Annual Meeting 1-8-23
• Jon Therrien opened the meeting in prayer
• Pastor Ben Landes made a Motion to accept all reports after.
– Debbie Zink 1st
– Kurt Bruggeman 2nd
– All in favor
Pastors Report
• Pastor Ben gave his report, detailed the agenda and gave praise report.
– Discipleship Groups
– New Members Class
– Baptisms
– Care and Shepherding
– People turning in prayer requests
– Benevolent Fund
– VBS
– Administration
– Training
– Visual display for when we engage in evangelism
– Renew fund generous gifts
• Email out 5 question survey for feedback from congregation about what we can do better.
– No questions
Children’s Ministry Report
• Venessa Therrien, Anne Finch, and Christina Bruggeman presented the Children’s Ministry
Report.
• Venessa Therrien Children and Family Ministries
– More helpers are becoming involved
– Mentioned special holiday presentations that have been done
– Mentioned how great it was for Kim Hardister taking the lead on VBS this year
– Make transitions smoother for kids who are in between
• Anne Finch leading Kids Korner
– Thanked God and workers
– Kids are loved and safe
– Goal is to convey the love of God in Kids Korner
• Christina Bruggeman Truth Seekers
– Thanked all workers in the nursery by name
– Jennifer McIver taking over Nursery scheduling
– Good Church atmosphere and Family support
– Connections have been made between families
– Truth Seekers will meet once a month for one hour and is for ages 4th grade to twelve years.
They will get into the word and have outings from time to time.
– No questions
Youth Ministry Report
• Ashley Landes gave the report on the Youth Group and mentioned praises.
– Teens taking acting role in leading games, prayer, and lessons
– Richard Sibbs series
– Power Time Camp
– Soul Care series
– Breakout sessions
– Asked for prayer in going over difficult subject matter in studies
– No questions
Worship Report
• Bryon Sawyer gave the report on the Praise and Worship Ministry
– Talent on the team is great and they go with the flow
– Dedicated to practicing
– Aim to introduce one new song each month
– Aim to incorporate one hymn each month
– We’ve learned lots of new songs this year in the congregation
– Dante Card broke and waiting on chip till May and explained the Dante card simply
– Presentation System and the goal is for everything to flow. Kurt is doing a good job holding
down the fort until things are fixed. Wants to change the name of people who work in the
booth to Presentation Technicians.
– Expressed desire for streaming pan, tilt, zoom cam above the door. If you’d like to give
towards the camera mark it on your offering envelope.
– We are here to worship not to put on a show
Venessa Therrien: Asked about when the next sound training would be?
Bryon Sawyer: 2nd weekend in February
Anne Finch: Asked why can’t the camera come from the budget?
Bryon Sawyer: The budget is tight and explained the tech and why its needed. Don’t want to
overburden the budget.
Anne Finch: Asked would an actual sound engineer be useful?
Bryon Sawyer: Yes, but right now No.
Men’s Ministry Report
• Mike Gilbert gave the report on the Men’s Ministry
– Purpose is to meet every 3rd Friday for a gathering
– Sat January 21st is first meeting and it will be a celebration at 11 at the park
– Prayer and Service is important. He highlighted the homeless community specifically and
talked about dispersing sanitary kits
– We are a Spirit led congregation and we love the Lord
– Highlighted the importance of men being in the word on their own time.
– Moving piano for a Church member
– No Questions
Women’s Ministry Report
• Melanie Sawyer gave the report on the Women’s Ministry
– Two parts to Women’s Ministry consisting of local and the larger entity of Alliance Women.
Both ministries are import to the local body and around the world.
– Crafts and Conversations. Thanked Debbie for continuing support. Praying for Benjamin our
TCK on the 2nd Monday.
– Preparing for retreat
– Fall Connections
– Change comes when we look outside ourselves
– Desire that every woman in the Church to be connected to someone. If you need connection
let her know.
Jennifer McIver: Asked how old is Benjamin our TCK and where is he? What is the people
group his family ministers to?
Melanie Sawyer: Age?( Cant Remember what was said), Currently they are on home
assignment in Fuquay Varina, regularly lives in Senegal.
– No More Questions
Outreach Report
• Jon Therrien gave the report on Outreach and cited Romans 10:14
– Taking over some of the outreach
– Encouragement of outreach
– Out of the comfort zone
– Good responses in the interactions with those encountered
– Blessing Box remains being filled
– We don’t know exactly what our outreach will look like in 2023, but it will continue
– Emphasized prayer not just on the day of the outreach but all the time and pray for wisdom
for those making the decisions.
Kevin Davis: Asked what is the Irish Inn’s( Listed as a place of outreach in Jon Therrien’s
Report)
Jon Therrien: Explained it’s a rough place and halfway house. Met with some resistance
there. Management is aware of us going there.
Welcome Team Report
• Jeff Lane gave the report on the Welcome Team
– Update— Easiest Ministry to be involved in in the church
– Jeff Lane still remembers his first day at the Church and how people greeted Him. It makes a
difference.
Jennifer McIver: Asked if we are already a greeter do we need to sign up again?
Jeff Lane: Yes
Pastor Ben Landes: Mentioned that we’ve given out 30 first time visitor gifts since we
started.
• Pastor Ben Landes motioned for all ministry reports to be accepted
– Ronny McIver 1st
– Jeff Lane 2nd
– All in favor
Facilities Report
• Randy Zink gave the report on the Facilities
– Facility aging so we need to think ahead about roof and AC in good shape for now.
– Addressed leak in ladies’ room
– Sign repaired but still need to repair flood light on cross.
– LED bulbs installed everywhere but the nursery.
– Playground not complete.
– Picnic tables need repair
– Better security
– Parking lot will need painting in the future.
– Estimated total cost of $9,000.00
– No Questions
Budget Report
• The budget report was given by Treasurer Kurt Bruggeman
– Celebrations about giving to Missions and Renew and emphasized the generosity of the
congregation.
– Mentioned the importance of taking ownership as the congregation and how its important that
whatever we vote on we need to support as a Church.
– Giving is down but this is not a crisis point.
Kurt Bruggeman: How can we keep you updated on where we are at financially throughout
year? Do you want the whole nine yards or just the basics?
Anne Finch: Do we post it? It used to be in the bulletin.
Kurt Bruggeman: Treasurers Report is on the website.
Venessa Therrien: Email preferred. Don’t really look at the bulletin board but people visiting
the church might and read something they don’t need to know. Checks email more than
website.
Mary Davis: Wanted Just the basic financial report.
Melanie Sawyer: Email helpful with perhaps a link to the website with login details for more
details on finances. Overall is important not subsections.
Shawn Moon: Email ministry leaders their sections
Kurt Bruggeman: Text or email me if you have anymore ideas or questions.
Venessa Therrien: 4-H Deposits for two groups on the line item. One is cashed and one isn’t
on purpose.
– We had a local church’s finance team perform a financial review this year according to our
bylaws. The only thing that was suggested was to inventory items that are over a certain
dollar amount. Full report on the website.
– Pastor Ben Landes compensation no changes & reduction of mileage suggested by him.
– Aaron Zink compensation for administrative work.
– Joanna Johnston compensation for cleaning. $250.00 more. Things are going up in price. And
it was mentioned she doesn’t ask for reimbursement for supplies or turn in receipts.
Jon Therrien: Asked if we are only paying Joanna $250.00 for the whole year or in addition to
current pay?
Kurt Bruggeman: In addition to.
– We are still committed to supporting Alliance Women district wide such as the Outfit Fund
etc.
Randy Zink: Mentioned that before we vote we need to make sure we realize the receipts/
donations were about $107,000.00 but the expenses were just under $119,000.
Kurt Bruggeman: Re-emphasized that we need to support what we vote on.
• Motion to accept the budget
– Mary Davis 1st
– Bryon Sawyer 2nd
Elections
Elder: Randy Zink
Treasurer: Kurt Bruggeman
Assistant Treasurer: Ron Rae
Nominating Committee for 2023
Barret Rae
Jae Holmes
Elder Continuation
Aaron Zink 2023
Jon Therrien 2023
Bryon Sawyer 2024
– As given or yes to all? by Bryon Sawyer
– Yes, to all Venessa Therrien
– All in favor
– Ben thanked Kurt Bruggeman and Ron Rae for their service.
• Motion to close
– Mary Davis 1st
– Venessa Therrien 2nd
• Pastor Ben Landes closed the meeting in prayer