providing more of the ‘in-person’ experience for our Salem family and off-campus guests.

The suspension of larger gatherings may leave our need and desire for community unfulfilled, but it does not diminish the Spirit’s ability to lead us to deeper intimacy with God in a

less traditional setting. Giving God “the glory due His name” is possible as readily in a living room with our family as it is in a sanctuary.

Worship matters because worship is what we were created to do.

When our children learn by our example to honor God above all else, we affirm His gracious and just character. From His character all mankind is endowed with value and worth. And it is from His character God redeemed a broken mankind through Jesus. Sincere worship moves us and the next generation to live beyond today so we can serve mankind, near and far, with our eyes on eternity.

S T U D E N T M I N I S T RY Tyler Tollefson, Student Ministry Director

Does student ministry matter?

As the new Student Ministry Director, I believe with all my heart equipping students with the experiences and resources they need to live as faithful disciples of Jesus matters.

Adolescence is a life stage where establishing an identity independent from their parents is not just the desire of every teenager, but an important need.

Leaving childhood behind and looking ahead to adult life is exciting and frightening. Testing limits, challenging authority, and questioning values is normal

“I am most excited when students discover how God has created them to be unique.”

behavior for the emerging adult.

My role in student ministry is to serve students and parents as they develop strategies for placing all the pieces of the puzzle in the context of a relationship with Jesus and a love for God’s word.

I am most excited when students discover how God has created them to be unique (just like everybody else!) and has gifted them with passions and interests perfectly suited to serve God and others.

God has given me an outgoing personality capable of relating

with just about all students. I love the outdoors and build ministry activities based on students’ interests.

My wife, Gentri, and I along with our three daughters are thrilled to make Texas and Salem our homes.

We are confident God has led us to Salem to make a difference in a very distinctive generation of young believers.

Yet I will remember the covenant I made with you in the days of your youth, and I will establish an everlasting covenant with you.

Ezekiel 16:60

C O M M U N I C AT I O N S Steve Perkins, Director of Communications

Does communication ministry matter?

Communication in ministry is more than signs, billboards, logos, newsletters and social media posts.

Signs and billboards don’t invite. Our Salem family invites and encourages our family, neighbors and friends to build lives centered on God’s grace to us through Jesus.

Salem’s Comm Team serves to uphold Salem’s mission of making Jesus real ONE life at a time to our members.

With a clear mission, Salem families are invested to discover, connect in and impact relationships as God’s Spirit calls people into an authentic relationship with Jesus.

Our communication services matter!

Director of Communications. Steve most recently served as Director of Enrollment Marketing and Communications at Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, Texas, and arrives on staff with an extensive professional background in marketing, advertising and graphic design in both the church and business sectors.

Steve and his wife, Pati, have three sons and five grandchildren.

Both Steve and Pati are passionate about their faith, spreading the Word of God and enjoying the abundant blessings of our gracious God.

To lead our efforts enabling members to be our best resource, we welcome Mr. Steve Perkins to Salem’s staff as The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, “We have found the Messiah” (that is, the Christ). And he brought him to Jesus. John 1:41-42

“Effective communication builds trust and trust is the foundation of any relationship.”

C H I L D R E N A N D S T U D E N T M I N I S T RY Amanda Talbot, Director of Children’s Ministry Arleah Talbott, Associate Director of Student Ministry

“The importance of speaking blessing and truth over our families’ lives should never be underestimated.”

Does family ministry matter?

To Amanda Talbot and Arleah Talbott equipping families and students with resources designed to promote discipleship self-sufficiency was key to serving in this pandemic.

Since most of Salem’s normal gatherings for children and students have been suspended until further notice, online and social media platforms are valuable tools for adapting resources for families and students to use at home. Vacation Bible School Online, Zoom Meeting

Bingo and weekly student studies all helped maintain critical connections to Salem.

Both Amanda and Arleah are encouraged by seeing an increase in the number of students using their Bible app for study and prayer time, and dads being more accessible to families as leaders in discipleship and prayer. Prayer is essential for our children and families to grow. The importance of speaking blessing and truth

over our families’ lives should never be underestimated.

Prayer is powerful and His words are true.

These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Deuteronomy 6:6-7

CHURCH ONLINE Joey Bluege, Church Online Pastor

Does Church Online matter?

Does Church Online matter? We’re often unaware of when God uses one season in our lives to prepare us for greater service in another. Salem’s Church Online was our only worship

“The Internet is one more illustration of the wonders of Creation.

It is more sophisticated than anything before but only a shadow of wonders yet to be seen by us.”

venue in the ‘shutdown’ months of the pandemic. Many of our Salem family continue to rely on our online presence, as in-person attendance is still not recommended for some.

Online ministry matters because there is a world beyond our walls still waiting to hear the gospel message of grace in Christ Jesus.

If we’ve been raised in the church, we often take for granted the blessings of our faith. Using any online venue, including social media platforms, broadens our mission horizons beyond our imagination.

These may be my last words to our Salem family as one of Salem’s pastors. By the time you read this, I will have begun the next chapter of my life completing my seminary training in Saint Louis. My few years at Salem have clearly deepened my heart to serve God’s people and Catherine and I offer our deepest gratitude to our Salem family for the love and support shown to us in our days together.

“My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the LORD. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine…” It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it. Isaiah 55:8,11

B U S I N E S S A N D M I N I S T RY Brett Bortnem, Executive Director

Does ministry management matter?

Joseph is one biblical example of faithfulness and responsible management. Under God’s grace, Joseph brought Egypt through seven years of unparalleled famine by managing well in the seven years of bounty. Similarly, under God’s grace, Salem has been blessed with years of conscientious management preparing us for dealing with our present challenges.

Greater efficiencies in campus infrastructure and responsible stewardship by staff and members

But be sure that everything is done properly and in order.

1 Corinthians 14:40

have allowed us to continue serving our families and community in the face of threatening conditions.

Most encouraging of all is the robust participation by our members in worship. On campus attendance and the number of online devices each week has remained strong indicating we value the blessings of worship.

The increase in the number of Salem’s families committing to financial support of ministry and the use of cost effective online giving has

“Most encouraging of all is the robust participation by our members in worship.”

been another significant blessing these past months. Our fiscal year end figures are evidence our Salem family recognizes strong management matters as we continue to serve our mission of making Jesus real even in the midst of a pandemic.

FA C T S A N D F I G U R E S

Your support makes ministry matter!

Authentic Christian stewardship is the skillful use of God’s abundance to fulfill His purposes. Our diligent use of God’s gifts at church and in our homes allows us to show the world the best life is truly found only when we are of one heart and mind with our Creator.

Despite restrictions on familiar activity, your participation in ministry was as strong as ever.

Total worship attendance, online Bible study and alternate big events like “You’ve Been Egged!” and online VBS drew exemplary numbers and compassionate outreach to neighbors in need hardly missed a beat!

Our Salem School opened its doors to over 330 students, the vast majority in classrooms for daily Christian education. Salem Early Childhood continues to operate at maximum capacity under CDC guidelines and Alodia Sports

Academy conducted summer camps and activities with scores of excited young athletes.

As a result of God’s people at Salem trusting God’s promises, the last half of fiscal year 2019-2020 revealed again God’s faithfulness. In a season of uncertainty and confusion, your financial investments in ministry remained strong. Coupled with staff monitoring expenses carefully, our entire organization finished the fiscal year with approximately $54,000 more income than projected.

God is glorified when we react to life’s disruptions with confidence.

We look forward to the year ahead, eager to continue our service to God and others with enthusiasm, hope and joy!

“God is glorified when we react to life’s disruptions with confidence.”

You crown the year with your bounty, and your carts overflow with abundance. Psalm 65:11

93

$1.14M$1.13M 1,0271,027 274 274 693 693 1,9661,966$6.15M $6.15M$1.14M $1.13M $1.14M 1,966 $6.15M $1.13M

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Mission Mission & & ChurchChurch Worship Worship Worship WorshipChurch ChurchMinistry Ministry Ministry Ministry Mission & Personnel Church Ministry Ministry Online Online Center CenterMinistry Center CenterMinistry Online Online Personnel Operations Operations Ministry Online Personnel Operations Pre-COVID Pre-COVID Pre-COVID Pre-COVID Post-COVID Post-COVID Post-COVID Post-COVID

COVID

Post-COVID

$3.47M

$375K

$4.68M

$375K$4.68M $650K $3.47M $3.47M$375K $4.68M$650K $650K Even with all of the uncertainty surrounding the past six months, our congregation’s giving has remained very strong, our staff has held back on expenses and this has helped us as an entire organization finish the fiscal year with approximately $54,000 more income than projected.

General Giving

Facility Rental & Other Income

School Dedicated Dedicated General GeneralFacility FacilitySchool School Dedicated & & Giving Giving Giving GivingRental Rental & Tuition & Tuition Tuition & Giving OtherOther Fees Fees Fees Income Income

Weekly Worship Total Spending 2019-20 $8.42M Projected Giving and Income

Therefore I will praise you, O LORD, among the nations; I will sing praises to your name.

2 Samuel 22:50

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