2024 Annual Giving Appeal

WHY AN APPEAL?

Do you know why Calvary has become a church that people who don’t even like church like?
Do you know why 100’s of kids gather at Calvary each week to learn the story of Jesus? 
Do you know why Calvary can feed so many families in need in Alexandria?
Do you know why so many lives are changed through the ministries of Calvary?

It’s because of you.

Some 2,000 years ago, Paul started a church in Philippi. Years later, he received word that the church was thriving! So, he sat down and wrote these words: “In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.” (PHILIPPIANS 1:4)

Paul recognized something: The church doesn’t thrive because of its pastors, its talented musicians or a nice, shiny building. Paul knew the believers in Philippi did the real work of spreading the gospel. They were partners who invited others and invested their time, passion, resources, and finances. Paul said to the people: It’s because of you.

I’ve been honored to serve as your pastor for 11+ years, and the same is true for Calvary: It’s because of you.

As we launch our 2024 General Fund Giving Appeal, remember this: It’s because of your partnership your invitations and your financial generosity that God is able to do remarkable things in our community and beyond.

I invite you to prayerfully consider how you will financially support Calvary in 2024. Every commitment, regardless of the size, allows us to boldly follow God’s call.

THANK YOU church!

- Hans Dahl, Lead Pastor

WHERE ARE WE GOING?

We will develop leaders within our church. To provide the leadership needed for our growing ministries we will raise up, train, and empower leaders from within our congregation. We’ll help everyone who calls Calvary home recognize their own personal and unique call to fulfill our mission, providing them with a clear pathway to leadership.

We will connect with and care for each other. Connect Groups make real-life connections between faith and life. They help a larger church feel smaller, and create opportunities to be known and cared for. A church our size will never be able to hire enough pastors to individually care for every participant. Instead we will invest in a model for Connect Groups and a Care Team that is sustainable, effective and scalable. We will provide resources and recruit leaders to grow and tend to these ministries.

We will invest in kid, student and family ministry. We continue to see increased programming registration with very little attrition, had more than 600 kids and adults participate or lead at VBS, sent 33 high schoolers on a houseboat trip to deepen their faith, and expanded Calvary Preschool to serve 74 families. We will strategically develop parent Connect Groups and reimagine how we engage students during worship.

We will help other churches thrive. Our mission is to lead all people to a lifelong faith in Jesus Christ and we hope other churches can do the same in their contexts. We are in year 3 of a 5-year Lilly Endowment grant we were awarded so we can equip churches with the critical tools needed to gain clarity, vitality, and adaptability so they can thrive. We want to help them discover God’s unique, hope-filled mission for their church.

We will grow our online church experience. Online worship is now the front door to the church, and it has exponentially expanded Calvary’s reach. People from all over the area, the state, and even across the country join us for worship. We offer daily encouragement through the Daily Dose, and weekly services that are in-person, on-demand, on the radio and local cable. Not only will we continue expanding the quality and reach of digital ministry, but we will care for, minister to and help the online audiences to grow in their faith.

We will be a church for our community. When there’s a challenge in the community, we want to be known as the church that goes out of the way to care and provide. We care deeply about food insecurity, and this year packed 3,500 bags of food for local elementary children, and stocked the High School Food Shelf.

HOW DO I PARTICIPATE?

1. Prayerfully consider the amount you would like to contribute in 2024. 
Your ongoing support to the General Fund allows Calvary to grow its ministries and operations. Please know gifts of all sizes are welcome and needed.

2. Sign-up for automatic giving or fill out a pledge card. 
Automatic giving allows you to remain faithful to your commitment even if you can’t be with us in person. If you’d like to set up a recurring or one-time donation, click here. You can change your contribution at any time. Pick up a pledge card at the welcome desk at Calvary.

3. Make your gifts in whatever way that works best for you.
Below are ideas for asset-based giving:
• Appreciated Assets
• Stocks or Bonds
• Cash Value in Life Insurance
• IRA Rollover
• Gift Annuity
• Charitable Trusts
• Donating Land
• Including Calvary in your will

Questions? If you have questions on giving options, please contact the church office at 320-763-5178 and speak with Katie Rentschler, Business Administrator.

 

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