Looking back
I started as Executive Pastor in January of 2020. It was just a few months before the COVID mandates came in. From then until the end of 2021, we had been working with various restrictions and requirements. Constantly pivoting. Praying for wisdom and understanding. Looking to see what the Lord was doing. In 2022, the provincial government lifted all the mandates that directly impacted us a church. And that meant more pivoting. It wasn’t back to normal. But what’s next for us, Lord? Over this last year we were starting and re-starting activities and programs. Lots of our church family were coming back and many new people were joining us for the first time. It has been so good. But it has not always been easy.
One thing we realized is that we need to create more time and space for connecting and re-connecting. One of the first things that we did was bring back the Pancake Breakfast in July. When we were putting our budget together, we thought we wouldn’t be able to host the breakfast. But with the restrictions being lifted we realized we could. And then as we wondered whether we should. After talking and praying it through we decided to start up the Pancake Breakfast again. And it was so good. Thanks to those who helped make it happen by giving direct financial support and by volunteering. And thanks to all the staff for your hard work in pivoting to make the Pancake Breakfast happen. It has been so good. Even though it hasn’t always been easy.
After the response to the Pancake Breakfast, we started adding additional monthly gatherings for the rest of the year. We’ve been doing Fall Kick-Off for a while, but we added in Church Family Picnic in August. A Neighborhood Open House in October and All-Nations Sunday in November. And we brought back Journey to Bethlehem for December (that was weather delayed). Again, thanks so much to all those who helped make those get togethers happen. It has been so good to connect with people at these gatherings and hear what the Lord is doing in our midst.
Becoming more of an All-Nations Church
As a leadership, we are asking the Lord what it means to become even more of an All-Nations Church. The Lord has been doing His work in our midst since the beginning of Hillcrest as he draws all peoples to Himself. As we celebrate what the Lord has already been doing at Hillcrest and in our city, we look forward to what He has for us in the future. Please keep watching, praying, and supporting the Lord’s work as we become more of an All-Nations Church.
Solar Panels
This last year was our first full operational year with our solar panels. We’re overall pleased with their performance. Check out the report from our Facilities Director for more details.
Finances
We are grateful to the Lord for the faithful giving of members of our congregation. However, our income last year was below our expenses and we experienced a shortfall. Please be in prayer for how you might be able to help make sure we don’t experience a shortfall in the future. Please see the report from our Finance Director for more information.
Staffing
Our staffing remained stable in 2022 which, as we are hearing from other churches and organizations, is notable in this season. We did lose one part-time staff in 2022 as well as one part-time staff became full-time.
We thank the Lord for Pastor Steve’s recovery from his 2021 heart surgery and so appreciate his Gospel preaching and leadership in this season.
As per the note from our Finance Director, several pastors and senior leaders took a decrease in their payroll for 2022. While this helped us match our payroll budget, it was not easy for any of us as we all worked to do more with less. As we were preparing the budget for 2023, the Finance Committee and Board agreed that we had to do payroll increase for this next year. Thank you for your support in helping to make the payroll increase happen.
This last year has been so good. And so hard for many of us. Even though the COVID mandates have lifted we’re still living with COVID in our midst. We’re still living with losing loved ones. But we are seeing new things that the Lord has for us. As we entered 2023, we have seen so many new things. People coming to the Lord. Neighbors, families, and friends coming to Hillcrest for the first time. Old friends coming back. Stick Around Sundays. There’s been baptisms, child dedications, new members. We’re grateful for all the financial support and for all those who are giving of their time as we serve one another in love, ministering God’s love to a hurting world.
What’s Next
We pray for this season ahead and invite you to be part of:
Making disciples of Jesus Christ and giving everyone in our area opportunity to have a personal relationship with Him.
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