Posts Tagged ‘money’

First Gift at Christmas

Posted: November 30, 2009 in Holidays
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Dear Origin Friends,

Thanksgiving is behind us, December is here and Christmas is around the corner.  We’re entering into that festive, yet frantic time of the year–the holidays.  We will be bombarded with Christmas advertisements, decorations everywhere and reminders that, “Tis the season to be jolly.” Most of us will respond to the season by giving presents to our loved ones.

And why not?  It makes great sense to give during the holidays.  After all, “God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”–John 3:16

But too often we forget the real meaning of Christmas.  We forget whose birthday it really is.  We can easily forget that Jesus is the reason for the season.

This Christmas season I’d like to encourage you to keep in mind that it is Jesus’ birthday.  Let’s all keep Christ as the center of Christmas.  So, how can we do that?  Instead of getting wrapped up in wrapping and baking and feasting and traveling, how can we keep Christ in the forefront at Christmas?

Here’s a suggestion.  Let’s make our first gift this Christmas a gift to Jesus.  It is His celebration.  Let’s make sure we start off the holidays right by giving to Jesus first.  If we do that, it will be a great indication that Jesus really is first in our lives, and it just might set the tone for a more spiritual season this year.

At Origin Church we’ll be taking a special “First Gift” offering this December.  We’re going to try to give as Jesus gave.  He gave sacrificially (He gave up heaven to become a man).  He gave unselfishly (He was born in a humble stable).  He gave to those who couldn’t give back (He came to seek and save the lost).  And he gave first (We love because He first loved us).

At Origin we’ll be using the offering for several projects:

● Helping start a new church on the Las Vegas Strip- $1,200

● Continuing to upgrade our children’s ministries with new state of the art video/audio, and props – $2,000

● Upgrading the audio/video system for adult worship with some new speaker monitors (currently don’t have any)- $10,000

● Winter outreach, service projects, and experiences for January and February- $2,000

● Helping with a local homeless outreach (You can also help here by giving coats. blankets, socks, ramen noodles in the cup, and hot chocolate packets)- $2,000

You are welcome to send it in via mail to the church mailing address, or give online at http://www.originchurch.tv anytime during the month of December. Additionally, you can go to www.originchurchchristmas.com and view our 2009 Christmas catalog.

Regardless of how you give, let me encourage you to join Kim and me as we put Jesus at the top of our Christmas list this year.  Thanks for responding to God’s gift by giving.  And let me be the first to wish you an early Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

 

Hurt & Pain

Posted: April 9, 2009 in money
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A lot of that going on in this economy, but remember, your lack of dollars does not define “who” you are as Jesus Christ sees you.   That is one compartment in life.  There are many others that you are “rich” in.  Praise God!

Pray About This

Posted: March 23, 2009 in Fundraising
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I need to ask you that are a part of our launch team, to be faithful in the tithe.  God blesses a generous heart.  Secondly, if you are a part of this journey in any way, we need you to pray today!  We need an infusion of funding to move forward toward launch!!!! Ask God, with us, to help us!  Thanks in advance!

Coming Down The Stretch NEEDS To Launch

Posted: March 5, 2009 in Start-Up
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Wow, it’s almost here, the launch of Origin Church.  If you will, take a look at the following list of things we need to create a pretty awesome environment for children and adults on launch day……………..if you can help or know someone who might donate some of the items below, we would be grateful!!!  We must move quickly!  We realize this does not guarantee any growth to a church or demonstrate success, however, we would love to be able to launch Origin Church first-class and with excellence.  If not, we press on!

Sound & Lighting (company to set up and produce)      $2,000

Printing                                                                       $1,200

Road Signs (100)                                                          $395

Balloons (1500 for Children’s Easter Egg Drop)              $800

Easter Egg Drop for Entire City of Ringgold                    $3,000

Origin T-Shirts                                                              $650

Propresenter Media Software                                        $300

Food for Volunteers                                                      $300

Pipe and Drape                                                            $800

Lanyards                                                                      $200

Email Blast for Marketing                                               $595

Direct Mail            (70,000 pieces)                               $6,900

U-Haul Truck                                                               $4,000

Hazer Machine                                                             $200

2 Flat Screen Monitors for Stage                                   $300

In-ear monitor system                                                  $900

10 LED lights for staging                                             $2,000

Drum Risers                                                                   $800                                                                                           

Photographer for Launch Day

Videographer for Launch Day

2 Way Radios                                                               $1,150

Dimmer Pack for Par Cans                                            $200

(2) Table Skirts                                                            $150

Coffee Carafes                                                              $300

Signage                                                                        $1,800

Portable Children’s Ministry                                           $5,200

Plexiglass Drum Shield                                                   $450

(20) Plastic Storage Containers                                       $300

Connection Power Software                                           $300

______________________________________________________________

Total                                                                               $35,190

 

If you would like to send any of the above items, please email us for physical address at shanecravenwsc@aol.com.  Thank you in advance!  You can also give online right here!!

Getting Ready

Posted: January 12, 2009 in Church Planting
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We have been working on the launch of a new church for 17 months.  Our team is projecting an April launch which would have been a total of 20 months of preparation.  God has been good!  We have a GREAT group of launch team coming together (love these people), a place to meet, a capable team of staff coming together, working hard on fundraising, putting together all our branding, beginning to put a creative team together, and the work continues.  It is, literally, endless.  It is tough and challenging, but a very rewarding call of God.

We have moved through some of these stages with more to go:

  1. Dream Phase
  2. Foundation Phase
  3. Core Development Phase
  4. Community Phase
  5. Preview Phase-  We’re almost to this phase!
  6. Launch Phase
  7. Small Church Phase
  8. Existing Church Phase

We sense the momentum, the excitement, the energy, the hope, and the determination for the launch of Origin Church.  If you’re near Chattanooga, TN, all we are missing is YOU!  If you are a college student, we have INTERNSHIPS available for you.  Email us!  We need friendly people, graphic artists, rappers, rockers, financial planners, dreamers, people that are good with children and teenagers, web designers, all types of musicians, office managers, cartoonists, lighting and sound technicians, film editors, humans, actors and actresses, dj’s, painters, singers and vocalists, sculptors, poets, writers, service planners, set designers, camera operators, licensed truck drivers, police officers and security workers, and more!  If you don’t fit any of these categories, we’ll create a category.  You’ve go to join our launch team today!

If you are willing to dream dreams so outrageously big that it would be unethical for us to take ANY credit when they come true, then we need each other!  We believe that a few faithful people can bring about real, earth-shattering change in the world!  We believe that thousands of people who are de-churched, mad at church, or don’t go to church will come to live adventurous Christian lives!  We believe that real diversity makes us stronger!  We believe that the bold, compassionate, revolutionary Jesus of the Gospel is more relevant today than ever before!  We believe that downtown Chattanooga, TN and downtown Ringgold, GA is going to birth a movement of unprecedented Christians that set a new standard for what it means to be a follower of Jesus!  It will be done with compassion, truth, and love for people!  It will be a unique combination for church-life, that might not have been seen in this life!!

Today, we need $70,000 to purchase all of our portable equipment………..if you can help, go to www.originchurchchristmas.com and do your best!  Here we go!!

Churches Be Encouraged!

Posted: December 22, 2008 in Giving
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A poor economy doesn’t always mean less cash for the collection plate, according to a study by the Christian research group Empty Tomb Inc., which found that in six recessions since 1968, donations by church members declined in three and increased in three. 

God has ways………still sends manna!  Keep the dream alive!

If you are 72.5 Years Old

Posted: December 21, 2008 in Giving
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If a person is 72.5 years old, they can no longer leave their money in an IRA without taking mandatory withdrawals.  They can give, without being taxed, directly from their IRA to the church up to $100K for the next two years.

If you know someone, pass this word along;  it could benefit a lot of God’s kingdom these next two years!

Shopping the Origin Catalog

Posted: December 12, 2008 in Giving
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We set out on this venture trusting and placing faith.  There are so many out there looking for a great place to invest in God’s work; this is ONE of them:  www.originchurchchristmas.com

You can help us make a difference even though you might not be able to be here physically.  All of the catalog is needed to make the biggest impact.  Only God can bless something like this and bring it to fruition…the good news is, He uses us!  Don’t miss an opportunity!

Recession Proof Yourself

Posted: December 11, 2008 in Giving
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The word “famine” in Genesis 26 literally means “recession.”  They are all throughout the scripture.  During economic downturns, we do one of two things: We hide and hold, or we face and place ourselves in a position to be blessed.  This is not time to hoard your “stuff.”  This is a time to give, sow seed, and invest into God’s kingdom.  Famine was in the land in Isaacs life.  God told Isaac not to bail out on Him but to stay put.  Notice what Isaac did during this famine: Isaac obeyed all of God’s requirements, commands, decrees, and instructions.  He gave of himself, invested offerings in God’s work, and God blessed him a hundred times more than he planted, in the same year.  God can do and will do the same thing in today’s world!  Look at this downturn as an eye-opener and God’s free gift to you.  It’s to get yours and my attention.  It looks bad, but it’s really good if we allow it to drive us to faithfulness and obedience, because, on the other side, is his blessing.  This is the way God does things!  What about you?  Are you living in fear?  If so, stop today!  God has Genesis 26 in mind for you; He’s setting you up for success.  Now, go get to sowing seed in a ministry that God has His hand on!

2008 Origin Christmas Catalog

Posted: December 10, 2008 in Fundraising
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We have just gone “live” with our new Origin Church Christmas catalog as of last night….We need your help!  This catalog has every piece of equipment to help us launch Origin with excellence and it covers every environment: Babies, children, and adult worship.  The total goal of the catalog is $76,000!  WE can do it together and no other way.  Take some time, if you will, to shop through and pass the link along to other family and friends.  This will translate, changed lives!  Thanks in advance!  Would appreciate your prayers!

http://originchristmas.blogspot.com/