Administration Team Meeting - April 12, 2014

Attendees:
Dan Thurman, Mike Brady, Tony Jones, Tim Scott, Jackie Eby

Next Meeting:
Saturday, July 5, 8:00 AM

Purpose of Administration Meeting:

Developing leaders that follow through with excellence in all of the five fold ministries as we coordinate body wide activities and serve each other as unto the Lord

• Discipleship
• Evangelism
• Worship
• Service
• Fellowship

Specific Topics discussed this month:

H E A L T H


Discipleship
Get plugged into the body by joining one of the following small groups!

• Monday - Men's Prayer group at 3724 Appian Way
• Tuesday - Youth Group
• Wednesday - River of Life Group
• Thursday - "The Posse" 
• Thursday - Wilkerson Group
• Friday - Jones Group

Mercy
Through out the last few months, many have echoed the scripture that Tony shared with the body one Sunday morning from the book of Acts: “I do not possess silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you: In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene—walk!”

Another wise member of our body suggested this last month that the church should simply be about helping the poor, the widows and the orphans.  If we neglect that command, our human flesh focuses on ourselves and we will build some idol to ourselves.  So, when we help the least of these, we help the Lord AND we mitigate a train wreck for our flesh meeting the needs of our flesh over and over again making improvements with each attempt.

Worship
We can do nothing on our own, and it is a privilege to assemble together each week and give God the glory that only He deserves.  We are blessed to have a worship team that invests their worship in us.

Finances 
We spent quite a bit of time talking about the double speak that we have as a church body.  We teach the members with our mouth that we should "spend less than God gives us", but as a body, we permit spending $14K more than God gives us for the first few months of 2014.

Our General Offerings have averaged $108K per year for the last ten years, this year we have budgeted an income of $110K.  This requires some faith, especially in the light that we have lost a few families to mission work and other ministry.  I suggest that this is less faith than it requires to move a mountain.

Last year, we decided to increase the community cook outs from 5 months a year in the summer to be more of a year round ministry as people need community in the winter as much or more than they do in the summer.  This takes faith, work, and finances.   To those that say that the 2014 budget of $120K in expenses versus $108K of income is double speak, I would say "Yes", but it is important to note that our church has no debt and our saving a little cash at a time year after year has allowed us to expand our ministry carefully beyond what we think that God is giving us this year.

It is also double speak for us to say "Silver and gold have I none" when the church has cash.

Several in the body have asked in the light of the $14K deficit spending, should the church begin to cut the ministry that it has planned for 2014?  The administration team would answer, "No".  Please continue the 2014 ministry as planned, but be prepared for the 2015 ministry to be smaller should God not provide us with income in 2014 to fund the 2015 ministry.

Building and Grounds
The trees that Marcus pruned last fall are full of flowers and easy to mow around and keep weed free.  The community will appreciate his work for a few years.  Dan Thurman and Lisa are making some small improvements to color and greenery that will make a big difference to the appearance of the building as it houses various ministries this summer.

Now that it is warming up outside, Dan will also be looking into ways to light the area around the building in a more efficient, easier to maintain, more convenient to use and more secure manner.

I can't begin to explain how heated the debate on thermostats and HVAC was at this meeting.  There was concern that some areas of the building need portable heating to supplement the few working units.  This is a warning sign...  it won't be long until we are having weddings in August without air conditioning...  may it never be!  

Here's the code for knowing how to make yourself comfortable in the building:

• Thermostat in Sound Room -- The HVAC unit is off, it does not work... don't touch this
• Thermostat on Stage -- Should be set to be comfortable at all times...  if you are not comfortable, call Kevin to check the settings....  Note: If you want to be comfortable in the Sanctuary, sit close to the thermostat on the stage...   Dan Thurman's drums are very comfortable
• Thermostat in Mike's office -- Should be set to be comfortable at all times.. if you are not comfortable, call Kevin to check the settings
• Two Thermostats in fellowship hall -- The HVAC units are off, they do not work... don't touch these.
• Thermostat in Nursery -- Should be set to be comfortable at all times... if you are not comfortable, call Kevin to check the settings
• Thermostat in Dan's Workshop -- Should be set to be comfortable at all times.. if you are not comfortable, call Kevin to check the setting
• Thermostat in the Small Group room -- The HVAC unit is off, it does not work... don't touch this

Jackie mentioned that the church that uses our baptismal is very grateful for the chance to do so.  It is always good to hear that feedback despite our failure to provide them with heated water from time to time.

Jackie shared quotes from three sources for improving the pews that we sit on each week.  Her recommendation for one source over the other two was considered, acknowledged and unanimously deferred to a time when we have more discretionary income.

Jackie will be reserving Shilito park for our June church picnic, but Tony suggested that we use the church lawn for the second picnic in July.  All agreed.

Lots of discussion about the family camp out.  Those in the meeting might not be in touch with the needs of the body so Mike suggested asking the small groups whether or not this corporate community time was valuable and beneficial.  We will publish the date in this church calendar, but wait on feedback from the small group leaders before we begin work to make the family camp out happen.  We will discuss again at the July Administration meeting.


Church Calendar

April --
12 -- Administration Meeting
13 -- Financial Health #2 ( Give to God cheerfully )  6:00 PM at the church
17 -- Third Thursday Cook-in
18 -- Community Prayer and Ministry
20 -- Resurrection Day ( aka Easter )
20 -- Financial Health #3 ( Spend less than you're given )
25-27 -- B.A.S.I.C. Men's Retreat
27 -- Financial Class #4 ( Spend on good things )

May --
4 -- Lord’s Supper
10 -- Work Day ( Clean up the trees, flower beds, picnic tables, grounds for summer of ministry )
11 -- Mother’s Day
15 -- Third Thursday Cook Out
16 -- Community Prayer and Ministry
26 -- Memorial Day

June --
1 -- Lord's Supper
1 -- Church picnic at Shilito
19 -- Third Thursday Cook Out
20 -- Community Prayer and Ministry

July --
5 -- Administration Meeting
6 -- Lord's Supper
17 -- Third Thursday Cook Out
18 -- Community Prayer and Ministry

August --
3 -- Lord's Supper
21 -- Third Thursday Cook Out
22 -- Community Prayer and Ministry
29-31 -- Family Camp at Wesley Woods  ( Tentative )  --  pending July 5 decision

September --
1 -- Labor Day
7 -- Lord's Supper
18 -- Third Thursday Cook Out
19 -- Community Prayer and Ministry
19-21 -- Men's Retreat at Wesley Woods ( Tentative )  -- pending July 5 decision