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 giving.

As Thanksgiving quickly approaches, it seems appropriate that we contemplate Paul’s words in 2 Corinthians chapters eight and nine.

In these chapters, the apostle Paul is writing to the Corinthians instructing them to give in support of the ministry to God’s holy people; the believers in Jerusalem. Paul encourages the readers “But since you excel in everything - in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have kindled in you - see that you also excel in this grace of giving.”  (2 Corinthians 8:7) Paul continues to give guidance to the new church by writing gifts should be “...according to your means. For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable to what one has, not according to what one does not have.”
(2 Corinthians 8:11b-12)

Throughout God’s Word, we discover God is seeking our hearts, not a specific number that will buy us His grace or entrance into the “pearly gates.” He simply wants us and our full devotion.

Paul continues in 2 Corinthians 9:7, “Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” In response to this verse, Pastor Robert Morris writes, “God isn’t looking for tithes, offerings, and gifts that are given because we feel forced or obligated. He wants you to give from a place of love. You are the only person on earth who knows what God has called you to give. So how do you learn to give cheerfully?

There’s only one way: God must do a work in your heart.”

When asked to give we may think to ourselves, ‘What am I willing to give?’, ‘What am I willing to part with?’ or ‘What am I willing to sacrifice?’ As we ask these questions, let us be reminded of the verse many new Christians memorize first: John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” God’s sacrifice shows the depth of his commitment to each one of us. May His sacrifice, His gift do a work in our hearts to dissolve our selfishness and be replaced with the generosity exemplified by The Father.

Thank you OroNaz family for your continued faithfulness in your financial giving. We are a truly blessed congregation. As our hearts turn to God and we give from a place of love and not obligation, “...God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.” (2 Corinthians 9:8)

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October Financial Summary: October is the 8th 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.
APR 2022     MAY 2022     JUN 2022     JUL 2022     AUG 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