Over the summer, my wife and I introduced the idea of budgeting with our two young children. We started to let them know how much things cost, how much we wanted to spend for certain things, and the importance of saving and spending wisely. We knew they started to understand when our daughter offered to pay for her dinner at a restaurant one night. She only had $4 with her (likely tooth fairy money), but she wanted to give all of it to pay for family expenses. This reminded me of the story in Luke 21 of the widow who gave her last two small coins as offering at the temple. While others were giving larger amounts in the story, the widow was giving everything she had. Jesus acknowledged to the disciples that only she had given in real faith.
As we close the financial books for the 2023–2024 ministry year at the bridge, we are thankful for your financial support. Giving has increased over the previous fiscal year and exceeded the target we had for the 2023–2024 ministry year. Your tithes and offerings are used to equip the different ministries of our church to further God’s purposes and plan both in Markham and around the world. As you consider your offering for the year ahead, please ask yourself if you are giving in faith—the faith the widow had. Please join us at the upcoming Annual General Meeting where we will be sharing with you more details of the finances of the bridge and the budget for the 2024–2025 ministry year.
Tim Jenkins
Chair of the Finance Committee & Board Member