ABOUT THOSE PLEDGE CARDS...
by Larry Short

The staff and elders at Elim are so thankful for this body of believers that worships here on the northeast corner of 94th & 128th. What a blessing it is to grow with you in the grace and knowledge of Christ!

In this Last Word I wanted to share with you the results of our capital fundraising efforts, which culminated last weekend in a collection of pledge cards. Our primary capital need right now is to replace our worn-out carpeting, and we are also looking eventually at the possibility of replacing the back (north) wall of the meeting room with a moveable soundproof partition, as well as some structural changes to the stage, and other minor upgrades.

The total cost of everything we are looking at will be in the neighborhood of $50,000. We are designating some funds from our 2009 budget, and some from our 2010 budget, in addition to the funds raised in the recent effort, which so far have totaled approximately $15,000. (It's also important to note that not all pledge cards and gifts have been collected yet. Some people have asked if it's "too late" to donate to this cause -- you probably can guess at the answer to that question! It's never too late to bless your church with your gifts and offerings!)

With the $15,000 that has been pledged, and the money budgeted this year and next, it should be possible for us to replace the carpet next summer. So until then, keep enjoying that coffee and don't feel too terribly bad if it spills! (Seriously, try not to spill. But when the new carpet comes in, we may restrict coffee-drinking to certain areas.)

I also wanted to address concerns raised by several individuals about the "pledge cards." They expressed that they could not donate in good conscience because they didn't feel it was right to "vow" they would give a certain gift over a certain period of time. Yes, tomorrow is uncertain, and none of us can be sure we will have a job or ability to give, or even that we will be here tomorrow! But I wanted to be sure to communicate that, from the elders' perspective, the intent of the pledge cards was not to elicit a "vow." This sort of pledge is simply an expression of intent: "If the Lord wills, I desire to give such and such to support the work of this church."

Yes, we are counting the total pledged to get a sense for what we can or cannot do. However, you probably noticed that we didn't even include a space for your name on the pledge cards that you turned in. The amount that you are pledging is between you and the Lord. No elder is going to come knocking at your door if you are unable to complete your pledge.

In our minds, this is a very different animal than a personal promise of faithfulness or, for instance, a marriage vow. "'Til death do us part" should mean exactly that (although, there were even scriptural exceptions to that general rule). Yes, when you pledge before the Lord to give financially, you should try to fulfill that pledge. But the Lord understands (and we understand) if you lose your job and cannot afford to do so. So please rest easy about the pledge cards! Elim is a place of grace and mercy. We are all just trying to do the best we can to make it through to glory -- to finish well, in his strength and power.

If you have any questions or concerns about any of this, or about this carpeting project in particular, please don't hesitate to ask an elder or a member of the staff. We love to hear from you!

- Larry