Bobservations: Putting a Bow on 2021

Now that 2021 is in the rearview mirror, I wanted to update you on the Christmas Offering and some encouraging 2021 giving stats.

Christmas Offering Recap

This year, Sunridge decided to minimize the options of the Christmas offering to maximize its effectiveness. And as usual, Sunridge, you knocked it out of the park! Because of your faithful and generous giving, we can:

• Fully fund the “Faith and Finance” program at Rancho Damacitas. Faith and Finance is a series of twelve sessions on financial literacy for low-income or financially vulnerable adults.
• Transfer over $66K into our CIF (Capital Improvement Fund) to take care of some needed improvements to our facility, like upgrading our failing sound system, making the final payment of the fire alarm retrofit, slurry and stripe the parking lot, and much more.

We are truly humbled by your faithful, consistent, and generous support in what God is doing in and through Sunridge.

2021 Calendar Year Stats (Jan. 2021 – Dec. 2021)

Comparing 2021 to 2020, the data shows that both attendance and giving were down. But that is expected in the post-COVID lockdown era. In fact, according to a Wall Street Journal article, in-person attendance has dropped 30%-50% compared to pre-pandemic attendance. But, wait a minute, didn’t I say there was encouraging giving data? Yes, the good news is that we were closely watching the trend and adjusted our budget accordingly. As we continue to emerge from the pandemic, we are already seeing healthy growth in our church. And to be honest, attendance and giving are only one facet of a big picture of what God is doing in and through Sunridge. In 2021, through the creativity and diligence of the staff, elders, volunteers, and those who sacrificially give, Sunridge continued to deepen faith, bring hope, and live love in this valley and beyond. As you view the numbers below, know that I am encouraged by how we, together, have navigated a difficult season and are positioned to continue to accomplish our mission to help people find and follow Jesus!

In Luke 12:34, Jesus says, “where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” Did you notice how Jesus makes a connection between our hearts and our money? It seems that how we handle money shows a lot about our hearts. Sunridge is a 501(C)(3) non-profit organization that relies 100% on the generosity of those who financially support our ministry. If you are ready to jump in, click here to give now.

I look forward with optimism and joy to what God has prepared for us to accomplish in 2022. It is a privilege to serve God with all of you on this journey.