Letter to Unity CRC Members
July 10, 2007
The Council met this past week to evaluate the discussion and feedback concerning the invitation from Willmar Christian Reformed Church to partner together in hiring a full-time paid Youth Leader. We again reaffirmed our desire to have our youth continue to participate in the Solid Rock Youth Group as a joint-ministry between Willmar CRC and Unity CRC. We are very encouraged about the unified youth group and the tremendous opportunities for ministry, growth, and spiritual development that it provides for our students and the students of the community. And we expressed our desire to support the youth ministry as necessary in order for it to flourish like it should.
The majority of the feedback we received about the paid youth leader position was very much in favor of the idea. The only hesitation was funding the position in light of all the other needs already in the church. We took very seriously the expressions of hesitation about the timing of this proposal, but also recognized that other options would not accomplish what we desire for our youth. Several households, in expressing their support for the paid position, also indicated that they would be willing to give financially to this ministry. This is a great opportunity to have our youth led by a gifted and passionate person who not only has the desire to invest in their lives, but also the time and resources.
As stated in the previous letter, Christian Reformed Home Missions has already expressed an interest in helping fund this position because it involves multiple Christian Reformed churches in ministry together. This means that the position could receive a three-year grant, including $10,000 for the first year. And since 70% of the position would involve leading the joint youth group, Unity Church is only being asked to provide 35% of the cost of the position. If the CRHM grant is received, the amount that Unity Church would contribute for this Youth Leader position would be approximately $16,000 for the first year and $19,000 for the second year.
Therefore, we as the Council of Unity Church decided to accept the invitation from Willmar CRC to partner together in funding a full-time paid Youth Leader with our financial support of the funds coming from pledges and gifts outside the General Budget. We do not want any giving to this position to be in place of giving to the ongoing ministry of Unity Church through the General Budget. We are only asking for your pledges and gifts that would be outside or beyond what you give to the General Budget. We are also requesting that your pledges be made for two years. At that time we will re-evaluate the position and decide if this is still the best approach for our youth ministry. If it is determined that continuing with a paid youth leader is the best approach, then we would also decide at that time whether or not to include the position in our General Budget rather than as a separate giving opportunity outside our budget.
We realize that not everyone will have the same desire and passion to give to this ministry, but we want to offer the opportunity to everyone. We are asking for your response by Sunday, July 29 – even if you are not interested in giving to it at all. Because of the timeframe before youth group launches into full swing again, Willmar CRC would like to know the amount of support they have from us when they hire the new youth leader. Therefore, if we do not hear from you by July 29, we will follow up with a phone call or visit to find out if you are interested in participating in this ministry.
We ask that you please fill out a response card and return it to the church indicating your level of willingness to financially support this ministry.
