Church Family,
Thank you to all who attended our "Family Meeting" this past Sunday evening. For those unable to make it, I wanted to share some of the key points we covered.
The past nine months have been a challenging yet exciting season of learning and growth for me as I learn to lead as the Senior Pastor. We've witnessed changes, growth, and the undeniable faithfulness of God. They say the first two years for a new pastor are the most difficult, as they learn their place in the ministry God has called them to. This period often brings many changes and new ideas. At our core, we honor the legacy and remain committed to our mission: "to be His hands extended." Above all, we are dedicated to sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ with everyone we have the opportunity to. Without your commitment, we couldn't do this. We were never meant to do life alone.
Financial and Attendance Update:
The statistics shared at the meeting show our finances are tracking as we prayed and trusted when our 2025 budget was set. Since joining full-time as the Executive, now Senior Pastor, my goal has been to ensure efficient operations and explore ways to reduce our budget. We've successfully cut our budget by 6.4% from 2024 to our projected 2026 budget, which has helped the shifting of our donations. Our church (you) remains faithful and believes in the shared vision of Grace Chapel. We've observed an increase in giving from those aged 13-25, and a decrease in the 26-41 age group. It warms my heart to see that we have 4 donors in the 1-12 age range (well done parents). Our most significant donors are those aged 41-100. Ultimately, it takes all of us working together, and I am grateful for the opportunity to steward what God has so richly blessed us with.
Regarding attendance, we are seeing God grow His church. From the beginning of the year to September, our Sunday morning service has seen a 16.67% increase, and even greater growth on Wednesday nights; at one point reaching 108 people. We are not only seeing more visitors but also more of God's saints committing to action and serving! I celebrate this growth and the commitment of so many saying, "Yes!"
Staffing Transition:
I am incredibly grateful for our staff and leaders here at Grace Chapel. Not only do I serve alongside them, but I also learn from them. Part of the Senior Pastor's role is to appoint staff and ensure the smooth operation of the church and daily ministry. I also have the unfortunate duty to receive news when seasons must change. This past Sunday evening, I shared that the time has come for Julie to step into her next season, and will be transitioning out of her position as our administrative assistant. She will continue to be a significant support to our church, serving in different ministries and occasionally assisting with administrative duties as needed. I am grateful for her and all she has done for our church, and I am excited for what God will do in her "next."
So, what now? God has a way of timing things perfectly and prevents me from making rash decisions, instead guiding me to sit, pray, listen, and then decide. I am thrilled to share with you all that Laney is not just coming home in November, but she will be stepping into the Administrative Assistant position. She brings a wealth of knowledge in various areas, including communications, administration, events, media/marketing, and she will be instrumental in helping us with our upcoming podcast(s). Please help congratulate Laney when you see her. She will be moving back in November, and Julie will be supporting us and training Laney until the end of the year!
The Bible tells us that promotion comes from God, and I am grateful that He raises people up to fit exactly where they are meant to be. Over the past year, our worship team has been in a temporary state of leadership. When we say, "Addie DO," we aren’t joking—she has worn so many hats, as most youth pastors do. She has been leading our worship team on what we described as a temporary basis, but like every ministry, we must have leadership, commitment, talent, and most importantly, anointing. After much prayer and guidance, we have decided that for this next season, Zachary Lane will be leading our worship team. I don't think anyone could miss the anointing on Zachary's life, and that leadership in worship creates an atmosphere for dwelling. Zachary is young, and I understand that, but calling, anointing, and gifts do not have an age limit. Pastor Ricky spoke this scripture over Zachary this past Sunday evening, 1 Timothy 4:12: "Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching." I also want to share verse 14 with you: "Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you." This prophecy was prayed over by the elders of this church. I am grateful Pastor Ricky saw fit to share his stage with me, and if not for that, I don't know if I would be where I am today. I would not be honoring God if I didn't reciprocate that and share my stage with a young man who will exceed in his own abilities but trust in the anointing and responsibility that God has bestowed on him. I am excited for this next season for our worship team, and I truly believe worship is a partnership in battle. Worship must be essential in the life of the church! One of my favorite things about Zachary is the way he humbles himself, receives from others, and is eager to learn. A coach must be coachable. So please help me congratulate Zachary on his new position.
Council:
Part of a church member's responsibility in The Foursquare Church is the ratification of the council. The council is part of the governing body of our church, responsible for approving the budget, policies, and other important aspects of the church. For someone to be nominated to council, they must be a church member aged 18 years or older and must be faithful in tithing and attendance. This past Sunday, the nominees that the council voted and approved to present to the church for ratification were Susan Herman, Kalab Yirin, and Brandon Murray. I am excited to share that all of them were ratified and will be joining our council in January. I extend a thank you to those whose terms will be expiring: Brannan Henson, Christy Simmons, Grant Shiflet, and Bill Luckadoo. Remaining on the council are Rhonda Goode, Scott Lail, and Eddie Deaton. I look forward to working with all of you as we continue to serve with excellence.
Policy Changes and Reminders:
As you know, we are part of a larger community as members of The Foursquare denomination. We have a responsibility to ensure we follow and are guided by the wisdom God has allowed us to be a part of. Over the past year, they have been working on an outdated Child and Youth Protection Manual. This has now been released to us, and as part of my responsibility as Senior Pastor, I must ensure we adhere to the requirements and local policies presented to us. With that being said, I will list some of the items Katie shared this past Sunday night that we are changing.
Policy Changes:
Only those scheduled for that week are permitted in the classrooms/meeting spaces (including youth on Wednesday nights). Parents are to attend the adult gatherings.
Students must go to the classes for their current grade.
Families/parents new to the church may accompany their child into a classroom for an easier transition. They must wear a visitor sticker, may not interact with other students, and may only do so for two Sundays. Katie must be notified before the parent stays to document it.
Meetings with minors (18 years or younger) must be observable and interruptible. You cannot meet alone.
Students must be checked in, and only parents or guardians with stickers may pick them up.
Check-in is also required on Wednesdays. Youth must check in and ensure Addie or someone from her team is aware before they leave. Students can check themselves in.
Reminders:
Please sit in the sanctuary during service, not in the foyer or around campus. This is for safety and security concerns. Our safety team needs to ensure they are not having to cover multiple areas at a time.
We love that families are bringing their children to church! And that we have so many newborns this year! We also understand if you are not ready to leave them in the nursery. For this reason we have created the Family Room. This is a place for mothers to take their newborns for feeding, or toddlers who do not feel comfortable staying in the nursery yet. You do not have to miss any of the service as we play the livestream in the room. Mother's please use this room instead of the nursery so we can ensure we are adhering to the protocol set forth from the Foursquare Manual.
To serve in any NextGen area, you must have a background check, no exceptions.
If you want a record of your tithe, it must be in an envelope that includes your name and amount.
Thank you for helping us with this. Please know that we will be strict on these rules, and it is solely for the safety and well-being of your children and the reputation of the church.
Church family, I believe this is long enough, and while we covered many other things Sunday night, I feel these are the most important at this time. As we enter the busy holiday season, may I remind you not to be too busy for Jesus. I am grateful for each one of you and I can't wait to see what the future holds. Love you all and see you soon!
Galatians 6:9
"So let us not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up."
Senior Pastor
Paul McGinnis
Date: Thursday, September 25,2025
Thank you to all who attended our "Family Meeting" this past Sunday evening. For those unable to make it, I wanted to share some of the key points we covered.
The past nine months have been a challenging yet exciting season of learning and growth for me as I learn to lead as the Senior Pastor. We've witnessed changes, growth, and the undeniable faithfulness of God. They say the first two years for a new pastor are the most difficult, as they learn their place in the ministry God has called them to. This period often brings many changes and new ideas. At our core, we honor the legacy and remain committed to our mission: "to be His hands extended." Above all, we are dedicated to sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ with everyone we have the opportunity to. Without your commitment, we couldn't do this. We were never meant to do life alone.
Financial and Attendance Update:
The statistics shared at the meeting show our finances are tracking as we prayed and trusted when our 2025 budget was set. Since joining full-time as the Executive, now Senior Pastor, my goal has been to ensure efficient operations and explore ways to reduce our budget. We've successfully cut our budget by 6.4% from 2024 to our projected 2026 budget, which has helped the shifting of our donations. Our church (you) remains faithful and believes in the shared vision of Grace Chapel. We've observed an increase in giving from those aged 13-25, and a decrease in the 26-41 age group. It warms my heart to see that we have 4 donors in the 1-12 age range (well done parents). Our most significant donors are those aged 41-100. Ultimately, it takes all of us working together, and I am grateful for the opportunity to steward what God has so richly blessed us with.
Regarding attendance, we are seeing God grow His church. From the beginning of the year to September, our Sunday morning service has seen a 16.67% increase, and even greater growth on Wednesday nights; at one point reaching 108 people. We are not only seeing more visitors but also more of God's saints committing to action and serving! I celebrate this growth and the commitment of so many saying, "Yes!"
Staffing Transition:
I am incredibly grateful for our staff and leaders here at Grace Chapel. Not only do I serve alongside them, but I also learn from them. Part of the Senior Pastor's role is to appoint staff and ensure the smooth operation of the church and daily ministry. I also have the unfortunate duty to receive news when seasons must change. This past Sunday evening, I shared that the time has come for Julie to step into her next season, and will be transitioning out of her position as our administrative assistant. She will continue to be a significant support to our church, serving in different ministries and occasionally assisting with administrative duties as needed. I am grateful for her and all she has done for our church, and I am excited for what God will do in her "next."
So, what now? God has a way of timing things perfectly and prevents me from making rash decisions, instead guiding me to sit, pray, listen, and then decide. I am thrilled to share with you all that Laney is not just coming home in November, but she will be stepping into the Administrative Assistant position. She brings a wealth of knowledge in various areas, including communications, administration, events, media/marketing, and she will be instrumental in helping us with our upcoming podcast(s). Please help congratulate Laney when you see her. She will be moving back in November, and Julie will be supporting us and training Laney until the end of the year!
The Bible tells us that promotion comes from God, and I am grateful that He raises people up to fit exactly where they are meant to be. Over the past year, our worship team has been in a temporary state of leadership. When we say, "Addie DO," we aren’t joking—she has worn so many hats, as most youth pastors do. She has been leading our worship team on what we described as a temporary basis, but like every ministry, we must have leadership, commitment, talent, and most importantly, anointing. After much prayer and guidance, we have decided that for this next season, Zachary Lane will be leading our worship team. I don't think anyone could miss the anointing on Zachary's life, and that leadership in worship creates an atmosphere for dwelling. Zachary is young, and I understand that, but calling, anointing, and gifts do not have an age limit. Pastor Ricky spoke this scripture over Zachary this past Sunday evening, 1 Timothy 4:12: "Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching." I also want to share verse 14 with you: "Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you." This prophecy was prayed over by the elders of this church. I am grateful Pastor Ricky saw fit to share his stage with me, and if not for that, I don't know if I would be where I am today. I would not be honoring God if I didn't reciprocate that and share my stage with a young man who will exceed in his own abilities but trust in the anointing and responsibility that God has bestowed on him. I am excited for this next season for our worship team, and I truly believe worship is a partnership in battle. Worship must be essential in the life of the church! One of my favorite things about Zachary is the way he humbles himself, receives from others, and is eager to learn. A coach must be coachable. So please help me congratulate Zachary on his new position.
Council:
Part of a church member's responsibility in The Foursquare Church is the ratification of the council. The council is part of the governing body of our church, responsible for approving the budget, policies, and other important aspects of the church. For someone to be nominated to council, they must be a church member aged 18 years or older and must be faithful in tithing and attendance. This past Sunday, the nominees that the council voted and approved to present to the church for ratification were Susan Herman, Kalab Yirin, and Brandon Murray. I am excited to share that all of them were ratified and will be joining our council in January. I extend a thank you to those whose terms will be expiring: Brannan Henson, Christy Simmons, Grant Shiflet, and Bill Luckadoo. Remaining on the council are Rhonda Goode, Scott Lail, and Eddie Deaton. I look forward to working with all of you as we continue to serve with excellence.
Policy Changes and Reminders:
As you know, we are part of a larger community as members of The Foursquare denomination. We have a responsibility to ensure we follow and are guided by the wisdom God has allowed us to be a part of. Over the past year, they have been working on an outdated Child and Youth Protection Manual. This has now been released to us, and as part of my responsibility as Senior Pastor, I must ensure we adhere to the requirements and local policies presented to us. With that being said, I will list some of the items Katie shared this past Sunday night that we are changing.
Policy Changes:
Only those scheduled for that week are permitted in the classrooms/meeting spaces (including youth on Wednesday nights). Parents are to attend the adult gatherings.
Students must go to the classes for their current grade.
Families/parents new to the church may accompany their child into a classroom for an easier transition. They must wear a visitor sticker, may not interact with other students, and may only do so for two Sundays. Katie must be notified before the parent stays to document it.
Meetings with minors (18 years or younger) must be observable and interruptible. You cannot meet alone.
Students must be checked in, and only parents or guardians with stickers may pick them up.
Check-in is also required on Wednesdays. Youth must check in and ensure Addie or someone from her team is aware before they leave. Students can check themselves in.
Reminders:
Please sit in the sanctuary during service, not in the foyer or around campus. This is for safety and security concerns. Our safety team needs to ensure they are not having to cover multiple areas at a time.
We love that families are bringing their children to church! And that we have so many newborns this year! We also understand if you are not ready to leave them in the nursery. For this reason we have created the Family Room. This is a place for mothers to take their newborns for feeding, or toddlers who do not feel comfortable staying in the nursery yet. You do not have to miss any of the service as we play the livestream in the room. Mother's please use this room instead of the nursery so we can ensure we are adhering to the protocol set forth from the Foursquare Manual.
To serve in any NextGen area, you must have a background check, no exceptions.
If you want a record of your tithe, it must be in an envelope that includes your name and amount.
Thank you for helping us with this. Please know that we will be strict on these rules, and it is solely for the safety and well-being of your children and the reputation of the church.
Church family, I believe this is long enough, and while we covered many other things Sunday night, I feel these are the most important at this time. As we enter the busy holiday season, may I remind you not to be too busy for Jesus. I am grateful for each one of you and I can't wait to see what the future holds. Love you all and see you soon!
Galatians 6:9
"So let us not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up."
Senior Pastor
Paul McGinnis
Date: Thursday, September 25,2025