Budget for fiscal year 09-10 & N. Ireland trip car wash this Saturday

[Kyuboem Lee]

Dear Friends of Germantown Hope:

Summer has begun in earnest--Germantown Hope Street Camp began Monday July 6th on Tacoma St. Children are learning and playing and building relationships with others and with Jesus; Andrew Hanson, an intern from Calvin seminary, is filling in his role as camp director nicely; Gateway interns are working hard at teaching and loving kids; high school students from Chinese Bible Church of Maryland and teenagers from our neighborhood are learning to serve as Jr. Counselors; and another group from Ashland Evangelical Presbyterian Church from Voorhees is waiting in the wings. Camp is a wonderful milestone in the life and ministry of G.Hope every year. Please keep this ministry in your prayers and rejoice with us as families are being reached for the sake of the kingdom. 

First, preparations for the N. Ireland trip is in full swing, and this Saturday, July 11, 10AM-2PM, the team will be having a fund-raising car wash at Ashland EPC (address: 33 E Evesham Rd Voorhees, NJ 08043; phone: (856) 429-8844) together with some friends. If you'd like to support the trip and get your car clean in the process, please come out. Your word of encouragement that you are praying for the team will mean a great deal to our young people, who are growing in their experience of God's grace toward them. We look forward to seeing you there!

Second, I wanted to share a word with you regarding G.Hope's budget. On the last Sunday of June, G.Hope members passed a budget for fiscal year 09-10 that expects a deficit of about $20,000. This is not unexpected, since we have graduated from our denomination's Home Mission grants, and we have been blessed with a reserve of savings that will help us last through to the end of June, 2010. But at that time, if all things stay the same, G.Hope will have used up its savings, looking ahead to a very difficult year. As a result, every G.Hope household and member is now prayerfully considering how we are being called into further personal sacrifices for the sake of our mission. 

• First, I want to invite you to pray with us. We believe that the Lord will provide; we also believe that he asks us as a church to sacrifice and adjust as he calls us into mission with him. Please pray that we as a church and mission will see with eyes of faith and joyfully follow into whatever situation the Lord leads. 
• Second, I want to ask you to prayerfully consider your financial partnership with us. I know these are hard times in our economy so I hesitate in this request, but I believe the Lord provides through his people, even in the midst of hard times. You can do this in a couple different ways. One way is to give one-time gifts for specific needs. For instance: We recently spent some money to cover camp needs ($400 for canopies and tables; $250 for arts & crafts material and sports / games supplies). We would also like to purchase a loudspeaker system; the system that would suit our needs runs about $400. Other one-time needs will come up; please feel free to ask me. Another way is to give regularly to the ministry of the church. Many of you have been faithfully partnering with us in our 50/50 campaign (50 friends giving $50 per month) and we are thankful for you; perhaps the Lord is calling some of you to join us in this campaign. 
• Third, please pray for harvest hands, those who have been called to be a part of our mission and who will also support the ministry in tithes and offerings. We have been called to reach especially the poor of our neighborhood, and such ministries have greater need of Christian disciples who will participate in the life of the church in every way. 

Again, many thanks for your continuing partnership with us. Please feel free to ask any questions or to drop a note. And many blessings from the riches of the Lord's abundant grace to you.

Shalom,

--
Kyuboem Lee
Germantown Hope Community Church
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