Our budgeted giving increase for 2025 is a modest rise compared to the much larger rise of 2024. We are thankful to God for those who pledged in 2024 to increase their giving or to start giving. This has helped us move forward with confidence that together we own the vision of more mission and ministry in our parish. We have also been able to offset the budget increase by drawing on our LMAP Growth Fund (see below for more information).
We need to raise our collective weekly giving in 2025 by $1250p.w. - and we are hoping that in the first instance those members who have not yet started giving would put it on their hearts to start as soon as possible.
For example: if 25 people started giving $50 a week we would be covered.
Giving generously and sacrificially is a sign of Christian maturity. Each Christian will fall into one of three categories.
- Those who give generously and sacrificially according to their means. If that is you, we thank God for you and praise him for his work in your life.
- Those who give, but have not put much thought or prayer into how much or how regularly. We get it, life is busy, times change, incomes change. If this is you, may we suggest you take the time to think and pray about what you should give and take action?
- Those who do not give at all and could. If this is you, then we really hope that might start giving as soon a possible and form the habit of generously giving, no matter how small. As the apostle Paul said, "Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." (2 Cor 9:7)
Which of these best describes you?
To commence or change your level of giving - see here
The Quick Q's & A's
Across the parish, this is about $65K p.a. ($1250 per week or $5400 per month)
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Well, we have about 170 giving units. That is, either a single adult, or a married couple, or a family. We call them giving units so we don't count, say, a single income couple as two givers.
$65k across 170 givers means just over $380 increase per year, or just over $30 per month, or about $7.30 per week.
If those who have not been able to start giving as yet, started we would need:
- 25 people willing to give $50 a week, or
- 50 people willing to give $25 a week, or
- 100 people willing to give $12.50 a week
Every bit helps.
If you can't give more, then you are most certainly giving enough!
It's obvious we can't all give the same increase. Some people will be able to give waaaayyyyy more, some none at all, and some may even need to give less because their circumstances change. That's between you and God. And he knows your sums much better than you do, so talk to him about it.
The LMAP Growth Fund is like a piggy bank. It seed funds new things to help them get up and running with the hope that it time, those new things will start to attract giving which will mean it sustains itself.
Last year, we knew the budget needed to increase sharply, this year we have reduced that increase by drawing more down from the Growth Fund.
The issue this creates is that in 2026 there will be less in the Growth Fund. So the prayer is that giving will increase across 2025 as growth in the number of our members grows.
We are expecting some more significant cost increases in the next few years as we grow beyond our staff and building capacities. In addition to that, the LMAP Growth Fund will need to be replenished and won't necessarily be able to absorb budget increases.
As mentioned above, giving sacrificially and generously is part of Christian maturity. While we have had many new people join us over the last couple of years and a good number of people become Christians, it's God who grows his people in faith and maturity in Jesus Christ. The one thing that will make the biggest difference to our giving and bottom line is people growing in their love, knowledge, and dependence on Jesus. Let's give ourselves first and foremost to that task, the rest will follow.
If you would like a more detailed Budget working - that can easily be provided to members. Email our Treasurer: Howard Whitehouse howard.whitehouse@lmap.org.au.
There are several property projects that we are hoping to get under way in 2025 and beyond. These projects sit over and above our budget and will require grants (which we are applying for when available) or one-off Financial gifts, and potential some trade or working bee support. Without funding we won't progress.
Some are more managable (so we are aiming for 2025) and others more audacious and strategic (so towards 2030)
Mt Riv
Phase 2: Church Building – interior wall removed to expand main space, reorientation so that we sit facing the left/north (back boundary), install large screen TV's, relocate curtain behind front area, recarpet, install glass panel and door to new cry room, install wi-fi, repaint (exterior and interior), new signage.
Estimate Cost: $25K
New BBQ and Landscaping for hospitality
Estimate Cost: $5K
Phase 3: Design and rebuild of a new Ministry Centre at Mt Riv
Estimate: Unknown
Glenbrook
Landscaping with concreted multi use space (for jumping castle/handball court/basketball ring) and Hidden Fire pit
Estimate Cost: $15-18K
Outdoor portable BBQ and Serving Station for hospitality and events
Estimate Cost: $5K
Convert current Office space into ministry spaces (for Kid's church and smaller group use) & with this find or rent new Office Space offsite.
Estimate Cost: Unknown
Blaxland
Playground Equipment - making the church more kid friendly and the site available for the neighbourhood
Quoted Cost: $100K
Renovate Bathrooms and add Accessibility Bathroom (with baby change facilities)
Quoted Cost: $95K
If interested in any of these projects, their scope or focus - please speak with the respective Wardens from the relevant location - email here. Or comment here
This is a seed fund for new initiatives which helps us get things underway and softens the cost when we get something started.
Through this Growth Fund, we are paying for the first phase of the Mt Riv development – and we will use about $45,000 next year to soften the budget increase for the activities that we plan to do.
As we forecast what new staff we might need, this Growth Fund is important – and so for those who can give a one-off gift, then know that this will help us to start what we plan and keep us in line with the growth that we expect. Giving to this fund helps us make bold but wise decisions about ministry.
Details for giving to this fund are found at the bottom of our giving page.
We are also thankful to reveal a new fund called the Mission Send Fund which has been established thanks to a generous bequest left to LMAP by a past member named Jeanette Luckhurst. She wanted this money used for Mission coming out of LMAP and so we have established this to seed fund mission endeavours of members who are traveling out from LMAP to proclaim Jesus elsewhere - further into Sydney, NSW, Australia or to the ends of the earth.
Others with similar passions may also like to give to this fund.
Details for giving to this fund or to consider leaving a bequest in your Will are found at the bottom of our giving page