GIVING

PLEDGE ONLINE

2027 PLEDGE PAMPHLET

ONLINE GIVING

Stewardship 2027: "Adventure Awaits"

Stewardship is an adventure with God in faith. For believing that God has given you all you have and that you should use your gifts to glorify and enjoy Him is not the “ordinary- sit-on-your-sofa and TV/Video/phone surf” lifestyle.  For Christians, we don’t just drop a dollar in the plate and go about our way like we have just paid student council dues. The call of scripture is to give in faith believing God will provide for you and yours. Perhaps Joshua 1:9 applies to stewardship: “Be strong and courageous- for I am with you wherever you go.” To give by faith is an adventure- more than any trip or roller coaster ride.

I have seen that in the stewardship of Spring Valley Presbyterian this year. You love this church and you are inspired to make it go. Your giving and attending have been so strong. Our budget went up about 10% and our giving went up about 12%. Normally this doesn’t happen during a transitional period. But as you know, that is not the whole story. As I write this, we are really close to paying off the debt. That is, the debt that at one time was $3.6 million. We are about to be debt free- what a true blessing! So many have given before on this who are now gone. But new people have been coming in who also give to make the debt disappear. When God blesses us- it is worth celebrating- and giving thanks- and telling others.

So where do we go from here? We don’t know for certain. That is what makes it an adventure. We are not lost- but we can’t see around our next corner. We know some short range things that will or probably will happen in 2027- Spring Valley Presbyterian will get a new senior pastor. Meredith Orel, our DCE will be on leave to have a baby! We will have our 50th Anniversary 5/2/27, and we will have events throughout the year. These things will take an extra boost of energy and giving. To guide us we have our faith- so we can be strong and courageous. We walk into the next 50 years and beyond by faith not by sight. God has given us tools to help us in our adventure- means of grace.  Things like scripture, prayer, fellowship, communion, worship, a calling to make a difference for Him, and who we are individually and together. God does not leave us as orphans so He has sent His Holy Spirit to dwell in us, comfort us along the way, inspire us and guide us into the future. . I feel like we are prepared. We have a great mission and vision statement that calls us to be connected by faith and to be engaged in the world around us. We have updated a lot of our infrastructure- the building (I think) is in great shape- with no major issues on the horizon (like roofs, big holes)- our weakest link is the carpet in the sanctuary which is ready to be fixed. The Session is updating all its organizational infrastructure- like its policies book, having an audit for the first time in years, re-examining our technology and how we communicate. But as you know, you can prepare - but sometimes an adventure is both exciting and challenging. But be strong and courageous- for He is with us.

Looking back on my life I can see how God has led me through so many adventures- the moves, the jobs, the family changes- including deaths, births, and rights of passages. I am so grateful to have God. I know people who have no hope (and ultimate meaning) and think the adventure ends in this life. Let me tell you a brief stewardship story- we have many. When Kay got cancer our kids were in or entering college. Our savings were wiped out with extensive medical bills beyond insurance. We were in a huge house whose mortgage was too high. We prayed and God gave us the right house amazingly at the right time. We sold our old house for a good profit- which we used for a downpayment and to pay off bills. Two weeks after we sold our house in 2008 the housing market crashed and no one could sell anything. We had no idea but God was guiding the whole way. It was an adventure and we didn’t even know it!

God has seen you through and will again. He invites us to give to God through SVPC where He has placed us in our Adventure. Fill out a pledge card at church or make your pledge here. Your pledging guides our budget.

- Pastor Ben

Pledge Sunday is November 15, 2026