Hi Family,
This week’s update is a little lengthy, but that’s because there’s so much happening at Impact that I want to give you updates on. I can actually show you better than I can tell you, so you can watch the video update here:
For those of you who prefer to just read the highlights, I completely get that too, so here goes—
Are We Going Back to In-Person Worship Anytime Soon?
Click here to watch this segment of the video: https://youtu.be/8yg-ENGHs9E?t=6
I need you to continue hanging in there. I know you might be hitting what I call a COVID wall, and you may be anxious to get back to in-person worship with your family and friends. Trust me, I would like that too. In many states, restrictions are being lifted, but I want to encourage you to continue being one church in many houses. We are a people, and we're going to take our time and meet when it's safe. But, when we do return, you can look forward to a very exciting, immersive environment that connects our online campus to our live, in-person environment. Regardless of executive orders or lifting of restrictions, we're not ready to gather anyway because we’re undergoing massive renovations. Trust me on this, keep your faith and your hope alive.
What’s Happening In The Sanctuary While We’re Online?
Click here to watch this segment of the video:https://youtu.be/8yg-ENGHs9E?t=185
Now is the part when I want you to get excited about some of the things happening on campus. We’ll have new cameras, a new set design, video screens around the walls and so much more. When you step foot inside 1253 New Market Avenue, it's just going to be a totally different environment and upgraded experience. We’re widening the hallways, raising the ceilings, building a bigger stage with a digital screen wall, adding new lighting, and getting new flooring! With the ceilings being raised, new industrial piping will be exposed with the top painted black. It's going to be simply amazing.
Has God Blessed You With Overflow? Here’s Where We Need Your Help
Click here to watch this segment of the video:https://youtu.be/8yg-ENGHs9E?t=295
We've had a tumultuous winter in New Jersey with record-breaking snow. Although we haven't been meeting in-person, we've still had to keep the buildings on our campus open. In the back part of our campus, we have tenants, many of who have been adversely affected by COVID-19. As a result, we lost some tenants which means we also lost a lot of rent leaving us with major financial deficits to cover. The expense that hits us the most is snow removal. Our snow removal budget just wasn’t enough for the weather we’ve had. We've spent over $25,000 on snow removal and salting the premises.
For those of you who are in a blessed financial position, I’m asking that you make an extra special gift in an offering to the church to help us defray some of this cost. Listen, we've been blessed through this. Many of you have given tremendously, and I thank you. It's allowed us to keep our staff and grow our online ministries and digital ministries. So, thank you, thank you, thank you. I would not ask you if it wasn't important. I'm not asking you to do anything that I’m not willing to, so I’m making an extra special gift too. For those of you who are in the blessed position to do so, I ask that within the next 30 days that you also include a special gift in your offering, it would really help us cover the deficits created by what has been a terrible winter.
Thank You
As always, thank you so much for your incredible generosity. Thank you for your trust in our leadership and your patience. I look forward to us gathering together online this Sunday!
God Bless,
Bishop