Report of the Stewardship Council
The Council met four times during this past conference year to conduct Bible Fellowship Church Stewardship business. The focus of the Council for the next five years will be on Stewardship Education at the Local Church level. A five year “BFC Stewardship Committee Implementation Strategy for Local Churches” has been adopted by the Council, and implementation is underway (see below).
Stewardship Sunday
Stewardship Sunday was observed on January 26, 1992 by many churches in our fellowship. Special customized materials were prepared for the Wallingford church, at their request. Council recommends that January 24, 1993 be designated by the Annual Conference as Stewardship Sunday. We continue to believe that Stewardship Sunday provides a great opportunity to promote the wise use of our resources to God’s glory in the Bible Fellowship Church.
Living Stones Newsletter
The Living Stones Newsletter was sent out once during the year.
New Strategy
The “BFC Stewardship Committee Implementation Strategy for Local Churches” was finalized, and implementation has begun in our church in Harleysville. A Stewardship Committee has been appointed, with responsibilities for Stewardship Education, Budgeting and Accounting. An eight week Sunday School curriculum for adults has been written, and presented three times. The Strategy calls for the release of the program to three additional churches during 1992-1993.
Stewardship Council Members: James G. Koch, Chairman (Member at Large); Harold E. Snyder, Secretary (Director); Richard J. Volpe, Treasurer (Member at Large); Ralph D. Cole (Historical Committee Rep.); Phil Atkins (Victory Valley Rep.); James A. Beil (Fellowship Homes Rep.); Bert N. Brosius (Pinebrook Bible Conference Rep.); Jay H. Fasnacht (Board of Directors Rep.); Roy A. Hertzog (Board of Missions Rep.); Russell M. Ruch (Member at Large); Carol Z. Snyder (Church Extension Rep.); T. Robert Wilcox (Pinebrook Junior College Rep.).
Report of the
Director of the Stewardship Council
“All the nations you have made will come and worship before you, O Lord; they will bring glory to your name. For you are great and do marvelous deeds; you alone are God!” (NIV)
The Lord has done marvelous things for the Stewardship Council in this past year! We are grateful to Him for providing:
1. Debt Free status with prospects for a fiscally sound future;
2. Continuing leadership with Rick Volpe serving for at least the next two years as a volunteer Director of Stewardship Services;
3. Opportunities to serve our BFC members and friends with good educational material on wise Christian Stewardship and help in planned giving through the Mennonite Foundation.
As we reflect back over the last four years of service, we are awestruck to see how the Lord has led – many times in ways we had not planned. We confess that He is the Sovereign Lord, who does what is best for His people and the glory of His own name. We always tried to do what we thought was best for the Lord’s work. When we “jumped in” four years ago and tried to get things started, we were convinced that the Lord wanted the BFC to do more for the members and friends of the BFC related to stewardship education and planned giving. The Lord has kept us going toward that goal the past four years and we believe that He will do even more under the leadership of Brother Volpe.
We want to praise Him for any accomplishments, and continue to encourage any and all efforts to promote wise Christian stewardship in the Bible Fellowship Church.
Jenny and I wish to thank all those who served on the BFC Stewardship Council for their support during these beginning days!
For the One Who does Marvelous Deeds,
Harold E. Snyder, Director
BFC Stewardship Services