In November 2023, we began our two-year NEW LIFE initiative.
Our primary goal has always been to chase what God seeks to do IN us. It has been our prayer that God would till the soil of our lives, faith, and generosity in ways that bear fruit that points people to Him.
Our secondary goal has been about the mission God seeks to advance through Venture. It has been a joy to see His handiwork unfolding before our eyes this past year. We have faith that He will continue to till the soil and reveal to us the harvest!
I am so proud of the faith our church family has shown so far in NEW LIFE, and I am truly anticipating a great continued path on this journey. Please know, I have been praying for YOU, and I’m praying that God is doing an exciting new work IN you!
Praying toward the Harvest,
Pastor Stan
WHAT WE SET OUT TO DO
100% ENGAGEMENT
Our primary goal in NEW LIFE is for everyone who calls Venture home to take a personal journey with us and learn what God has planned for you as it relates to generosity.
MISSION ADVANCEMENT
$7M OVER TWO YEARS
NEW LIFE FOR OTHERS
Two-year goal: $1.65 million
We want to bring NEW LIFE to our community and our world. Locally, we plan to fund things like opportunities for people with disabilities and mental health challenges and to continue to assist those around us who are under-resourced. On a national level, we want to invest in God’s kingdom through church plants. Internationally, we want to bring help and hope to people in Honduras, working with His Eyes as they expand their medical facility.
NEW LIFE FOR NEXT GENERATIONS
Two-year goal: $1.1 million
Our children are the future of the church. This $1.1 million will allow us to improve our outdoor spaces for our kids and students, establish an apprenticeship program, and pay down Venture’s mortgage, so as not to pass that debt to the next generation.
NEW LIFE FOR VENTURE
Two-year goal: $4.25 million
Ongoing ministries and life change happen here. Together, we will continue to invest in God’s kingdom at Venture, funding needs such as our two-year ministry budget, a new groundskeeping building, facility renovations and maintenance, as well as ministry staff growth.
WHAT GOD HAS DONE
Here are snapshots of some of the amazing things God has done.
Welcomed 710 to our Easter Egg Hunt and 997 for Easter Weekend
Hosted 801 neighbors at our eclipse event
Donated $40,000 to Same As U to be used to build an outdoor environment for their students
New Staffing Positions: Community Pastor, Communications Director, and a residency program
30 individuals attended CIY Mix and 69 attended CIY Move, our summer camp for students
$263,000 has been distributed to local and global mission partners and local outreach efforts
Hosted VBS for 587 children (22% increase from 2023)
528 participated in Venture Out Serve Day
WHERE WE ARE GOING
We continue to seek out ways to help our community by providing affordable daycare and mental health support. While these efforts are very complex, we’ve been energized by conversations with other community organizations we hope to partner with.
We plan to host a training in January in partnership with Intentional Churches for up to 12 new church plants. This intensive three-day experience will be followed by months of coaching, ensuring that these new churches all over the country are well-equipped to reach their communities.
We plan to pay down a significant portion of our debt, freeing future generations to fully invest in ministry. Because of your generosity, we will be very close to eliminating our debt. An additional $350,000-$400,000 of NEW LIFE generosity will extinguish it!
We plan to fully open our food pantry, community patios, and sports courts by the end of the year. We intend to provide these places so our community can be served while also feeling welcomed on our campus.
WHAT IS YOUR ROLE
During the last 12 months, God has done amazing things through Venture and throughout the world. He has given us every reason to trust Him, and we respond by honoring Him with our first and our best.
NEW COMMITMENT
You may have recently joined our church family and are wondering, “What is the NEW LIFE Initiative, and how do I become a part of it?” NEW LIFE is for anyone who calls Venture their church home. Our hope is that everyone at Venture will join together, push back the resistance of this world that says “now isn’t the time,” and confidently engage in the next adventure God has for us as we invite more people to connect with Him. We invite you to consider making a 12-month generosity commitment to NEW LIFE.
FINISH STRONG
Others made a commitment one year ago, and perhaps for some of us, this journey has been more difficult than we had envisioned. Maybe you went to a completely new level in your generosity and are still adjusting your life to your commitment. Maybe you have experienced job loss, job change, or unexpected financial expenses. Persevere to finish strong in the journey you began. We all stand together, encouraging one another. We know the Lord is faithful. He will provide, and we want to finish strong in our NEW LIFE commitments.
INCREASE
Some of us made our NEW LIFE commitment one year ago, and it is possible that we have had an increase in faith or finances. Keeping that commitment has not been easy and has likely required a lot of sacrifice. However, you may be sensing the Lord stretching you to take an additional step of faith in your generosity. If that describes you, we challenge you to respond to His generosity by increasing your commitment. Generosity is not a one-time event; it is a journey. Consider asking yourself these questions: Am I still giving in a way that challenges me? Am I still trusting Him? Pray and ask yourself if He is inviting you into another step of faith with an increased commitment.
COMMITMENT CARD EXAMPLE
We’ve included an example so you can begin to pray about your commitment and what that will mean for your journey with God as we approach the midpoint of the NEW LIFE initiative. Please take time to think and pray through this, and we will provide a new hard copy on Commitment Weekend, November 24, 2024.
I AM NEW TO NEW LIFE
I would like to make a 12-month commitment to the NEW LIFE generosity initiative in the amount of:
$
This includes your regular giving over the next 12 months as well as your additional NEW LIFE giving and gifts from your stored resources.
I AM ALREADY COMMITTED TO NEW LIFE
My current two-year commitment is:
$ At the midpoint of NEW LIFE, I would like to:
Confirm my commitment to finish strong.
Increase my two-year commitment to:
$
Name(s)
Email
Phone
THE GIVING JOURNEY
GROWING IN GENEROSITY
Our prayer is that God would help each of us grow in our faith and generosity for the sake of Jesus and his mission. Where do you find yourself on this giving journey?
PRIORITY
GIVER
Matthew 6:19-24
CONSISTENT GIVER
2 Corinthians 8:7
INITIAL GIVER
Matthew 7:24
An Initial Giver is someone who decides to give for the first time, out of a response to God’s Word about giving. This is someone who decides to give something and trust God and the leaders of the church with this gift. They experience the initial joy of putting Jesus’ words into action.
A Consistent Giver is someone who decides to give something and to give it on a consistent basis to exercise the discipline of giving as a disciple of Jesus. Often, someone who decides to make their gift an online recurring gift will be someone who is learning the joy of consistency. Non-online givers can be consistent givers as well, of course; it just requires more discipline. They experience the joy of excelling in this grace of giving.
A Priority Giver is someone who understands the preeminence of Christ and that he is before all things – that all things were created by Him, for Him, through Him, and to Him. This giver places such a significant priority on their giving that it drives their spending and their saving, as opposed to their spending and saving driving their giving. They experience the freedom of serving “one master” and declaring Jesus is first.
SURRENDERED GIVER
Ephesians 5:1-2
A Surrendered Giver is someone who recognizes that Christ surrendered His whole self for us, and, therefore, we desire to surrender our whole selves to Him, in love. This giver would say, “My giving is not just changing my spending and saving. It’s also changing me!” They also look at what they’re not giving away and ask, “Is it surrendered, too?” This informs how they use everything they’ve been blessed and entrusted with – whether that be through direct monetary giving or through a God-honoring use of an existing resource (i.e., honoring God with the use of your home, etc.).
ETERNAL GIVER
1 Timothy 6:19
An Eternal Giver is someone who sees the eternal impact of their giving – on them and on others –not just the immediate programs and ministries it helps accomplish. This giver has been captivated by the knowledge that the more they are led to “do good, to be generous and ready to share,” the more they “take hold of that which is truly life.” This encourages them to keep growing! They make all decisions (big purchases, savings, giving, relationships, areas of service) in light of how it will affect their eternal impact.
IMPORTANT DATES
MARK YOUR CALENDAR!
COMMITMENT SUNDAY
November 24
This is the weekend everyone who calls Venture home will celebrate what God is doing in their life by submitting their NEW LIFE commitment card. This card is for everyone, not just those new to NEW LIFE.
(An example of this card can be found on page 15).
REVEAL + BIG GIVE
December 8
This weekend is an opportunity to give in a BIG way. Whether your gift represents your first gift toward NEW LIFE, a larger percentage of your overall commitment, or the continuation of your NEW LIFE generosity, the Reveal + Big Give weekend will act as a generosity catalyst for year two of NEW LIFE.
