Why Stonebridge?

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Greetings in the Name of our Lord,

Happy New Year!! 

As I reflect on 2025, it gets me excited about the ways SUMC has been generously engaged in the life of the church as we follow Jesus Christ by building relationships wherever we go. The final report for our ministry budget is not complete, but the early calculations show we finished 2025 in the black. Your generosity is making a difference! 

In addition, I want to thank the host of servants who helped make our Imagine Our Next 30 capital campaign a huge success. We received three-year commitments for $2,318,295 over and above our annual giving. We exceeded our high goal of $2,200,000 by over $100,000. This is outstanding and will move us closer to paying off the building debt and make it possible to complete the needed improvements in Celebration Hall. 

Next Steps

Many in our congregation have been asking about our ministry giving for 2026. Will we have a stewardship campaign? This month we will address this need in a giving emphasis called, “Why Stonebridge?” Every individual and family will receive emails with instructions on how to make an estimate of giving for 2026. The annual fund supports our staff and our ministries of all ages. The online link to make an estimate of giving will be available next week. This giving emphasis will be asking the question, “Why do I invest in the work of God through Stonebridge UMC?”

The giving emphasis for 2026, “Why Stonebridge?” is critical to our ministries for the coming year. The finance committee will be using these estimates to complete our ministry budget. Be on the lookout for the emails coming your way. 

God’s Plan

God has a plan for each of us. God has a plan for Stonebridge UMC. The success of our ministry work in 2025 has been a great blessing and reassurance that God has a plan for us… a good plan with hope and opportunity. The work will never be complete, but God will provide the guidance and resources for the task ahead. Join me in following where God is leading, as we strive to be all that God has called us to be: 

  • Let us pray diligently for God’s direction and wisdom.

  • Let us work for unity in all things.

  • Let us increase our efforts to reach this community for Christ.

  • Let us give God all the glory for what is happening here.

I pray that you will join me in looking to God for our future. I believe that together with God, we can accomplish anything. It will never be easy, but the presence and power of the Spirit of God is with us.

See you Sunday. 

Pastor John Allen