Celebration Sunday!!!

Reserve the date. Details will follow. Come and celebrate year 1 of Igniting’s 3 year focus on spiritual growth and involvement as well as financial stability. Celebrate and praise God for His faithfulness to us. Ignite!! Re-ignite!! Stir up the gifts with which God has so richly blessed you! If you are not yet involved, it’s never too late!

God is good! ALL the time!

Countdown to OPC’s 100th anniversary continues ~ March 2013

“…Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, with men this is impossible; but with God ALL things are possible.” Matthew 19:26

Bestow upon us, at the outset of this three-year obligation, certain gifts: the understanding of the need to repay our debts, the capacity to appreciate the extraordinary opportunity the Dahlmans have given to us, the readiness to ignite the possibilities that lie within our church, and the witness of your abundant grace in our actions.

 On May 8, 2004, when we dedicated this building, we envisioned a commitment to make known the saving truths of the gospel. Thus, may our faith have feet and hands, and a voice and a heart, that we may minister to others. May they see that the gospel we profess shines in our faces and is practiced in our lives.

We thank you in the name of Jesus.

Amen

Bill Goetter

Ignite Opportunity Event

May 19, 2010

Response from our membership to date is over $410,000 pledged, which means over $820,000 in reduction ofour debt!

OPC is your church home and your spiritual guide when you need us. The Facilitation Commission’s goal is that 100% of our congregation participate in this extraordinary opportunity. Your sharing in “Igniting Opportunity”, be it a pledge, a one-time contribution, either of which would be matched by Aztech, or gifting through your will would be greatly appreciated. This matching fund opportunity is a three year window. If you are unable to pledge monetarily at this time, you can always participate by committing your time and talents.

In March 2013, we will celebrate OPC’s 100th Anniversary – our 100th year of serving the Lord in the Spokane Valley.  We plan on celebrating being free of the Aztech debt.  Will you join with us in making this happen?

Watch upcoming newsletters for details.  Come and celebrate with us!

your sisters and brothers in Christ,

OPC FACILITATION COMMISSION

With this Celebration of our Commitment Renewal we  recognize this is only the beginning of a journey that will continue to fuel the fire that has been Ignited during these past few months.  We encourage continued dialog and your positive input to help us achieve our goals.

At the present, the intention is to continue with the existing Azetch loan under the current terms unless the Dahlmans can allow better terms after the campaign.  Hopes and expectations are that at the end of our three year Igniting Opportunity Campaign, we will have paid down the Aztech loan principal significantly which will put us in a position to negotiate with Synod.  The  ultimate goal would be to incorporate whatever balance may be left on the Aztech loan principal into the Synod loan.

What current things about OPC ‘Light your fire’?

What new things would ignite YOU?

Worship?  Our Music Programs? Children’s and Youth Programs? Mission? Small Groups?

Leave a positive comment telling us what you like about OPC today, or would like to see more of in our future, to receive a surprise at the Celebration Lunch and be entered into a drawing for additional prizes.

Click on “leave a comment” below to tell us what you think!

Things to Remember…

Answers to frequently asked questions:

• OPC’s location at 202 N. Pines is where all of our demographics studies indicated that OPC needed to be located

• Our new building represents the completion of OPC’s building vision

• It is important to remember that the Igniting Opportunity Campaign is to be an “over and above” campaign, meaning that we need to continue our Stewardship pledged contributions to OPC.

Stewardship (General Fund) giving goes to:

1. 1. Pay for church operations, and
2. 2. OPC Synod loan payment

• Contributions made specifically to the Igniting Opportunity campaign beginning July 1, 2010 and for the next 3 years (we will have special colored envelopes specifically for the Igniting Campaign) will be applied as follows per the Dahlman offer, which was accepted by Session:

• 1. the first $20,000 of Igniting contributions will go to establishing a Maintenance Budget for OPC

• 1. all Igniting contributions after the first $20,000 to fund the Maintenance Budget will go towards the principal of the Dahlman loan – during the 3 year campaign period the Dahlman’s will forgive all interest due – a sum of about $195,000

• Igniting Opportunity is more than a campaign theme – it is a noteworthy chapter in the history of the church.

• We gratefully acknowledge both the generosity and the leadership which Connie and Andy Dahlman have shown to all of us at OPC. It is proof positive of their love for this place!!

As we all know, OPC is way beyond average as churches go.  Over the past several months we have all come to realize where OPC is financially and we have collectively pledged to honor our financial oblilgations.  As we all know also, there are some committed members who are planning right now for the long term financial success of OPC.

Earlier this year those folks took to the podium to share with us their vision for ensuring the vitality of our church.  We’ve had congregational informational meetings and activities behind the scenes are about to burst forth into view.

Keep track of the opportunities you might have for helping in this effort.  Many of the committees need hands, brains, and a little sweat to get the job done.  I feel so lucky to have enlisted the aid of Nancy and Ben Albrecht and Mary Peterson to work on my team.  It will take the entire OPC team to make the church financially secure as we approach the centennial of this congregation.

Prayerfully consider what you might be able to do to contribute.

Bob Brannan

Ignite means to light or to catch fire.  The Facilitation Commission members are praying that God will ignite a new fire, a new passion, a new joy in each of us and that it becomes contagious and spreads like wildfire – that it will burn in our homes, our neighborhoods, in our communities and that every person we meet will be inspired by our excitement!

The Igniting Opportunity Campaign is to raise funds solely for the purpose of reducing the Aztec   construction loan principal.  These campaign funds are over and above our pledged tithes/gifts to the general fund which cover the day to day operational expenses of  Opportunity Presbyterian church.

Through the generosity of a written proposal  submitted by Connie and Andy Dahlman and accepted by Session, beginning July 1, 2010, interest payments will be forgiven for the next 3 years and Dahlmans will match all contributions  dollar for dollar from their personal assets (after the first $20,000.00 given has funded a capital expense maintenance fund – a requisite in Dahlmans’ proposal).  As a result,  we,  as a congregation will, in effect, double our gifts.  The ultimate goal of Igniting Opportunity! is to reduce the Aztec construction loan to the point that we will be able to maintain a sustainable budget.  Ask God what He would have you do.