Congregational Meeting
July 31, 2005

 

  1. Membership Growth: David Coleman

One of our five-year goals is to increase membership by 5%.  The attendance records reflect that average attendance is up for all assemblies, but below our goals.  Year-to-date, average attendance for Sunday morning worship is 140, up from 139 last year.  Average attendance for Sunday evening worship is 96, up from 93 last year.  For Bible classes, average attendance on Sunday morning is 100 and Wednesday evening is 96, up from 98 and 89 from last year, respectively.

Our membership is affected by folks moving into our community, but also by members who must move away, like the Garretts & Grahams, who made job-related moves recently.  Primarily, growth will occur as we seek & save the lost through our preaching & teaching of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

  1. Budget Performance: David Coleman

As of June 30th, the half-way point for this budget year, contributions averaged $3,498 per week.  This is approximately $100 per week shy of our budget.  Expenses are slightly below budget as well.  Included in expenses for the first half of the year are costs related to Vacation Bible School.  Based upon the success of VBS, these expenses will be budgeted in future years.

As you make your summer vacation & travel plans, please consider making your weekly contributions in advance by contacting either Mark Coleman, Mark Jones, or Mark Joseph.  This will help us to honor our budgeted commitments on an ongoing basis.

  1. Vacation Bible School 2005: Phil Barnes

Attendance, compared to average attendance in the children's regular Bible classes, demonstrates the tremendous success of our first Vacation Bible School.

Thank you to all the teachers and to Edwin Crozier, Steve Garrett, & Mark Jones for all their hard work.  The teachers did a fabulous job decorating the class rooms.

  1. Guest Packet: Phil Barnes

Darrell Tackett did a beautiful job designing our new guest packet, which includes detailed information about who we are and when we assemble.  We are having 1,000 packets printed for distribution to our guests.

  1. Community Guide: Edwin Crozier

Crye - Leike Realtors and Coldwell Banker Realtors are publishing a guide to welcome homebuyers to the Franklin community.  The guide includes a list of local churches, one from each denomination.  They asked for permission to advertise our congregation as a church of Christ, and here is our listing:

  1. Fall Focus 2005 - A Family Focus: Edwin Crozier

Edwin is busy preparing the daily devotion books for Fall Focus 2005.  Weekly themes during this year's Fall Focus include First Things, Family Goals, Roles and Relationships in the Family, Habits of a God Built Home, and Our Family and God's Family.

We learned from the survey of last year's Fall Focus that there is an interest in home-based group studies designed to enhance the study of the Fall Focus topic.  Anyone interested in hosting a group study or leading the group study, please see Edwin. 

Plans are for our own Edwin Crozier to present the following lessons on October 16th:
AM service ... Unless the Lord Builds the House
PM service ... The Institution of Marriage

Plans are for guest speaker Mike Waters to present the following lessons on October 23rd:
AM service ... Pressing on for the Family Prize
PM service ... From Home to Heaven: Raising Children Who Serve the Lord

Plans are for guest speaker Jim Deason to present the following lessons on October 30th:
AM service ... Building the Bond Between Husband and Wife
PM service ... Building the Bond Between Parents and Children

Plans are for guest speaker Ken Green to present the following lessons on November 6th:
AM service ... Family Worship
PM service ... The Family: God's Bible School

Plans are for guest speaker Phil Cavender to present the following lessons on November 13th:
AM service ... As for Me and My House, We Will Serve the Lord
PM service ... Faith, Family, and Finances

Plans are for our own Edwin Crozier to present the following lessons on November 20th:
AM service ... Families, Bless God!
PM service ... God Bless Our Families!: A Lesson in Song and Prayer

  1. Evangelist's Schedule: Edwin Crozier

Edwin's weekly schedule has been modified to address the issue of rising gas prices.  Edwin and Marita plan to reserve Mondays for visitation.  Edwin plans to work in the office Tuesdays & Thursdays, and from home Wednesdays and Fridays.  In any case, Edwin will always be available to meet at the church office on an "as needed" basis.

  1. Invitation Board: Edwin Crozier

Don't forget to log all invitations on our invitation board in the lobby, whether it's an invitation to our services, an invitation to call Dial-A-Devotion, various "cold call" invitations, etc.  This will help us visualize the work we are doing.

 

Return to Congregational Reports