Budget 2009

The Lord’s Blessings in 2008

We give thanks to the Lord for his abundant blessing in 2008 which includes:
- Our celebration in July when 12 people professed faith and were baptised
- Greater opportunities for ministry in local schools and at Royal Holloway
- Increasing Sunday attendance and best ever attendance at this year’s festivals
- The arrival of Ro & Rita and Francis & Georgina (and their children)
- Wider range of training courses and day conferences to equip for mission
- Growing number of members sent on mission projects and new initiatives

Strategy

At our ‘Growth Day’ in 2004 we agreed that Christ Church is about people and that investment in people is a higher priority than development of our buildings. We embarked on a strategy to recruit Ministry Heads “to prepare God’s people for works of service so that the body of Christ may be built up” (Ephesians 4: 11-13), that is, to encourage and facilitate the work of all those who serve as volunteers so that the Vision that we believe the Lord has for our Church might be realised.

In 2008, with the arrival of Ro in April and Francis in July, we now have the full leadership team in place to help us together to achieve our mission to win people to Christ, build them in the faith and send them out in mission for the glory of God and the extension of his kingdom.

Our 2020 Vision and Five Year Plan commit us to some ambitious and strategic objectives. In 2009 we will focus on these in particular:

Evangelism

- To develop creative ways to reach every household in Virginia Water with the Good News of Jesus Christ through special events, invitations and Connection, our Parish magazine. (Luke 24:47; Acts 1:8)
- To equip every member of Christ Church to take simple steps to share the Good News of Jesus Christ with their family, friends, neighbours and work colleagues, naturally and effectively. (1 Peter 3:15; 1 Timothy 2:3-4) 

Discipleship

- To enable Christ Church members identify, understand and deploy their spiritual gifts to help build up the Body of Christ. (Ephesians 4:11-16)
- To enhance our adult ministry provision through a wider range of teaching and training to present everyone fully mature in Christ. (Col. 1:25-28)

Children and Youth

- To create greater opportunities to share the gospel in and through local schools, after-school clubs and holiday clubs during term time and vacations.
- To ensure every young person attending Christ Church has an opportunity to trust in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour and grow in their knowledge and skills to sustain their Christian lives in adulthood.

Students

- To increase the range of Church-based and on-campus opportunities for every local student to hear and respond to the gospel.
- To equip every student attending Christ Church regularly to share their faith, disciple and train others both at college and on their return to their home churches and countries.

Mission

- To give greater visibility to our link mission partners and supported mission agencies within the Church.
- To encourage active participation in short or long term Mission projects in 2009-2010.

2009 Budget

At £530,000, our 2009 expenditure budget reflects the full year costs of our investment in staff.  The increase on our 2008 budget is less than £5000 but, because we are currently projecting a 2008 year-end deficit (income vs. expenditure) of about £22,000, the 2009 expenditure budget is 13.5% higher than this year’s projected end of year income of £466,000 – a challenging increase in the current economic climate.

The budget includes Mission Partner Support of 14% of our voluntary giving in 2008: a sum approaching £60,000. More than 90% of our 2009 costs must be met through your Voluntary Giving with the balance coming from our only other income sources; largely lettings of spare capacity of the Church premises and our Connection Parish Magazine advertising revenue.

More Information

If you would like more information on financial stewardship at Christ Church, our Treasurer will be please to give you advice and answer any questions you have about our finances. You can send an email to him.

Finance Challenge Leaflet

For a paper copy of the Pledge Day 2009 financial challenge leaflet and pledge declaration form which you can print out and return, click here.

Confidentiality

Only you, our Church Finance Team (Colin Rye, Rob Humphreys, Brian Lewis and Richard Snelling), our Gift Aid secretary (Ron Butler) and our Auditor will have access to information about how much and by what means you give. They, of course, will keep your pledge and giving confidential.

2007 Report and Accounts

Click here to view the audited Report and Accounts for the year ending 31st December 2007.

Christ Church, Virginia Water is a registered charity, number 1128275