The Tower - June 13

Calvary Summer Update
As we approach the summer months at Calvary, I celebrate the good work God is doing among us in this place. We are finishing what has been a wonderful week of Children’s Bible Club, and I’ve been so encouraged by the outpouring of God’s love that has permeated this space each night this week. Over thirty of our youth and others from the church are preparing to serve on mission in South Texas in just a couple of weeks, where we will partner with Melba Zapata and New Wine Church and the work they are doing near the border. And over a dozen more Calvarians are serving on mission this summer all around the world!

Meanwhile, closer to home, Calvarians are caring for those in our own faith community in meaningful ways – taking meals, sitting with people during chemo, giving money toward medical expenses, and offering encouragement and support in difficult seasons. We finished a great year with our friends at West Avenue and had 26 mentors reading with children each week, in addition to providing support for teachers and staff. And, sitting on my desk right now are a stack of hand-written thank you notes from MCC students who study English each week at Calvary. They invited me to visit with them last week and shared with me how much this experience means to them.

Know that your generous and faithful giving undergirds the life-saving work that happens at Calvary, each and every day. In that spirit, we thought it was also important to share an update with you about where we are financially as we hit the mid-year mark.

Calvary’s 2019 budget is $618,216. As of the end of May, we have received $227,217 toward the budget, which is $30,373 short of where we need to be at this point in the year. Our current giving is pretty consistent with last year’s giving. As of the end of May, we have received $300 more than we received at this point last year. Stable giving is good and significant; however, this year’s budget is a 14% increase of the 2018 budget, which was $532,326. Therefore, we need to be giving beyond where we were at this point last year.

Last year, in addition to surpassing our budget goals for the year, we also surpassed our goal for Journey On, which allowed us to finally pay off our remaining debt expenses and freed us to begin the search for an associate pastor. As we prepare to bring a new full-time minister on board our staff team in the coming months, we need to be prepared to support an additional salary, which will increase Calvary’s monthly financial responsibilities.

Calvary gave so faithfully to meet our Journey On goal in 2018. Can we continue to give faithfully to help us see this goal come to fruition – so that we can truly “journey on” in new and exciting ways as a community of faith, in 2019 and beyond?

We’re asking ourselves in worship this summer, “What is saving our lives?” and I think one of the best ways I could answer that question would be “You.” The beautiful and authentic ways in which I experience the Spirit of God flowing through the family of God in this place continue to breathe life into my soul, over and over again. Thank you, Calvary, for your generous giving and faithful living, here at 18^th and Bosque and all around the world.

Mary Alice Birdwhistell
Senior Pastor