Basic Principles of our Debt Free Campaign Answering God's Call to Strengthen our Ministries

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1 Basic Principles of our Debt Free Campaign Answering God's Call to Strengthen our Ministries Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church We are asking each of our members to prayerfully consider how they might participate in this campaign to help Zion Lutheran be DEBT FREE BY RAISING $140,000 BY MARCH 2017 "Securing Our Future With Freedom To Grow" This campaign is not just about reducing our debt and saving future interest money but more about how much we can accomplish when the debt is gone. The campaign scripture bible verse we have selected to represent the vision for the campaign reinforces our faith in this process. Romans 13:8 "Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law"

2 A message from Pastor Long: The following are basic principles of the Debt Free Campaign Hebrews 12:1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us 1. Being debt free enables us to move into the future with freedom to grow in ministry and mission. Our financial health is good at this time. Our regular giving provides sufficient resources to maintain the status quo in terms of operations, property maintenance and existing ministry and mission. Nevertheless, this giving does not enable us to pay both principal and interest from the debt without exhausting all our reserve funds. We have sufficient reserves to take care of emergency repairs, replace failed equipment, and to get through any short term economic hardship, but one or two such extra expenditures would eliminate our reserves. Being debt free in two years will enable us to have room to grow in a multitude of ways as we decide which new ministries and which improvements to existing ministries God is calling us to implement. 2. Paying the debt should be a shared endeavor. For the past two years a special gift by one member and debt reduction gifts by a few members have enabled us to reduce the debt from $300,000 to $125,000. But the onetime gift is gone and the gifts by a few are not sufficient to keep up with principal and interest. We need to come together as a family of faith and together take the weight of debt off our shoulders so we are free to move into the future with room to grow. 3. Giving to the Debt Free Campaign must be above and beyond our giving to the General Fund which supports our operations, our property maintenance and our ministries and missions. 4. We each can give according to our means. We believe in proportionate giving giving as we have been given to: Romans 12:6 8 We have gifts that differ according to the favor bestowed on each of us. 5. We believe in joyful giving. 2 Corinthians 9:6 12 Each one should give as you have decided in your heart. You should not be sad when you give, and you should not give because you feel forced to give. Acts 20:35...recall the words of Jesus. There is more happiness in giving than receiving. 6. We believe that together we can put aside the weight and burden of our debt so that we are free to run the race before us. Financial Benefit of the Debt Free Campaign. 1. We save about $15 20,000 in interest that we would pay under current conditions. 2. We create a debt free congregation with a balanced budget with possibilities to improve and expand mission and ministry for future vitality and growth of the congregation. What could we do to improve and expand mission and ministry without the burden of paying off our debt in our budget? Don't assume this is all we could do but here is an example list: Expand Family and Youth Ministry. Expand our Evangelism/Outreach Ministries. Initiate new Educational and Fellowship Ministries for young adults aged Expand our communications with the congregation and with the community. Explore the possibility of a second major community service outreach Ministry.

3 LET'S JOIN HANDS TOGETHER!!! Ways that you can extend your giving potential to help support the Debt Free Campaign. 1. Give as you are able by weekly, quarterly, or annual cash gifts a. Included in addition to your current weekly offering b. You may choose to rearrange your priorities in order to give a greater gift to the Debt Free Campaign 2. Gifts of unexpected cash a. An example would be income tax refunds or inheritances 3. Gifts from increased income a. Such as salary increases, overtime or bonuses 4. Using assets to fund gifts a. Gifts of stocks or bonds b. Funding charitable giving with appreciated stocks and bonds can be very advantageous as the donor avoids paying capital gains taxes. To claim all the benefits, the stocks/bonds must be transferred directly to the church. 5. Gifts of appreciated assets a. A gift of investment assets that have appreciated in value 6. Gifts of appreciated personal property a. Many people possess appreciated personal property that could make a good gift with regard to year end taxes. These include jewelry, art work, antiques and similar valuable items Caution: Tax advantages should never be assumed. Various gifting strategies have certain tax implications which may or may not affect a specific donor's personal income tax liability. For assistance contact a tax advisor

4 The Debt Free Campaign lasts for two years, 24 months, from March, 2015 until March This enables our members to spread out their giving across three calendar years (which may be of help with deductions for taxes and/or for completing a pledge at the right financial time for each participant) Most Frequently Asked Questions and Answers 1. Why are we conducting a Debt Free Campaign at this time? a. This Debt Free Campaign will not only eliminate the debt, and save us from paying interest, but will improve what we are able to accomplish once the pressure of paying the debt is removed. 2. Why did we choose the theme, Securing The Future With Freedom To Grow? a. Being debt free enables us to move into the future with freedom to grow in ministry and mission. 3. How does my response to Securing the Future With Freedom to Grow affect my support for current expenses and benevolences? a. Your financial response to the Debt Free Campaign is a totally new commitment. All money received will be directly applied to pay off our debt. We pray that you will continue to support the current programs and outreach of our church by uninterrupted and undiminished ongoing support to our annual needs. 4. How will I be contacted for my response? a. You will be given materials in advance of the Pledge Sunday worship services, March 22, 2015, where you will complete your response. If you are not ready to make your response that day, or cannot attend worship, you may make your pledge by mail to the attention of the Financial Secretary. In addition, members of the Campaign Team will be available to answer questions you may have at any time. 5. How long will my commitment continue? a. The Debt Free Campaign commitment is for two years and is over and above your regular giving to the congregation. Every quarter for the duration of the campaign the amount you will have given will be listed on your financial statement. 6. What if my financial situation changes or I move out of the area before the end of the two year giving period? a. At anytime during the giving period your commitment may be increased, decreased, extended or canceled by notifying the Financial Secretary. If you should move out of the area, we hope that you would become involved with another congregation and offer them the same kind of support. 7. How much should I give? a. That is a personal decision, but here are some guidelines for your consideration: i. Think of the freedom of our becoming debt free plus the multiple new opportunities that will become available to us. ii. Reflect on the blessings given to you by a generous God and give out of joy and gratitude. iii. Give until it feels great and takes your breath away! 8. How do I calculate my total pledge if I started to give before March ?

5 a. The week following the November congregational meeting the Financial Secretary started the debt free fund and started to record all debt giving at that time. You may include all contributions to the debt from that date November 23rd 2014 forward toward your total pledge. If you are not sure of your contribution amount from that date, please contact the Financial Secretary Pat Crawford who can tell you. Each member will receive a pledge card and our ingathering of pledges will begin on Sunday, March 22, Guide For Giving Corinthians 9:8 and God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance so that you may always have enough of everything and may provide in abundance for every good work. Please study this Guide for Giving carefully, then pray and reflect on which gift you can give to the "Securing Our Future With Freedom To Grow" Debt Free Campaign. All contributions are over and above current weekly gift. Gifts Needed Weekly Gift 2 Year Gift 1 $20,000 1 $15,000 1 $10,000 1 $7,500 3 $5,000 5 $25 $2, $15 $1, $10 $1, $7.50 $ $5.00 $ $1.00 $104

6 1 Chronicles 28:20 "Don't be frightened by the size of the task. Be strong and courageous and get to work. For the lord is with you. He will not forsake you. He will see to it that everything is finished correctly." Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church 1905 Broad St East Petersburg PA