hope abounding - Sovereign Grace Church

HOPE
ABOUNDING
Sovereign Grace
Mission Fund
2014
Letter from
the Executive
Director
Dear Friends,
It is with faith-filled hope for our future that I’m
excited to present to you our Sovereign Grace
Mission Fund. But before you read through the
details, I want to thank you for your generous giving
to our family of churches. Without your consistent,
sacrificial giving, we wouldn’t be able to effectively
plant new churches, strengthen existing churches,
train men for pastoral ministry, produce God-exalting
music, and proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ
throughout the world. Thank you for your faithful
support of Sovereign Grace!
The theme of our Mission Fund is “Hope Abounding.”
It’s based on Romans 15:13, which says, “May the
God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing,
so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may
abound in hope.” The hope described in this verse
is something only God can produce. It’s because
of God’s past faithfulness to us that I have such
hope in God for our future together. Here is what I
mean: While the last several years have been filled
with challenges and difficulties, we have seen God
continue to use our family of churches in the midst
of those difficulties to participate in gospel mission.
Over the last two years, we have planted or replanted
eight churches, with two more church plants planned
in the next nine months. During a challenging time in
the history of our ministry, we have actually planted
more churches than we did the previous two years.
Those church plants have been filled with a combined
total of over 240 church-planting team members,
people like you who have moved their families and
found new jobs, all for the privilege of participating in
gospel mission.
In addition, approximately 3,000 people attended
our WorshipGod conferences held in the United
States and the Philippines this past year. We continue
to produce God-exalting music as evidenced in the
recent release of our album Grace Has Come. And
we continue to train men for ministry through our
pastors college.
Our shared mission continues to be a global one, as
we have partnerships with churches in 20 different
countries, not including the United States. Jeff
Purswell, Tommy Hill, and I recently met with our
pastors from Australia, England, Mexico, Zambia,
Bolivia, South Korea, Myanmar, and the Bahamas to
discuss how we can help them be more effective in
proclaiming the gospel in their countries. I only wish
you could have been in the room to hear these men
give us ideas for how to strengthen our partnership
with them, all for the purpose of being even more
effective in bringing the gospel to every tribe,
tongue, and nation. We dreamed about planting
more churches in the countries represented at that
meeting, and this conversation only stirred my hope
for how God is going to use Sovereign Grace globally
in the future.
Now, I want to give you an idea of what you’re going
to enjoy as you read through the following pages.
First, as I’ve talked to many people in our churches
over the last several months, one consistent question
I hear is, “Why should I continue, or why should my
church continue to partner with Sovereign Grace?”
In light of the challenges of the last two years, this
seems like a fair question. It’s my desire and hope that
our Mission Fund will clearly answer that question,
and in so doing, strengthen your partnership with
Sovereign Grace.
Another common question this Mission Fund will
address is, “How is the money I give to Sovereign
Grace being used?” We are answering that question
by giving you a list of specific giving opportunities from
which you can choose. These giving opportunities
fall into four key ways we fulfill our mission: church
planting, global missions, training pastors, and
producing gospel-centered resources and music.
I can’t wait for you to see the specific and diverse list of
ways you can support our gospel mission!
We are also including our annual financial report in our
Mission Fund this year, not only to inform you, but also
to continue to build and maintain your trust for how
we use the money you sacrificially give to Sovereign
Grace. As in previous years, our financial report
includes an independent financial audit performed by
Aronson LLC. A complete report of their audit can be
found on the Sovereign Grace website.
I recently heard one of our church planters, Dan
Birkholz, who is planting Grace City Church in
Northeast Philadelphia, tell a story about how his
church planting team is reaching out to a single mom in
their neighborhood who is battling addictions. They are
not only caring for her; they are also sharing the gospel
with her. Why? Because they know that Jesus is her
only hope. I mention this story because it captures
why Sovereign Grace exists. We exist to make
Christ known. We have the indescribable privilege of
participating in something grander and greater than
ourselves: Proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ so
that more people will abound in hope. Now, may the
God of hope stir hope in you for our future together as
you read through our Mission Fund.
Grateful for your partnership,
Mark Prater
Why partner
with
Sovereign
Grace?
Sovereign Grace is not a faceless organization but
a family of churches filled with people for whom
Jesus Christ shed his precious blood (Acts 20:28).
Because of what Jesus has done for us in the gospel,
we are not simply a denomination but a family of
interdependent churches who share a passion to
work together to tell others about the good news
of Jesus Christ. Our partnership exists for that one
grand purpose: making Christ known to a dying
world, for the glory of God.
So what does it mean to “partner” with Sovereign
Grace? It means…
SHARED BIBLICAL CONVICTIONS
Theologically, we are a group of churches who are
evangelical, gospel-centered, reformed, continuationist,
and complementarian. We believe in the centrality of
the gospel in all of life. We cherish the ongoing ministry
of the Holy Spirit. We hold fast to the inerrancy and
infallibility of Scripture. We treasure the doctrine of
justification by faith alone. As we move forward, we will
hold to these precious doctrines even more tightly.
Our shared theology shapes our lives and our
churches. Partnering with like-minded churches
allows us to more effectively participate in gospel
mission through church planting, global missions,
pastoral training, and the production of gospelcentered resources and music.
SEVEN SHARED VALUES
As a family of churches, we share seven biblical
values which clarify what it means to partner with
Sovereign Grace. These values provide a basis for
unity among our churches, while also allowing for a
wonderful diversity in how each church applies these
values. Those seven values are:
Reformed Theology
We believe God sovereignly chooses men and
women to be saved. If God did not choose us,
we would never choose him. The fact that God
chooses us for salvation humbles us, fills us with
gratefulness, and compels us to worship. As we
move forward, we are eager to see more men
and women filled with gratefulness to God for his
sovereign election.
Worship at Cornerstone
Church of Knoxville
Gospel-Centered Doctrine & Preaching
The gospel of Jesus Christ is of first importance.
It is the foundation upon which all other doctrines
are built. We are committed to preaching the
gospel, singing the gospel, and building our
churches upon the gospel. We have hope for the
future because we will continue to build and plant
churches upon the foundation of the gospel.
Continuationist Pneumatology
We believe in and passionately pursue the
ongoing ministry of the Holy Spirit. The Holy
Spirit is active today, and we want to experience
the various gifts of the Spirit in our churches in a
way that serves others and glorifies God. We are
eager to see our churches continue to grow in our
pursuit of the active presence of the Holy Spirit.
Complementarian Leadership In The Home
& In The Church
In his infinite wisdom, God created men and
women as equal in value and yet fulfilling
different roles within the church and the home.
Both men and women play a crucially important
role in the kingdom of God. These roles are so
important because they reflect God’s wisdom in
the created order.
Elder-Governed & Elder-Led Churches
Scripture teaches that local churches are to be
led and governed by qualified men. We hold
firmly to the qualifications of an elder because
we believe a local church is only as healthy as the
men who lead it. Sovereign Grace is committed
to seeing the elders in your church strengthened
and seeing new elders identified and trained.
National & International Outreach
& Church Planting
As Christians, we are called to go into all the
world and make disciples for Jesus. One of the
primary ways that happens in Sovereign Grace
is through church planting. Over the years, we
have had the privilege of planting churches in
many different states and countries. Our hope
and desire is that God would continue to use
our churches to plant new, gospel-proclaiming
churches for years to come.
A Family of Interdependent Churches United in
Fellowship, Mission, & Governance
The simple fact is that no one church has enough
resources to fulfill the Great Commission. We
need each other. Being united in fellowship,
mission, and governance allows us to pool our
resources so we can more effectively reach the
world for Christ. We are united together in Christ,
and we are on a mission together for Christ.
These seven shared values are wired into the DNA of
our family of churches. They are important because they
define what it means to be a part of Sovereign Grace.
Dave Odom being sent out to
plant Redeeming Grace Church
in Franklin, Tennessee.
Giving
Opportunities
WE BUILD RELATIONALLY
With the ratification of our polity and Book of Church
Order, Sovereign Grace is now an ecclesiastical
union of churches. Yes, that sounds formal and
denominational. But the reality is that we truly are a
family of churches. We are knit together relationally.
For years, we have enjoyed humble, honest, Christcentered fellowship, and by God’s grace, we will
for years to come. Being a part of Sovereign Grace
isn’t simply being a part of a denomination. Rather, it
means you are in partnership with those who know
you and desire to care for and serve your church.
Gospel-loving people like you love to give money to
the cause of advancing the gospel. Listed below is a
selection of giving opportunities. You can specifically
choose which area(s) you would like your money to go
to. These giving opportunities are categorized into the
four areas by which we fulfill our gospel mission as a
family of churches: church planting, global missions,
training pastors, and producing gospel-centered
resources and music.
Sovereign Grace — Where Needed Most
Sovereign Grace will use your gift to fund all four
of our mission priorities: Planting churches, global
missions, training pastors, and producing gospelcentered resources and music.
A STRUCTURE FOR UNITY & GROWTH
Under our new polity, we are now an “elder-led”
movement, which means your pastors have a
significant voice and influence in Sovereign Grace.
United States Regional Church Planting
Sovereign Grace churches are divided into specific
geographic regions. Money given to this fund will
be used specifically for church-planting grants,
as well as training church planters within your
church’s region. In the past year, we have planted
several churches in the Philadelphia area, as well
as Austin, Texas, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and
Nashville, Tennessee. Our goal is to see churches
within each region partner together to plant gospelpreaching churches throughout the United States.
Sovereign Grace churches are now organized into
regions. This regionally-based approach not only
allows the members of our churches to be more
involved in church planting and mission, but it also
prepares Sovereign Grace for future growth, should
God grant it. In other words, as we grow, we will be
able to add and care for churches at the regional level.
Your church will have a direct role in planting, building,
and strengthening other churches in your region.
Global Missions — Where Needed Most
Sovereign Grace will use your gift to support the
gospel work we are doing in a variety of countries,
including Germany, Australia, Bolivia, Myanmar,
Ethiopia, and numerous others. Your gift will also
be used to provide doctrinal training and support
for Sovereign Grace pastors in
these countries.
WE SHARE A COMMON MISSION
Church planting has been central to Sovereign Grace
for the last 30 years, and it will continue to play a
central role in Sovereign Grace. We passionately
desire to play our part in advancing the gospel.
Because of our rich history of church planting, our
churches are filled with mission-minded men and
women like you who long to see the gospel advance
through church planting around the world.
Strategic Global Project — CUBA
Sovereign Grace has been working with pastors in
Cuba since 2001. Over the years, we have formed
a key partnership with Iglesia Pentecostal Gracia
Soberana, a union of churches led by Manolito
Fonseca. In partnership with Iglesia Pentecostal
Gracia Soberana, we have been able to help
train pastors throughout the entire island. This
training includes teaching pastors how to preach
expository sermons, build churches, reach out to
communities, and care for other pastors. We have
also helped them to purchase a tract of land which
includes a working farm and hopefully a future
Bible school. Giving to this project will enable us to
continue sending theological training teams and to
invest in the working farm that helps supply funds and
food for our Christian brothers and sisters in Cuba.
Partnering with Sovereign Grace connects you with
other folks and other churches who are also missionminded. This connection will allow your local church
to be more effective in proclaiming the gospel and
making disciples for Christ.
Ed O’Mara, pastor of New
Covenant Church in Arnold, MD
The farm owned by Iglesia
Pentecostal Gracia Soberana
Strategic Global Project — THE PHILIPPINES
Over the past ten years, Sovereign Grace
has been working with six key leaders in the
Philippines to strengthen existing churches as
well as plant new churches. We have participated
in parenting seminars, worship conferences,
theological training seminars, and other similar
events. In 2013, we participated in a WorshipGod
conference, which was attended by approximately
1,000 people from throughout the Philippines.
We have also sought to strategize with these key
leaders about how to effectively evangelize the
Philippines. In God’s kindness, we have even had
the opportunity to work with the Badjao tribe,
which is considered an unreached people group.
Your gift to this project will help us continue
working with these key leaders to proclaim the
gospel in the Philippines.
Strategic Global Project — MEXICO
Our churches in Mexico recently planted a church
in Los Altos de Jalisco, Mexico, which is one of
the least evangelized locations in Latin America.
Our churches in Mexico are also involved in
serving the evangelical community in Mexico.
In May, they will be holding their second annual
Pastors and Leaders Conference, which includes
a pre-conference expository preaching workshop
hosted by the Charles Simeon Trust. Their first
conference was attended by over 300 pastors
from Mexico. Finally, our churches in Mexico are
exploring the possibility of doing missions work
in Costa Rica and Spain. Your gift to this project
will make it possible for us to continue planting
churches and strengthening existing churches in
Mexico and Latin America.
Pastors College & Continuing Education
The Sovereign Grace Pastors College was
established in 1997 to provide theological and
pastoral training for new Sovereign Grace pastors
and to provide ongoing training for existing
Sovereign Grace pastors. We believe sound
doctrine is absolutely essential to the ongoing
health of our family of churches. Our desire is that
every pastor within Sovereign Grace would be
trained in sound doctrine. Giving to this fund will
enable the Pastors College to continue providing
theological training to pastors in our family of
churches.
Strategic Global Project — SOUTH KOREA
Four years ago, Songhwan Kang planted a
Sovereign Grace church in Seoul, South Korea,
along with his wife, Miran. Over the past four
years, we have had the opportunity to send
several evangelism teams to South Korea, as well
as participate in parenting and marriage seminars.
In Korea, the culture often demands that men
work 70 to 80 hours a week because success is so
important. Songhwan is leading
his church to combat against this cultural pressure
by teaching his congregation how the gospel
connects to everyday life, including family life. It
has been life-changing for many families. Your gift
to this project will help us continue supporting
Songhwan and Miran in
their gospel efforts.
Sovereign Grace Music
Over the past 30 years, we have sought to
produce gospel-centered, theologically rich
worship music, as well as to provide ongoing
training for worship leaders and worship teams.
Lord willing, in the next year, we will be hosting
WorshipGod conferences in the United Kingdom,
California, and the Dominican Republic. We will
also be producing a Sovereign Grace Music 30th
anniversary album, a Christmas album, and four
EP albums. Giving to this fund will enable us to
continue this work.
Strategic Global Project — ZAMBIA
In 2010, Wilbroad Chanda planted Christ
Community Church in Ndola, Zambia. Wilbroad
obtained his theological degree from Reformed
Theological Seminary, and we believe he is gifted
to train other men for ministry. We have had the
opportunity to partner with Wilbroad in his mission
to train men for ministry. This past year, Wilbroad
invited Jim Donohue, Joseph Stigora, and Doug
Hayes to teach a theological class during the day
and participate in an evangelical crusade at night.
Your gift to this project will enable us to continue
to support Wilbroad in his efforts to proclaim the
gospel in Zambia.
Pastor Wilbroad Chanda
Bob Kauflin leading worship at
WorshipGod West 2013
Annual
Financial
Report
The Sovereign Grace 2013 Summary Financial Report
is included in this year’s Mission Fund for your review.
The independent audit firm, Aronson LLC, recently
completed their audit of Sovereign Grace finances.
Our full financial report and Aronson’s audit report can
be found on our website.
Balance Sheet
8/31/13
8/31/12
Cash & Cash Equivalents
$128,354
$54,897
Investments
1,226,008
1,406,936
18,911
272,455
Assets
Accounts Receivable
Notes Receivable
Inventory
Building & Equipment
99,631
88,875
290,325
282,174
1,595,667
2,789,764
Other Assets
83,269
47,384
Total Assets
$3,442,165
$4,942,485
$384,573
$274,653
Liabilities & Net Assets
Accounts Payable & Accrued Expenses
Deferred Rent Liabilities
22,081
-
Deferred Revenue
43,310
35,460
Capital Lease Obligations
Total Liabilities
Board Designated Net Assets
Unrestricted Net Assets
Temporarily Restricted Net Assets
Total Net Assets
Total Liabilities & Net Assets
7,990
10,390
457,954
320,502
0
1,310,032
2,929,041
3,281,819
55,170
30,132
2,984,211
4,621,983
$3,442,165
$4,942,485
Program
Services
Supporting
Services
Church
Missions
Domestic
Church
Missions
International
$2,000
$150
108,569
217,139
42,422
66,550
Pastors
College
Totals
Events/ Development/
Resources Administration
FY 2013
Total
FY 2012
Total
$1,246,658
$1,248,808
$2,262,063
434,277
765,154
108,972
127,114
367,183
468,621
46,325
200,515
Revenues
Contributions—Churches
Contributions—Mission Fund
Contributions—Other
108,569
Sales
367,183
Tuition & Fees
46,325
Event Receipts
339,663
Investment & Other
Total Revenues
339,663
279,617
(18,091)
234,702
158,787
375,398
599,475
152,991
283,839
136,803
941,548
1,405,445
2,920,626
4,702,559
719,752
126,795
481,558
360,529
353,968
2,042,602
2,810,544
15,684
300
3,631
1,923
5,240
26,778
56,468
191,657
223,158
Gifts & Grants
650,584
116,579
26,410
11,018
1,599
806,190
1,147,621
Travel & Hospitality
124,892
77,352
30,215
194,992
77,375
504,826
560,660
Office & Insurance
22,553
9,574
9,747
62,188
84,006
188,068
201,481
Expenses
Compensation & Benefits
Education & Training
Cost of Goods Sold
Promotion
191,657
39,862
425
45,353
44,642
Sound, Video, & Technology
5,066
631
1,282
97,589
45,896
145,398
212,226
Building
838
46,128
69,786
116,186
232,938
243,477
Depreciation
856
11,297
12,427
83,553
108,133
146,967
286,685
Other
31,544
3,620
57,826
173,465
266,455
General & Admin Allocation
58,710
33,953
128,951
96,540
(318,154)
0
1,631,110
364,553
742,839
1,196,337
623,559
4,558,398
5,933,930
($1,478,119)
($80,715)
($606,036)
($254,789)
$781,886
($1,637,772)
($1,231,371)
Total Expenses
Net Income (Loss)
A Final Note
From Mark
Prater
FY 2013 Revenues
Where Our Money Came From
Category
Church Contributions (43%)
Mission Fund & Other Gifts (19%)
Pastors College Tuition & Rent (2%)
$1,248,808
543,249
46,325
Events & Resources (32%)
941,548
Investment & Other (5%)
140,696
Total
$2,920,626
FY 2013 Expenses
Where We Invested Our Funds
Category
Church Missions—Domestic (36%)
$1,631,110
Church Missions—International (8%)
364,553 *
Pastors College (16%)
742,839
Events & Resources (26%)
Development & Administration (14%)
Total
1,196,337
623,559
$4,558,398
*FY 2013 International Expenses
Continent/Region
Asia/Pacific (30%)
$133,493
Europe/Canada (12%)
51,974
Africa (16%)
72,880
Latin America/Caribbean (42%)
186,464
Africa - Reversed grant payable
(80,258)
Total
As I travel, one of the things that stands out to me is
how Sovereign Grace churches are filled with people
like you who are amazed at what Christ has done for
them in the gospel. This amazement then compels
you to make the gospel known. Sovereign Grace
churches are made up of ordinary people like you and
me who want to give their lives, money, and time to
something far grander and greater than themselves:
seeing the gospel reach those who don’t know Jesus. I
want to tell you a story that captures this kind of heart.
In June of 2013, Sovereign Grace partnered with
Grace Community Church in Souderton, Pennyslvania
to replant New Covenant Church in Annapolis,
Maryland. Ed O’Mara, who had faithfully served as
a pastor at Grace Community Church, was sent,
along with several members from Grace Community,
to replant New Covenant Church. The purpose of
replanting New Covenant was to reach those in the
Annapolis area with the gospel.
Ed recently told me a story of a young married couple
they reached out to who were having real challenges
in their marriage. As the church cared for them, God
gave the church members opportunities to share
the gospel. As a result, the husband was born again.
His wife, who had moved out, saw how God had
changed her husband and moved back in. God is at
work, strengthening this marriage through the local
church, all because the people of Grace Community
Church and New Covenant Church are willing to give
their lives, money, service, and time to seeing a church
replanted for the purpose of reaching those who don’t
know Jesus.
As a family of churches, our ability to reach people
like this young couple with the gospel wouldn’t be
possible without your faithful giving. Would you
continue to generously support Sovereign Grace
financially? You have my commitment to use your
sacrificial giving for the purpose of participating in
missions and planting and replanting churches all
over the world to reach those who desperately need
Jesus, all for the glory of God.
$364,553
For the sake of the gospel,
Mark Prater
www.SovereignGraceMinistries.org