A Word from Pastor Nathan

Dear Friends:

The mission of the Washington Avenue Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) is to be and to share the Good News of Jesus Christ, witnessing, loving, and serving from our doorsteps “to the ends of the earth.” One of the ways we accomplish this mission imperative is through Outreach.

Outreach is not an expense, per se, but an investment in the reign of God that is arriving on earth as it is in heaven. At Washington Avenue, we financially participate in Outreach in two distinct ways: through the budget and through twelve special offerings. Within our annual budget, we prioritize the Disciples Mission Fund, which equals 10% of our total non-outreach budget. In 2019, we sent $33,316 to the Disciples Mission Fund, and we sent $16,315 to organizations within and beyond Lorain County. Your faithfulness in stewardship is what enables Washington Avenue Christian Church to be the most generous congregation in the entire north-eastern quadrant of the United States. But…that’s not all. We also have twelve special offerings. This year, we contributed an additional $31,598 through designated gifts. The Outreach committee also distributed $700 in From Our Doorsteps Grants in 2019. The total outreach for Washington Avenue Christian Church was 81,929.17 in 2019. In a word: WOW! We are participating in the life-giving, loving, and liberating news of Jesus Christ through our Outreach efforts.

On the inside of this edition of The Spire is a breakdown of the Disciples Mission Fund, budgeted outreach, and special offerings. Some organizations are listed in both the budgeted and special offering categories. Keeping these amounts separate to provides an accurate narrative of our giving.

In 2020, our commitment to the Disciples Mission Fund is $31,650, which leaves $8,350 for the Outreach Committee to send to local and global organizations. Admittedly, this total amount is less than our 2019 Outreach budget; however, the opportunity to make the special offerings a priority remains. At the beginning of each month, the front article in The Spire will describe our special offering and its mission.

Washington Avenue’s commitment to outreach is one of many reasons I’m glad to serve with and alongside you. Your generosity inspires my faith and encourages me to live generously toward God, Christ’s church, and mission organizations.

Peace abundant,