Wow, wow, and WOW! Last Sunday was an amazing day of commitment and celebration! It was so fun to gather again, in one service, at Enochs High School. That is where our church began their services, and it was another reminder that the Lord is just getting started with Covenant Grove.
So many people went above and beyond to make last Sunday happen. It was truly an “all hands on deck” type of day. And the result was a day of JOY. The devotion was real, the worship was loud, and the love was strong. This was an incredible day. So many people went above and beyond to make the entire Building Hope Capital Initiative happen. It reinforces the understanding that God was not just raising money but building HOPE. This happens through authentic devotion to Jesus, lived out in prayer, care, serving, finances, and hard work.
Our verse has been Nehemiah 2:20 – “The God of heaven will give us success. We, His servants, will rise up and build.” He DID give us success, and we DID rise up! The exact pledges and numbers are being verified, but here are the basic estimates:
- Original goal: $750,000
- Gifts from Dec 1 to Mar 7: $158,000
- First fruit gifts: $120,000
- 3-year pledge amount: over $750,000
- Grand total: over $1,000,000
I didn’t raise a penny. Covenant Grove didn’t raise a dime. We just focused in on the Lord and what He is trying to do in us and through us. And God raised every dollar, paving the way into the future. The first fruit giving is more than 50% of our General Fund budget, raised in just over 3 months. And our people have continued to give strongly to the General Fund. The total of $1 million is double our current budget and more than 30% over of our original goal – which shows how the Lord is moving in people’s hearts, and also that God knows we will need more money for the project.
This is not about us; it is about bringing glory to the Name of JESUS. We prayed, we sacrificed, we worked hard, we shared His love. He is doing bigger things, and He is just getting started. I LOVE being on this adventure with all of you! Keep praying – God is just getting started with us!