Giving Update – December 2025
Thank you for your faithful giving and generosity towards our mission as a local church. The simple answer to how our local mission is funded is that God’s people generously give to make that ministry possible. So, again, thank you!
Giving in the Christian perspective isn’t to be done under compulsion or manipulation. Instead, it is to be done joyfully and freely (2 Cor. 9:7). This means that we should understand giving as an act of worship. That is, we give not to earn God’s love, favor, or approval but instead as an offering of praise and thanksgiving because it is God who first provided for us. Simply, when we give, we offer right praise to God, both acknowledging his rightful position as Lord and as a good Father who provides. We participate in this action of praise when we give of our time, talents, and treasure. How? In our time, we acknowledge that the Lord appoints and orders our days. In our talents, we acknowledge that the Lord has gifted and equipped us to serve. And in our treasure, we acknowledge that God is the one who provides for our daily needs.
Here are some quick stats to give a financial health update:
- We have seen 32 new givers since June! – We are grateful for new and longstanding generosity!
- We continue to operate in the black thanks to your faithful generosity and the good stewardship of our staff team.
- We have been able to fund three significant and needed campus updates without having to ask for additional giving —thank you!!
- Since June, over $110,000 has been given to the Caring Fund. That is amazing! All of those dollars have been used to help residents in Ames and Gilbert who are facing housing instability and challenges paying their utilities. Again, this is such a wonderful example of radical generosity, especially as many in our community face increased challenges.
If you are looking to give in a difference-making way, we have three funds that you can give to:
- Annual Budget: This is the fund that supports all of our local church ministry, Upward, staffing, utilities, serving the community through the Plex, etc.
- Caring Fund: This is the fund that goes directly to help with rent and utility assistance for our local neighbors. We are a first-call resource for the City of Ames when they have anyone looking for timely help in this area.
In this season, let’s be radically generous with our time, talents, and treasure because God was radically generous to us first through his Son.