Financial Update

- Matthew 6:21

FINANCIAL CONNECTION: It is the goal of the OroNaz Finance Team to keep this church family updated on our financial blessing and challenges. Through this expanded Financial Connection we will share biblical teachings that direct the decisions made by the CLT and we hope you can find application to your life as well.  

This month we’ll focus on God the Provider.

After the Israelites escaped Egypt, they found themselves in the desert. Exodus 16:2 reads, “In the desert the whole community grumbled against Moses and Aaron.” There wasn’t much to eat or drink but the Lord provided manna, quail, and water for the Israelites. Everyday, the whole camp would gather manna in the morning and quail in the evening. If the Israelites gathered more than just the day’s provision, the food would spoil. Only in preparation for the Sabbath were the Israelites able to gather food for two days. This was not the menu some had hoped for as they escaped Egypt, but it was life sustaining until they reached the Promised Land…forty years later. This day-to-day dependence on God is further explained in Exodus 16:4, “In this way I will test them and see whether they will follow my instructions.”

In the same way, Christians are called to have this same daily dependence on God the Provider. God has given, or will give, you everything you need to be the person He has called you to be. However, what are we supposed to do when we don’t receive something we think we need?

In a recent Podcast, Pastor Craig Groeschel said, “I would say that, yes, God often guides by what He provides. I would also suggest to you that God also guides by what He withholds. God often may withhold something that you think that you want to help you see something that you would not see otherwise.”

When we combine the passage in Exodus with Pastor Groeschel’s words and a financial lens, what are we to think? Just as the Israelites could not gather more than a day’s provisions, we cannot rely too much on ourselves because we fall short or our efforts are spoiled. In the desert the Israelites developed a sense of daily dependence on God’s provision; we, too, need to remember that God provides in the day-to-day happenings (not just the BIG events). If you find yourself in a season of withholding or trying to gather more than just the day’s provision; lean into prayer and ask the Heavenly Father for clarity, direction, and surrender to his provision.

The finance team at OroNaz has tried to be as transparent as possible in recent years when it comes to how we steward God’s finances. At the close of July finances, we are roughly $44,000 below what we planned for the year to date. At times, it seems like the desert; a season of withholding. However, this passage came to mind and the reason revealed itself. “In this way I will test them and see whether they follow my instructions.” Exodus 16:4.

The instructions are simple, know that God provides everything you need, every single day. Steward that which has been given to you and trust in God’s provision and plan for your life.
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July Financial Summary: July is the 5th month of the annual budget year that runs March 2022 to February 2023.  Thank you for your continued financial commitment; it is a testament to what God is doing in us and through us.

Our Pastor, CLT, Treasurer and Finance Team welcomes your questions and feedback. Please email the Finance Team at finance@oronaz.org to start a conversation.

Besides the financial report, some have asked about getting minutes of CLT meetings. To request a copy of past approved CLT minutes email CLT@oronaz.org. 

FINANCIAL CONNECTION ARCHIVES: Click the month below you'd like to view.
APRIL 2022     MAY 2022     JUNE 2022

As part of the governments recovery plan to stimulate and shore up the economy during the early days of the COVID-19 Pandemic, the Church Board approved us applying for the Payroll Protection Plan (PPP). Working with our Bank, the church was eligible to receive a $10,000 Grant and was approved for $98,000 in payroll protection, which was a loan with a forgiveness provision. We have weathered this pandemic, keeping our staff employed during this time. The church has followed all of the Federal Government’s provisions for the forgiveness of the PPP, and after submitting it to the Bank, they determined that we would need to repay $10,000 plus a small amount of interest accrued after approval, they determined that the remainder, $98,000, was forgiven. Because we spent the money from the PPP for payroll and mortgage payments, we were able to hold back the money budgeted for these things in a restricted account as they were paid. At the end we had set aside out of our budget the full amount of $108,000. Below we have charted this for you. The amount of interest was $81.45, leaving us with $97,918.55.

With $97,918.55 funds available, the Finance Team discussed that we need to use some of the money to help others, not just for ourselves. The recommendation to the Church Leadership Team was to pay a 10% tithe off the money to help others, and then use the rest in a prioritized spending plan developed last year for extra funds above the budgeted amounts. More on the prioritized spending plan later.
 
The Church Leadership Team approved the Finance Teams recommendation. The  tithe on the forgiven amount was decided to be split in two gifts: the first 5% ($4895.93) was allocated to World Missions (NMI) to give to those in need on the mission field, the second 5% was for the same amount,  and was allocated to Local Missions in our area.
Our World Missions Council (NMI) split their money and gave it to two projects:

• $2,447.97:  Project 1 – NCM COVID - 19 Response:  “As the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic continues, Nazarene Compassionate Ministries is committed to acting in compassion as we respond together throughout the crisis, including the long-term needs that will go beyond immediate risks and dangers. Together, we can continue to be formed by Christ to respond in love, care, patience, devotion, and boldness.”  More details at: https://www.ncm.org/covid19 [ncm.org] and https://issuu.com/ncm.magazine/docs/covid-19_digital
• $2,447.96:  Project 2 – NCM The Shechem Children’s Home: “The Shechem Children’s Home is a short-term assessment center for children who are survivors of online sexual exploitation of children (OSEC). This is a form of human trafficking where images or videos of children performing sexual acts are sold over the internet. It is a growing problem globally and, in the Philippines, where Shechem is located.”  More details at: https://www.ncm.org/shechem

Our Local Missions designation for the other top 5% ($4895.92) was split into four gifts:

• $1223.98: Gift 1 – Caring for Women Pregnancy Resource Center: Caring For Women is a nonprofit pregnancy resource center. We have helped teens and women in Butte County with free services for over 25 years. The Pregnancy Resource Center offers a friendly, caring and confidential atmosphere. More details: https://caringforwomen.life/index.htm
• $1223.98: Gift 2 –The Axiom Youth Center: The Axiom is a Youth Center in Downtown Oroville Focused on building platforms for success for students to realize and utilize their untapped potential. More details: http://www.theaxiom.org/
• $1223.98: Gift 3 –The Greater Oroville Homeless Coalition: The Greater Oroville Homeless Coalition is housed in the Hope Center to assist in-crisis individuals and families keep their homes. They work to end homelessness one individual or family at a time, whether you are in trouble of losing your housing or if you are trying to find housing. More details: https://www.facebook.com/OrovilleHomelessCoalition/
• $1223.98: Gift 4 –The Oroville Rescue Mission: The Oroville Rescue Mission is a religious non-profit organization which serves the homeless and disadvantaged in the Oroville area and its surrounding communities. It is affiliated with the Association of Gospel Rescue Missions. More details: https://www.orovillerescuemission.org

Prioritized Spending Plan Distribution of Remainder: $88,126.30
Last year as part of our budget process the Finance Team and CLT set up what we are calling the prioritized spending plan where extra funds above the budgeted amount would be distributed as follows: 75% ($66,095.03) was allocated to debt repayment on our construction loan, 10% ($8,812.67) has been set aside for our Maintenance Team to use on the many needs of our campus and buildings, 5% ($4,406.33) has been set aside for Local Compassionate Ministries future needs, 5% ($4,406.33) has been allocated to our NMI team for future needs, and the last 5% ($4,406.33) has been set aside for the CLT to aid our church ministries and their needs.
We have been truly blessed! We will continue to steward God’s finances to the best of our ability. Any questions feel free to email finance@oronaz.org

Joey McCoy, Treasurer and the Finance Team