"Keep the Light On" 2014 Budget Campaign

Jesus said, “let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16 NIV2011).  Our church seeks to do that!  We want the light of Christ to shine in our church, in our community and around the world.  We want our worship, our discipleship, our ministry and our missions to result in good deeds that glorify the Father in heaven.

One of the primary means for our church to demonstrate this is through our Church Budget.  The Calvary stewardship committee prepared a budget for 2014 that the Church in Conference approved last Sunday.    This budget represents a 5.5% reduction from the 2013 budget and consists of an annual total of $2,141,159.  Although the stewardship committee considered this reduction necessary, the budget is still challenging for our congregation.  It is a faith budget and it will require the best of our prayers and our generosity.  Additionally, there are some maintenance and repair projects that were removed from the budget and will need to be funded by special offerings.  The most urgent of these projects has to do with the lighting in our worship center.

The stewardship committee was faced with two challenges in the preparation of the 2014 budget.  On the one hand, the realization that we are not meeting budget this year.  On the other hand, because we are not meeting budget, certain important maintenance and repair projects are not getting done.  After prayer, much discussion, and consultation with other leaders, the committee decided that the best way to move forward was to reduce the 2014 budget.  One of the measures that made this possible was to remove the major maintenance and repair projects from the budget and to find alternate funding for them.

As the committee was exploring the options for funding the additional maintenance and repair projects, it felt it would be wise to gather the members of all administrative committees and officers to inform them and seek their counsel.  On October 16, over 35 key leaders attended this discussion.  After the information was shared, varying points of views were heard.  Some of the leaders expressed that what needed to be done was to inform the entire congregation of the need and to give them an opportunity to respond to both the budget and the specific projects and before taking any other measures.  The stewardship committee listened to this counsel.

For these reasons the stewardship committee decided to do a budget campaign.  “Keep the Light On” is the theme of this campaign.  This theme keeps the spiritual meaning of Matthew 5:16 as a priority and includes the physical needs of our church.  We are confident that God will meet all the needs of our church when we trust Him.  Ultimately, the budget campaign is not really about wanting the congregation’s money for the church but about giving an opportunity for each person in the congregation to participate in what God is doing.  It is an invitation to joyful obedience by grace.  We believe that giving is a blessing for the giver!

          The campaign will address our base for ministry: the church budget, and our special projects, as needs that will require generosity beyond the tithe.

The campaign will have three phases.  During the month of December we will have a spiritual preparation phase that will consist of prayer as a church body and as individuals/families.  In the month of January we will give opportunities to individuals/families in our congregation to make a faith giving commitment.  All of 2014 will be the “giving” phase of this campaign.  We hope and pray this will make our church stronger and more unified, help our members grow spiritually, and ultimately bring glory to God.

 In the days ahead we will be sharing newsletters, a prayer guide and other information, please help us get this information to your respective teams.  Ask those whom you lead to join in prayer and to help communicate this information to all in our congregation.

Church in Conference Brief Follow-Up

          Calvary met in Church Conference on Sunday night with approximately 100 members present.  After a time of worship in singing, Scripture reading and prayer, the congregation dealt with the business at hand.

           Nine candidates were presented by the Deacon Screening and Nominating Committee.  Ninety seven ballots were cast and all nine candidates were elected by an overwhelming majority.  We welcome the following men to the active deacon body at Calvary 2014-2016:

          The church adopted the 2014 Budget proposed by the stewardship committee and announced the launching of a budget campaign.  To see a copy of the budget click here: Calvary 2014 Approved Budget.

          The nominations for those serving in the various officer and committee positions of the church were also approved.  Before concluding the meeting, the church received the recommendation from the ordaining council to ordain Marco Murillo to the ministry.  The congregation voted in favor of the recommendation and the "laying on of hands" service will be held this coming Sunday, November 24 during each of the regular worship services. To see Marco's testimony click here: Ordaining Council for Marco Murillo.

          I am grateful for each committee that worked hard to prepare for this important Church in Conference and to each member who demonstrated his/her love for the church by participating.  I thank God for the harmony and peaceful spirit with which our church carries its business.  I pray that He accomplish His will in us and that He brings glory to Himself through us.

Done with the Ph D!

           By the grace of God and because of the support of my family, friends and church, I have concluded my journey in the Ph. D. program.  I now humbly have been entrusted with the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Leadership Studies from the Gary Cook Graduate School of Leadership at Dallas Baptist University.  I hold that as an immense privilege and responsibility.  Ultimately my education has been granted to me that I may be a servant, of Jesus Christ first, and of people also.

        I am taking this point of privilege to thank you as a Calvary leader for your invaluable support during this journey.  The search committee that called me and the personnel committee have been a constant support.  I will not mention all the names of these but I will pause to thank George Kydd, who has gone to be with the Lord already but whose encouragement and support still affect me today.  The deacon body has also been a blessing to my life as they have prayed and encouraged me.  The staff has been outstanding in their willingness to stand in the gap and to protect me.  The congregation has been patient and gracious during this time.  I could not have done this without the wonderful family of Calvary Baptist Church, McAllen.  So thank you!

          This past Monday I stood before my dissertation committee, other faculty and Ph. D. students to defend my dissertation.  Since the early hours of the morning as I headed to the airport I felt God's strength and grace, sensing the prayers of family and church.  I defended successfully, answered the questions, and received the decision of the committee to confer to me the Ph. D. title joyfully.

           There will be a "hooding" ceremony (graduation) in May of 2014.  For now, I'm done and extremely grateful.

Church in Conference This Sunday

           Our Fall Church in Conference will meet this Sunday, November 17 at 6:30 in our worship center.  In addition to the usual reports, the congregation will have an opportunity to:

1. Vote on nominations for the 2014 church committees;
2. Vote on the 2014 proposed budget;
3. Vote on nine deacon nominees for 2014-2016;
4. Consider a recommendation to ordain Marco Murillo to the ministry

You may access the Church in Conference packet which includes the agenda, the minutes, the financial reports, membership changes, personnel committee report, nominations report, proposed budget and committee minutes by clicking here:

Church in Conference Packet (English)

Paquete para Iglesia en Conferencia (Español)

You can see the names of the deacon nominees below:

In addition, our stewardship committee will introduce a budget campaign called "Keep the Light On."  (More information will be coming your way later).

Pray for our church, for the decisions that will be made Sunday night and come be a part of it.  I am counting on you to get the word out to your Bible Fellowships and other teams please.

Ordaining Council for Marco Murillo

           You may know Marco because of his service in our deacon body or because of his leadership of the "Instituto de Capacitación Calvary" (Calvary en Español's Institute on Wednesday Nights).  You may also have seen Aubrey teaching children, interacting in ABF and WIT ministries.  Or you may have seen their daughter Elisabet signing in our children's choir.  The Murillo's have been a blessing to the Calvary Family. 

           Currently, Marco has been serving on the faculty and staff at the Rio Grande Bible College in Edinburg.  Partially as a result of the Perspectives Course, and in connection with NAMB's (North American Mission Board) "Send North America" national strategy conference in Dallas, the Murillo's have answered a call to plant a church in the Atlanta area.  This church plant will be cosponsored by First Baptist Church Woodstock, NAMB and other entities.  Of course, Calvary is their home church and we have the opportunity to "send them" and to continue to prayerfully support them during their assignment.  Their vision is to plant a church that will mobilize people for global missions as part of their DNA.  That's exciting!

          Before the Murillo's leave in January, we are seeking the opportunity to ordain Marco to vocational ministry.  This Sunday, November 17 at 4:45 PM an ordaining council will examine Marco as to his call, his character and testimony, and his doctrinal soundness.  The ordaining council will make a recommendation to the Church in Conference which also meets this Sunday night at 6:30 PM.  If all goes well, an laying on off hands and commissioning service will be held on Sunday, November 24.  This will be great opportunities to affirm this family and to send them off to be on mission with God to reach those who are lost without Christ and to mobilize them for God's mission.  Please be in prayer for them.

          Below is a brief testimony in Marco's and Aubrey's own words:

Marco

          I was born in Mexico City, where I spent the majority of my life.  I accepted Christ when I was 18, which caused a 180 degree change in my life.  Shortly after receiving Christ, I had the desire to prepare myself to share Christ and the Bible effectively.  I had the opportunity to go to Word of Life Bible Institute in Buenos Aires, Argentina, to study.  Those three years of study were very special in my life.  I not only needed to study theology, but also see first-hand what a life transformed by Christ looked like.

En 2002, I returned to Mexico to serve as the youth pastor in my local Church.  There, I met a beautiful missionary that had recently arrived in Mexico to serve the Lord.

Aubrey

          I am from Michigan.  My family accepted Christ when I was 8.  Much of our family life changed.  We were at Church almost every day that the door was open.  At age 9, I experimented my first missions conference.  The missionary was very interesting and I felt a deep desire to go to Mexico, where he was serving.  Although I was only 9, I decided to dedicate my life to serve God.

Through Church, I was given many opportunities to serve and participate in missionary trips.  God used those special times to grow my desire to become a missionary.  The same missionary that I heard as a little girl, later became a professor at the Moody Bible Institute.  Thanks to him, I decided to attend Moody and study International Ministries and the Bible.  Four years at Moody taught me much about service and the world around me.  God was putting a heavy burden in my heart to serve Him.  He gave me the ability to understand Spanish and a desire to serve people that speak Spanish. 

           In 2002, I arrived in Mexico to study Spanish, and later I was assigned to Marco´s Church for service.  God put Marco and I together as youth leaders.  We were able to get to know each other better through the youth ministry.  After a time of courtship and engagement, we were married in June of 2004.

           After 9 years of serving in Mexico together, we arrived at the Rio Grande Bible Institute to finish Marco´s studies to receive a BA, and later pursue a Masters degree.  As Marco was finishing his studies, we were invited to join the RGBI staff, where we have served for a year and a half. 

          When we arrived to the Valley of Texas, we asked God for a Church where we could serve, but even more where we could be ministered to.  We had spent 9 years in the ministry, and we needed a place where we could be ministered to.  God led us to Calvary.  Calvary has been an important part of our time in Texas.  We have been able to serve teaching children and leading adults in a Spanish ABF, starting, coordinating, and teaching in the Institute of Capacitation on Wednesday nights.  Marco has served for almost 2 years as a Deacon at Calvary.

           But more than serve, we have been ministered to and inspired by Calvary.  Our children have been instructed in the Word of God, encouraged to serve through singing before the congregation. 

           We have received a call to join a Church-planting movement with Hispanics in Atlanta, Georgia, in the capacity of teacher-pastor.  We are amazed at how the Rio Grande Valley has become a spiritual oasis for us, where we have been able to rest and renew our strength as we look to minister to Hispanics, especially in the area of Atlanta, Georgia.

Here's the same testimonies in Spanish:

Aquí están los testimonios en Español:

Marco

           Nací en la Ciudad de México, donde he pasado la mayor parte de mi vida. Recibí a Cristo cuando tenía 18 años, lo cual provoco un cambio de 180 grados en mi vida. Pronto comenzó el deseo de prepararme de manera que pudiera compartir eficazmente a Cristo y Su palabra. Tuve la oportunidad de ir a Buenos Aires Argentina por tres años a estudiar en el Instituto Bíblico de Palabra de Vida. Fueron tres años muy especiales en mi vida. Necesitaba no solamente teología, sino la demostración en la vida real de una vida transformada por Cristo.

            En el año 2002 regrese a México para ser el pastor juvenil en mi iglesia local.  Ahí conocí a una linda misionera que recién llegaba a México para servir al Señor.

Aubrey

           Soy de Michigan.  Mi familia conoció a Cristo cuando tenía 8 años.  Mucho de nuestra vida familiar cambió.  Ibamos a la Iglesia casi cada día que la puerta estaba abierta.  Experimenté mi primera conferencia de misiones cuando tenía 9 años.  El misionero era muy interesante y sentí un deseo fuerte para irme al país de México, donde él estaba sirviendo.  A los 9 años, tomé la decisión de dedicar mi vida para servir a Dios.

           Mi Iglesia me ofreció muchas oportunidades para servir e experimentar viajes misioneros.  Dios usó estos tiempos especiales para moverme a buscar servirle como misionera.  El mismo misionero de mi niñez era un profesor en el Instituto Bíblico de Moody.  Gracias a él, decidí asistir a Moody y estudiar misiones y la Biblia.  Los 4 años en Moody me enseñaron mucho acerca de servir y el mundo.  Dios me estaba poniendo un peso fuerte para servirle.  Me dio la facilidad de poder entender el español y un deseo de servir a la gente que habla español.

            En el año 2002, me fui a México para estudiar español, y luego llegue a la Iglesia de Marco para servirles.  Dios nos junto, a Marco y a mi, como líderes de los jóvenes.  Pudimos conocernos mejor gracias al ministerio.  Después de un tiempo bonito de cortejo y luego ser novios, nos casamos en Junio del año 2004. 

Después de servir en México por 9 años juntos, llegamos a RGBI para completar los estudios de  Marco a nivel Licenciatura ya que la meta inicial es estudiar a nivel de Maestría. Al finalizar mis estudios fuimos invitados a forma parte del personal de RGBI, donde hemos servido por 1 año y medio.

            Cuando llegamos al Valle de Texas, pedíamos a Dios una iglesia a donde poder servir, pero sobre todo, el poder ser ministrados. Veníamos de 9 años de ministerio, necesitábamos ser ministrados en lugar de solamente ministrar. Dios nos dio a Calvary como iglesia. Calvary ha sido una parte bien importante de nuestro tiempo en Texas. Hemos podido servir enseñando los niños, enseñado en un grupo de conexión en español, iniciando, coordinando y enseñando en el ICC. También durante casi 2 años Marco ha servido como Diacono ordenado por Calvary.

Pero más que servir hemos sido ministrados e inspirados por Calvary, nuestros hijos han sido instruidos en la Palabra de Dios, animados a servir cantando y estando delante de una iglesia grande.

            Recibimos un llamado a participar en un Movimiento de Plantación de Iglesias con hispanos en la ciudad de Atlanta, como pastor-maestro. Con asombro vemos como el Valle de Texas se ha convertido en un Oasis espiritual, donde hemos podido descansar y renovar las fuerzas, para tomar ahora el desafío de Plantar Iglesias entre los hispanos, el grupo más grande de las minorías en los EU, comenzando en la ciudad de Atlanta.