Archive for the ‘News & Events’ Category
May 26th, 2010 | 
Author: There will be a one week delay in posting the sermon from May 23rd. We appreciate your patience and understanding.
The location for the Annual Men’s Campout has been selected. We will be heading to 29 Pines Campground (20 miles north of the town of Cle Elum), next to the Teanaway River. There is no fee for staying at the campground and no reservations needed (first come, first served which should not be a problem this early in the season).
There are toilet facilities (outhouse), but no running water so plan to bring in your own water needs. There is NO cell phone service.
Driving time from Steilacoom is approximately 2½ hours and the campground is easy to access even by car. There is a small store approximately 8 miles away should you require anything. For information and directions to the campground contact Scott or Pastor Ray.
Circle the dates (May 13-14) and come join us in fellowship and fun.
It’s Springtime and that means it’s time for another AICF Mens Camping Trip May 13th and 14th . Last year’s trip was such a huge success we just had to follow it up with a repeat. We’ll be featuring Bible studies and discussion around the campfire, horseshoe pitching, prowess on the balance beam, fishing, hiking, napping (lots of snoring going on there!), geocaching, and our newest addition to the lineup – gold panning.
Details will be coming soon as to the time of departure and the destination. Please come and join us for a great time getting to know each other better and to fellowship as brothers in our Lord Jesus. RSVP Scott Baker to register no later than May 5th (253-514-3146).
Over 100 Blog posts have been written! Our Blog began less than six months ago and has been used by God to communicate information as well as strengthen believers in Christ Jesus. There is a wealth of biblical teaching on all kinds of topics. Please continue to come and receive the timeless truths shared. Thank you for all your support; we pray that this tool will be used by God for His Kingdom purposes. Please continue to visit us at www.aicf.us.
Pastor Ray
Don’t forget tonight is Game Night at Pastor Ray and Desiree’s home. It starts at 5 PM. Bring an appetizer and come prepared to share in many laughs.
More information. Call 884-5242
Happy Anniversary, Cathy! Thank you for your “until death do we part” commitment. I know you gave much more than I did on May 7, 1977, when we vowed to love and honor one another. For the past 12,000 days (yes, it actually has been that long) we have managed to beat the odds. We have seen close friends walk away from their commitments to one another, but you, Cathy, have stood fast. Not a day goes by that I don’t marvel at the blessing you have been to me (well, except those days where I ignorantly haven’t been thinking). Thank you, Cathy, for forgiving ‘those days’ and for demonstrating Christ’s love in our journey together.
For anyone wondering what the official gift for a 12,000 day anniversary might be: apparently, it is a butter dish. I know some couples jump the gun in this wealthy nation and don’t wait 12,000 days for such an extravagant purchase, but I am sort of a traditionalist when it comes to butter dishes. Of course, there is no limit to the number of butter dishes a couple may acquire after this milestone has been met. I haven’t been able to find what the 13,000 day gift is, but I have about 33 months to obtain that information.
Happy Anniversary and God Bless.
We are encountering technical difficulties getting last Sunday’s sermon posted. Currently we are testing and evaluating new software which will enable us to get the sermons posted more efficiently and timely. In the meantime while that process moves forward your patience is greatly appreciated. Thanks, and blessings to you all.
Treasurer’s Report – Kendel Lyman
Despite experiencing a down economy in 2009, God again showed his faithfulness and blessing in allowing the church to meet its needs and continue its mission. Following is a summary of the financial operations of the church for the year. As always, please feel free to ask for further clarification of anything you wish to know or do not understand.
Operations
Contributions and offerings increased by $10,000 over 2008. However, operating expense increased almost $25,000, even though expenses came in under budget by almost $3,800. We ended 2009 with an operating loss:
$146,480.20 Operating Income (offerings and contributions only)
− 151,833.03 Operating Expense
$ − 5,352.83 Net Operating Loss, 2009
For those who remember, we ended 2008 with a $20,000 “cushion”, which we used all year to not only meet expenses, but to help a number of people who were in great need.
For instance, the elders authorized $7,809.44 (line 1.2.2) in Benevolence expenditures, an amount far exceeding the budget. However, our members also demonstrated concern for others by donating $5,181.95 over and above their regular giving for Benevolence. Isn’t God great?
In addition, we better targeted our missions giving and were able to increase our monthly giving to our foreign missionaries. In fact, “Missions”, both foreign and home, comprise 19.8% of our operating expense.
Last year, we had a 15.7% budgeted increase in operating expense, reflecting growth in the church itself and emphasizing youth and missions outreach, and the addition of our great Associate Pastor. We experienced a 7% increase in pure offerings and restricted donations (other than building funds)—this in the face of a recessive economy.
We bit into our 2008 cushion early in the year, running at deficits of from $2,000-$6,000 monthly. But the Lord enabled us to meet our expenses without running the checkbook into the ground. Praise be to the Lord!
And, as stated above, we were under budget by $3,800 at the end of the year.
Building Fund
Returning briefly to our other Contributions on page 1, we received from all sources a total of $83,019.83 towards the Building Fund. This includes a $100 per month rent reduction from the Community Church to be applied as a donation to be continued until our building is completed. This is very generous of that congregation, and it would be gracious of each of us to thank their members personally when we see them.
In 2008, we received $91,505.51 in Building Fund contributions (some of it coming in the first quarter of 2009 for tax reasons). At the outset it looks like donations were down last year compared to the year before. However, the 2009 contributions actually represent an increase in general giving, because 2008 saw a $10,000 one-time gift from a non-member, and another large 3-year pledge paid all at once. Seen in that light, it looks like the 2009 donations in general were actually up over the general 2008 contributions.
Details on building expenditures and progress will be handled in the Annual Report from the Building Committee.
Balance Sheet
The church’s Assets at 12/31/2009 total $67,169.82. That is about $32,500 less than the 2008 total. The difference is due to our draining the Building Savings account and the last CD other than the one we must retain as security.
What it means is that we had to use all the funds at hand to meet the heavy expenses incurred on the building last year. This will continue in 2010 to completion of the building, so we are at a critical point. And the only assets we have left are the Donation Account and in the monthly contributions which are transferred into the building checking account.
A note on the Balance Sheet: because the building fund expenses are kept separately, the “retained earnings” and “net revenue” lines are not accurate reflections of our net income. So treat the Balance Sheet as Assets-only at this time.
Final comments
The church is growing. We saw this weekly throughout the year. Ministries have grown and we are able to support our youth especially, and our adult programs, as well as the community at large. It will be wonderful to see our new building completed and occupied, so we can continue to grow and serve, expand and fulfill our mission.
It is my pleasure and privilege to serve as Treasurer of this organization. I especially thank Cliff Purdy for his guidance and support, which make this task a lot easier.
Church Property – Jim Singer
Vision: The vision for the building project is that we will soon have a beautiful worship center that will meet the needs of the Anderson Island ministries.
Goal: Our goal is that we will be able to occupy the building by the end of the year.
Progress to Date – 2009
Construction Summary
The year 2009 began with work being done inside the building. Most of the early part of the year focused upon electrical wiring with Vista Electrical doing the work. The code is very strict on commercial wiring so we were limited in our participation in this activity. The wiring was pretty much completed by midyear allowing us to proceed with installation of the insulation.
We contracted with Boulton Insulation to install the installation. Because of our need for a fire sprinkler system we had to insulate the roof and not the ceiling. Boulton also installed the underfloor insulation. The decision to subcontract this task was based upon the amount of high work and the availability of low priced subs due to the economic downturn.
We contracted with Emerald Fire to install the overhead fire sprinkler system. About midyear, we were blessed with an opportunity to participate in a Riviera Community Club bylaws revision election. We proposed a change to the bylaws that would make it clear that RCC could allow us to connect to their water main for emergency firefighting purposes only. This bylaws revision passed with an overwhelming majority. We contracted with RCC to tap the water main and cut the road and install the main across the road. We contracted with Emerald to run the line from the road to the building and to connect to the sprinkler riser.
Unfortunately, as of this writing, we are dealing with a misunderstanding with the requirement for emergency vehicle access from the nearest fire hydrant to the building. Early in this project we had Riviera install a hydrant at the intersection of Kootenai and Yoman at our expense. This hydrant met the standard of being within 350 feet of all points on the structure. This issue is being resolved by working with the Fire Prevention Bureau, Planning and Land Services, and the RCC. It has caused us to lose a couple of months progress this winter. At this time the “Hold” on our framing inspection has been released and our building permit has been reinstated and we have faith that God will complete the work.
We also completed the rough in wiring for the fire alarm system, the security system, telephone and audio and video systems. With all of that done we are ready to start hanging sheetrock.
Future Plans
Projects planned for 2010 include the following:
- Sheetrock
- Interior painting
- Complete fire underground
- Install interior lighting
- Lay flooring
- Place plumbing fixtures
- Install fire and security monitors, alarms and controls.
- Install cabinets and appliances
- Complete interiors
- Pour sidewalks and curbs
- Final grading
- Landscaping
- Exterior lighting
Financial Performance
This past year we spent $107,658 as follows:
| Clearing/Grading………………………………. | $1279 |
| Permits…………………………………………….. | $360 |
| Electrical…………………………………………… | $17,734 |
| Fire Sprinklers…………………………………… | $35,354 |
| Fire Underground………………………………. | $14,409 |
| Fire Alarm System……………………………… | $5849 |
| Insulation…………………………………………… | $18,549 |
| Security System…………………………………. | $3000 |
| Sheetrock………………………………………….. | $9747 |
| Miscellaneous……………………………………. | $1053 |
Building Fund income for the year totaled $83,019 from all sources.
Financial Summary
At year’s end, we had the following funds on hand:
| Checking………………………………………….. | $28,331 |
| Savings…………………………………………….. | $0 |
| CDs…………………………………………………… | $3000 |
| Donation Account……………………………. | $16,097 |
| Total funds on hand…………………………. | $47,428 |
The total cost of the project is estimated to be $720,000 with a balance to go estimate of $225,972. With $47,428 available we will need additional funds of $178,544. Most of the additional funds will go toward outside work- landscaping, grading and paving.
Conclusion
God has continued to bless us. We have made solid progress this year and have not been limited by lack of funds or resources. We must give a big thanks for the way God moved in our favor and prompted everyone on the island to support the Riviera By-Laws revision that allowed us to hook up the fire sprinklers to the Riviera water main.
Now we are again asking for your prayers to move Riviera to install an additional fire hydrant in our parking lot to satisfy the fire protection bureau.
Continue to pray for the strength, endurance, safety and wisdom of the people working on the project.
Building and Finance – Cliff Purdy
Jim Singer’s building report covers 2009 building progress well. Again and again God has answered our prayers concerning the building’s progress. We are grateful for the funding of the building by you, our members and friends. Funding did not halt progress, but miscommunication with the county did. They put a hold on working for about three months. That being resolved has us back on track.
We serve an “awesome God”. Kendel’s treasurer report testifies to this fact. God has met our financial needs in this time of financial turmoil as we continue forward in faith and desire to serve Him.
Our year 2010 budget indicates a marginal increase, however the programs covered under the 2010 budget show our faith in God. As we continue to move forward in our service to Him and the work of the Kingdom, we will receive the funding. 2010 will be a great year for us to continue our witness of God’s awesomeness to His people.
