Richwoods Go Booklet

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T L a wa wit t

a a at u

ppl li atu t t L

Act 11

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Before I was hired to be the lead pastor of Richwoods, I received a copy of the churchsnewsletter in the mail. At the top center was Acts 11:21, which says, The Lords hand was withthem, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord.At that time the churchhad been without a pastor for over a year and was a struggling congregation of 65 people.Yet, they still believed that God was with them and that He had something great in store for

Richwoods Christian Church.Over the past fteen years, we have had the privilege of seeing that dream become a reality.With hundreds of baptisms, countless stories of life change, and an ever-increasing attendancein our worship services, there is no doubt that Gods hand is upon us and that He is using ourcongregation as a light to the Peoria area and beyond.

But the work is not done. The vision is not completed.

Its time for Richwoods to take the next step in fullling our mission of helping a greater number ofpeople nd and follow Christ. That is why we are launching a two-year initiative called GO. This initiativewill focus on empowering you to Move In, Move Out, and Move Forwardin your personal walk withJesus. It will also focus on raising the necessary resources that will allow us as a church body tocorporately step into several initiatives we feel are necessary in order to see more people turn to theLord.

I am genuinely excited to take this step of faith and see what God will do through the GO initiative. Ihope that you will be a part of this and that one day well all be able to look back in amazement at what

God has done as a result of our faith, obedience, and sacrice for His glory.

Gratefully and Expectantly yours,Jim


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Where Weve Come From

Richwoods wasfounded in thesummer of 1967by a small groupof people seekingto start a non-denominational

Christian Churchin Peoria. Therst meetingswere held in thebasement ofMel and RoseShoups home.

1967

1975The church

met in severaltemporarylocations overthe next eightyears, includingthe Seventh DayAdventist buildingand a restaurant.

1976In July 1976, wemoved into ourrst building at7116 N. TerraVista.

1997In July 1997,

Jim Powell washired as the sixthsenior pastor.

20In Februarywe went to services forrst time.

75ATTendAnCe AverAge 1804


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In October 2006,we started a thirdservice.

2006

In July 2008,

we relocated toour Knoxvillebuilding.

2008

In April 2010,we started ourSaturday nightservice.

2010

In January 2011,we launched ourEast Campus.

2011

In February/Ma2013, we beginGO Initiative.

2013

402 543 953 1174 1334


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move InWe have been incredibly blessed to see God working in andthrough our congregation over the past several years. In

order to continue moving toward our redemptive potential

while inuencing a growing number of lives, we must expan

our churchs budget so that we can provide the necessary

resources, facilities, stafng, and programs. On top of ourgeneral budget, this includes addressing some specic big-

needs, such as the parking lot and roof at Knoxville Campus

and the transition of East Campus to a facility that will provid

better environment for ministry as well as the apportionmen

money for their long-term home.

goAL: $5,200,006


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PersonAL

APPLICATIoTo prayerfully identifyand make a speciccommitment toward and following Christ intangible way.


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move oUTBeyond the ministry taking place at Knoxville and East Cam

we are committed to being Gods envoy to the world. This

means reecting Jesus to our community, our nation, and o

world in increasing measures. Over the next two years, we

hope to give over $500,000 to missional activities, causes, a

events. Specically, we want to expand our impact by launc

a third campus in the Peoria area and by increasing our

commitment to our other missional activities locally, nationa

and globally.

goAL: $500,008


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PersonAL

APPLICATIoTo personally engage some form of missionservice outside the waof our church.


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move ForWArdIn order to move toward nancial health and to position

ourselves for future ministry, we want to signicantly pay do

our church mortgage. By doing so, we will be able to renan

our loan, accelerate our payment schedule, and free up ove

$10,000 per month in cash ow, which can be used to help

people nd and follow Christ. This not only helps put us in a

better position to impact more lives, but it also helps prepare

in the event of an economic downturn.

goAL: $1,000,0010


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PersonAL

APPLICATIoTo nd a resource orparticipate in a class,seminar, or meeting thwill help lead to personancial freedom.


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The ChALLenge

The GO initiative represents a signicant time in the

life of our church. As a result, we strongly encourageeveryone to attend weekend worship services,participate in a group, and go through the dailydevotions. We are on one mission as a church, andwe hope that, with everyone participating in the GOseries, we will grow both individually and as a collectivechurch body.

We also ask that you pray about what God would

you do as a result of GO. We then hope that you follow His leadingnothing more, nothing less.

As you go through this process and consider whaGod would have you do, please know that you aralonewe are in this together. We will be doing acan to help encourage and empower one anotheconsider four specic commitments

mAke A PersonAL CommITmenT To FInAnCIALLy sUPPorT goIf you are a regular attendee but are not currently supporting the church nancially, wwant to challenge you to start doing so in some measure. If you are already giving, wto ask you to consider making sacrices that would allow you to give over and above normal amount. Whether your commitment means starting to give, continuing to give,increasing your giving, well be asking you to make a comprehensive two-year pledge

your total giving, which will include both your normal giving and your expanded generfor GO. This will enable our church to carry out its mission and to achieve the initiativefeel led to pursue.

FInAnCIALCommITmenT

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mAke A PersonAL CommITmenT To move In so ThAT yoU CAn FInd AndFoLLoW ChrIsT In A deePer WAyMoving Inmay mean receiving Christ for the rst time or re-dedicating your life to Him. It maymean getting baptized by immersion. Or it may mean committing to daily devotions, addressian area of sin, reading the Bible in one year, or getting connected into group life. The point ofmoving in is to make a personal commitment to nd and follow Christ in a deeper, richer, and

personal way.

mAke A PersonAL CommITmenT To move oUT And engAge In some FormIssIonAL servICeWe want to challenge everyone to do at least one thing to serve and represent Jesus outsidewalls of our church. This may be volunteering with the Adopt-a-Block ministry, volunteering asmentor in the public schools, or serving at a soup kitchen. It may be taking a short-term miss

with the youth group or traveling to Brazil or Haiti. Regardless, we will be asking you to particin at least one project which models and proclaims the love of God to our world.

mAke A PersonAL CommITmenT To move ForWArd ToWArds FInAnCIALFreedomMoving Forwardcould be attending a half-day workshop or a class like Financial Peace Univ

to learn how to better manage your money, set up a budget, and reduce debt. It could be meewith a nancial planner or nancial counselor. The point of moving forward is to do somethingincrease your nancial knowledge or discipline in order to be a better manager of your resouand to nd the freedom God wants you to have.

moveForWArd

move oUT

move In


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FAQsWhAT Is A one-FUnd InITIATIve?It is different than a traditional giving campaign. We will not create a bui

fund or similar allocation to which we give separately. Instead, both ourcurrent giving and any additional giving will go in to a single fund from wall expenses will be paid. Therefore, GO is simply an expansion of our rebudget to tackle extra initiatives. GO is not an above and beyond focus, rather a combination of everything we are already doing and all that we to be doing for the next two years.

Why Are We doIng ThIs noW?The leadership has been looking at this and planning it for over a year. A

much discussion, work, and prayer, we feel that now is the right time for congregation to take the next step of faith in order to expand our footprinGods glory.

Why do We hAve so mUCh debT?The move from the church at Terra Vista to the location on Knoxville Avewas a big step for Richwoods. The Crazy Campaign provided the fundsfor the down payment, soft costs for the facility, and help with the mortga

payments in the transition, as the church continued to grow rapidly. But total overall cost of the move and renovation exceeded the amount raisethe Crazy Campaign.

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FAQsIs ThIs reALLy AChIevAbLe?Yes! First of all, we are trusting God, and with Him all things are possible.

Practically, if people who are supporting the church continue to give as theyare currently, if those who attend but are not giving start doing so, and ifthose who are already giving evaluate and pray about how they can givemore consistently or more sacricially than they presently are, we KNOWthat this is achievable.

hoW dId We ArrIve AT The end goAL oF 6.7 mILLIon?We arrived at this gure through a process of prayer and discussion amongthe executive staff, elders, and other key leaders, striving to discern where

we believe God is calling Richwoods in the next two years. Please referback to the summary sheet to see where the money is being allocated.

WhAT IF We mIss oUr goAL oF 6.7 mILLIon?We expect to reach the goal, despite the challenge it represents! However,if we fall short, we will adjust expenditures based on priorities determinedby the leadership at that time. Unless we fall well short of the goal, we areoptimistic that none of the initiatives will be totally eliminated, even though

some may have to be scaled back.


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FAQsCAn I desIgnATe my gIFT To The sPeCIFIC eLemenTs ThAT Im PAssIon

AboUT?

All giving to GO will be used for every need and project, just like your cugiving to Richwoods.

WhAT IF I donT hAve mUCh To gIve?Whether you feel you have little or much to give is not important. What isimportant is that you pray about it and then follow through on what you bGod would have you to do. Consider the story of Jesus and His encountwith a widow woman who didnt have much to give (Mark 12:41-44): Jesat near the Temple Offering Box and watched the people put in their mo

Many rich people gave large sums of money. Then a poor widow came aput in two copper pennies. Jesus said, I tell you the truth, this poor widogave more than all those rich people together! They gave only what thenot need. This woman is very poor, but she gave all she had; she gave ashe had to live on. From this moving example of sacrice, Jesus taughtimportant truths: Your attitude is more important than the amount in givinis always possible to give something; and a little can be considered a lotGods eyes.

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FAQsWhom shoULd I ConTACT To dIsCUss A gIFT oF sToCks, InvesTmenTs, orProPerTy?You can contact our executive pastor, Tim Barnes, and he will assist [email protected] 309-691-5252.

hoW WILL The CongregATIon be UPdATed on The Progress oF The goInITIATIve ProjeCTs?Frequent updates will be given during the worship services; a bi-annual reportwill be mailed, and we will have a special service at the end of each year tocelebrate progress and look ahead.

WhAT Are yoU AskIng me To do?First and foremost, we are asking that you pray and seek Gods leadingon what he is asking you to do. If youre married, talk about this with yourspouse. Ultimately, we are asking you to support this by making a nancialcommitment to GO which goes beyond what you are already giving toRichwoods. Secondly, we are asking you to make a personal commitment toMove In, Move Out, and Move Forwardso that you are participating in whatGod is doing. We believe that by nancially supporting this, we are enabling

the church to have greater impact and that by participating, you are allowingGod to work through you personally.


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my TWo-yeAr CommITmenT To The go InITIATIve

$ _________________

$ _________________

$ _________________

What I normally give toRichwoods in a year

My expanded annual givingfor GO

x 2 years

Gift from current resources

+

=

$ _________________

$ _________________

+

$ _____________________________________

Total from above

my TWo-yeAr CommITmenT To go

Total the above two lines, and write the amount below

I ALso mAke The FoLLoWIng CommITmenT(s) Todo The FoLLoWIng over The nexT TWo yeArs:

move InTo prayerfully identify and make a speciccommitment toward nding and following Christin a tangible way.

move oUTTo personally engage in some form of missionaservice outside of the walls of our church.

move ForWArd To nd a resource or participate in a class,

seminar, or meeting that will help lead topersonal nancial freedom.

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Richwoods Go Booklet

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