Important message from Pastor shandon

Please watch this important message from Pastor Shandon

Transcript:

Hey Park Family! I just want to take a moment to thank you deeply from the bottom of my heart, for all the ways that you have given, served, and shown up this year. As your Senior Pastor, I have been inspired by your fire, your faith, your talents and generosity and I've seen in in so many places. You are making this community possible—as worshipful people, helping each other find belonging, caring for neighbors, and daring to dream about a world beyond the status quo of chaos, injustice and discord.  

Friends, I want to be honest with you because I trust you. Our giving is about where it was last year, but our ministry has grown and we committed to a larger budget for 2026 because of it.

As of October 1st, our budgeted giving shortfall has increased to $57,000. And we must make up this difference in our monthly giving. 

Three things have kept us afloat: staff spending below budget, income from our current building tenants, and one-time gifts early in the year mainly in the wake of Metro Surge. But I know the staff spending will return to back to normal once our fall programming kicks back into gear and at the end of the day, we can't put all our eggs in the basket of those special gifts we received one-time. So this gap is real and it isn't sustainable on its own. If this continues, we will need to make cuts in our ministry areas going forward. 

With all that said, I am hopeful, because I have seen you and gotten to know you first hand and hear your stories of resilience and resistance. We built up our reserves. We are paying our apportionments that connects us to ministry not only in our neighborhood but throughout Minnesota and the world, and our congregation is thriving even in the midst of a society that rather see our light go out. I believe that we can close this gap together but again, I value transparency and want to be clear: we can only continue this missional work if we increase our current giving collectively. Likewise, we can only grow and continue what we’ve started if we know what resources we have through our estimated giving cards. This year, in order to be good stewards, we are discerning our budget AFTER the estimated giving cards are submitted--knowing what our resources are. 

So I have two asks today: 

First, if you haven't already, please update your monthly giving. If you have committed, please make sure that you are on track right now and if you are able, please consider increasing your gift for this year. If you have never given to Park and would like to join us in turning this money into mission, please consider starting. Small, steady gifts are the backbone of this church. 

(Update your monthly giving or give for the first time through this link.)

The second ask is, please turn in your estimated giving card by this Sunday, October 18 which is the last day of our stewardship campaign. You can either do it in person or you can go to parkgives.org to fill it out online. Our Finance Team has received from our staff the expenses and needs for the upcoming season and together, after the 18th ,the finance team and I will start to work out what is feasible and sustainable in the upcoming year. Your card is how we know what we are working with. And the more we know, the more of our ministry we can protect from cuts. This is why this work is so important. 

(Submit your Estimated Giving through this link.)

Another note here, if your financial circumstances have changed, there is no shame here. Just let us know. It is hard out here for many especially in this societal climate. I welcome a conversation with you personally just so that we can plan accordingly and also so I can be supportive of you in this season as well. We will get through this together and I want to walk alongside you as best I can as your Senior Pastor. 

At the end of the day, this is more than just a budget.

The ministry I have witnessed here at Park is incredible, and we continue to grow!

In a divided world, we need all of us—members, heart-church family, and co-conspirators in transformational ministry— as we continue to turn Park’s vision into action: making disciples of Jesus Christ, building a multiracial, multiethnic, intergenerational, LGBTQIA+-affirming beloved community, and joining God’s work of transforming our neighborhood and world. I'm grateful to be in ministry with you, Park, and pray that you can help us continue this ministry sustainably for our future together in Christ.