What's Your Giving Plan for 2026?
/Friends in Christ,
Our Stonebridge United Methodist Church giving emphasis for 2026 begins this month. Each family is asked to make an estimate of giving. These estimates are used as a basis for setting our ministry budget for this year. As such, it is important that we all join together to make this a success.
The theme for this annual giving emphasis is “Why Stonebridge?”. “Why do I invest financially in the work of God through Stonebridge UMC?” We will be telling faith stories of the impact God is having through the ministries of Stonebridge UMC.
We are trying to keep this giving emphasis as simple as possible. Please click on this link to complete your estimate of giving for 2026. You can also contact Jennifer Steckel or me, and we will complete the form for you.
There is a God-led spiritual momentum growing at Stonebridge. Let’s build on this momentum by completing this giving emphasis with joy and gratitude for what God is doing among us.
In 2025, we experienced tremendous generosity. The Imagine Our Next 30 campaign exceeded our highest goals and expectations with over $2,300,000 in three-year commitments over and above our ministry giving. In addition, our ministry giving and other income exceeded our ministry expenses putting us in the black for 2025. This is the second year in a row we have finished without a deficit.
In 2025, we saw more people stepping forward to be servant volunteers in our ministries. Each Sunday, we see new families and individuals coming to worship and taking the next step in growing deeper into the family we call Stonebridge UMC. The love of Jesus is changing lives, relationships, and our ability to make a difference in our community.
When I came to Stonebridge UMC, 26% of our ministry budget was spent on our loan. This year, by using the proceeds of the land-sale along Coronado and the giving from our capital campaign, we will see only 10% of our ministry giving going toward our loan payments. In 2027, through the giving from the capital campaign, the percentage should drop to 6%. This means that more of our ministry dollars will be spent on changing lives for Jesus.
For more information on the proposed ministry budget, click here to see how our giving is used for ministry.
It may help you to know that my family will be increasing our giving this year to ensure that the church can move forward. I invite you into a time of prayerful discernment regarding your household’s giving plan for 2026.
I have the great joy of seeing firsthand the manifold ways your generosity translates into life-changing and life-giving ministry. Thank you for your faithfulness to God and to this incredible congregation!
See you Sunday.
Pastor John Allen