NB: if you prefer to watch, instead of read, here is a link to this Budget 2025 announcement on YouTube here:

Picton and Wilton is a growing area with lots of people who need to hear about Jesus. We need to grow our Church and ministry in order to serve this growing population.
In 2021 we made the big decision to employ a full time assistant minister, doubling our expenses and setting ourselves a 5 year goal of becoming a sustainable 2 minister Church by 2026. We employed Scott Williams to invest in developing the youth and young adults ministry and build a team to plant a Wilton morning congregation.
We’ve seen incredible fruit flow from this decision:

  • Friday night Youth Group has gone from strength to strength – with 34 youth attending KYCK this year!
  • We’ve seen a growing group of teenagers and young adults involved and serving at the 5pm congregation.
  • 10am Church was started last October, just over a year ago and has already welcomed many new families and individuals…
  • We’ve been able to encourage and equip several young adults to pursue ministry, with 6 attending the MTS Recruit conference and Jake Pearse becoming our first full time MTS trainee.

Thanks for your generosity in both money, time, and prayer that has enabled all this to happen. We’ve tracked well towards our goal of having a surplus budget in 2026. In fact, things were going so well that we decided to employ Jake Pearse this year for 2 years as our first full time MTS trainee.
But over the last few years cost of living increases have changed the goalposts. Wages are currently increasing approximately 4% per year, and insurance costs are increasing 14% next year alone.
We’re doing our best to keep costs low – we have volunteers cleaning, helping our with administration and we’ve been successful in grant applications to fund projects.
In order to keep on track towards our goal we’re proposing a 20% increase in budgeted giving for 2025. If we achieve this we’ll have a small budget deficit next year and then a surplus budget in 2026.
We’re not imagining that everyone can increase their giving by 20%. Some of you are already giving as much as you’re able – we really appreciate your generosity. Some of you are regular givers but maybe haven’t reviewed your giving in the last few years – perhaps you could prayerfully consider how much you’re giving and make an adjustment. Some of you aren’t yet giving regularly – and we’d love you to consider investing.
So, as Parish Council plans for a 20% giving increase in 2025, we’d love your feedback. Please click on the button below to fill out our quick survey, or you can simply speak to someone on Parish Council if you prefer.
Yours in Christ,
Ben

FEEDBACK: Click here to fill out our quick survey
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