January 27 , 2008

Pastor Jack C. Stepp

Together Advance the Mission" Letter

Dear Folks,

Over the last few weeks you have heard about "Together Advance the Mission ." "TAM" is not a fundraising effort; it is a Biblically-based stewardship emphasis to build more fully-devoted followers of Jesus Christ.

As a church fellowship, we have a big challenge before us. To fulfill all that the Lord has set before us to do, we need to think of how resources can best be managed for Him through South Hills Assembly. It's unthinkable what would happen for the cause of Christ and the Full Gospel if the Assembly were a weak church in our area.

Not only we but other churches are blest because South Hills Assembly is a strong church offering ministries such as Hillcrest, Compassion Connection, Fine Arts, outreaches, and all the age-group ministries. God has been gracious in enabling ministry on many fronts this year, and much of it through the loving work of volunteers.

Thank you for inviting others to South Hills Assembly. Word of mouth is the best way to grow. Our attendance has increased in 2006 and 2007. The sanctuary attendance may not reflect that growth due to the increased use of the balcony, the shift in attendance (20%) due to the service time changes, and the increased number of volunteers in children and youth ministries. We do continue to pray for more growth in sanctuary attendance.

Two very significant things we can do to keep this Assembly strong: reaffirm personal commitments to tithing and cancel the debt on the Ministry Center .

Thank you for giving the whole tithe to South Hills Assembly to support such ministries as students, children, fine arts, home and world missions, and more. We know many organizations are asking for your dollars, however, your commitment to "bring the whole tithe into the storehouse" of your home church's ministries is very, very important for your church to fulfill its God-given mission. Thank for expressing your commitment to fully tithe to South Hills Assembly.

The second most significant thing we can do is to cancel debt. The Ministry Center debt of one million dollars requires $24,000 a month for principal and interest from the tithes. That monthly amount is more than the yearly amount of by far most of the ministries.

TWCM offerings (above the tithe) were combined with the $24,000 from the tithes to further reduce the principal. This makes retirement of the debt by June of 2009 (in 17 months), when a balloon payment is due, feasible, or the loan will be refinanced. However, TWCM is six years old – twice the length of time intended – and is at one-third its original strength.

OVER

After prayerfully considering our needs, the church board and I are asking the congregation to meet this "Together Advance the Mission " financial giving goal of $1,000,000 to cancel the debt by June 2009. This new emphasis will replace TWCM on February 3, 2008, and continue for 17 months or until the goal is reached. The church board has dedicated all the TAM giving as extra principal.

Once this debt is cancelled, the church can also pay off the debt on the two adjacent properties recently purchased, save for revamping the parking lot to alleviate parking challenges, remodel the "ancient" kitchen, and most importantly, accomplish strategic God-given vision in ministry areas.

If you are giving to TWCM, please consider an increased gift to "Together Advance the Mission ." If you are not presently giving to TWCM, please earnestly pray about what you can promise by faith to do in "Together Advance the Mission" giving over these 17 months through June 2009.

The church board, Hillcrest Christian Academy and Compassion Connection boards, all the pastoral and church assistant staff have already shared their faith-promises totaling about $200,000. If all of us prayerfully consider and give our best offering, above the tithe, then TAM giving will cancel the debt and release far more resources into ministry.

Your "Together Advance the Mission " giving is a matter left entirely between you and God. Your faith-promise will be confidential with the bookkeeping department alone. A total will be announced to the congregation; so your written commitment is very important.

Please support this effort with much prayer and fasting. Together we can do what a few cannot do. Thank you ahead of time for faithfully giving the Lord's tithes and your most generous TAM faith-promise above the tithe to cancel the debt. Kay and I have made a sacrificial commitment for these 17 months or 78 weeks, till June of 2009. Even after that, we want to give in a way that fosters the work of God through this Assembly.

My heart is filled with the joy of giving to my great God, and I know there are many exciting days ahead as we partner with God in the Great Commission. Thank you also for honoring the Lord with His tithes as we Biblically manage His resources of time, talent and treasure with our deepest expressions of love and gratitude for Him.

I thank God for everyone in this wonderful church family. Thank you so very much for your generous partnership in the Great Together Mission of Jesus Christ. Blessings!

Jack C. Stepp

The difference between a casual, non-God-honoring Christian and a devoted follower of Jesus Christ is summed up in this one word: Commitment .

You will honor God through this genuine act of service and generosity because of your commitment to spread the Good News of Christ … ( 2 Cor 9:13, GW ).

What is " Storehouse Tithing ?"

God said, Bring the full tithe, the whole tithe, into the storehouse . Why? So that there will be ample provisions, resources, supply, in my House. God's House is the home church that houses multiple ministries and missions. Bible scholars call this "Storehouse Tithing."

It is the giving the firstfruits of ten percent of our income to God's House of many ministries and missions, so that there are financial resources to extend the Gospel in your assembly home and through ministries and missions here and around the world. South Hills Assembly qualifies for being God's House where you release the Lord's tithe, the whole tithe.

And God said it's this kind of giving that He will bless. God said, Test me in this," says the Lord Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.

Four Faulty Concepts of Tithing:

1. ____________________________________

2. ____________________________________

3. ____________________________________

4. ____________________________________

- over -

There are good reasons to give the whole tithe in the South Hills Assembly Storehouse, God's House, of many ministries and missions:

1. It is effective giving. Tithes feed the roots and the trunk of the tree of South Hills Assembly.

2. It's practical giving. There's bills, materials, compensations of a whole staff for the ministries and staff enjoyed in community.

3. It is accountable giving. Sound financial policies and procedures are used and being further developed to provide great trust in your giving.

There are personal reasons to tithe:

1. It demonstrates that God has first place in our lives.

2. It's an opportunity to show gratitude to God for the life and eternity He has for us.

3. It's an opportunity to experience joy. Spiritually and physically, giving does us good.

4. It's an opportunity to be blest by God.

5. It's an opportunity to store up treasures in heaven. God takes note of everything we do in fasting, praying, serving and giving. Jesus receives the tithes.

6. It's the opportunity to be a good steward for God.

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