Finishing Strong!

December 4th, 2025

Dear Commonway Church Family,

This has been an amazing year. God has moved in our church in ways big and small, and we’re so grateful for you: your encouragement to our staff, your faithful prayers, your servant hearts, and your generous giving. Because of God’s grace and your partnership, we get to celebrate:

• Twenty-one baptisms. Twenty-one people publicly declared their faith in Jesus and took a bold next step with Him.
• Every child sponsored in Naquitob, Guatemala. Every child entrusted to us this year received full sponsorship; real help for real families in Jesus’ name.
• A new season of discipleship. Through Practicing the Way, many of us stepped into rhythms of following Jesus together: learning to be with Jesus, become like Jesus, and do what Jesus did.
• A refreshed lobby; paid in cash. We opened up space to better welcome guests and create room for community, and by God’s provision, we were able to pay for it in cash with previously designated funds.

These aren’t just projects or numbers; they’re people, stories, and steps toward Jesus. Thank you for being a church that shows up with prayer, with service, and with generosity.

As we look back with gratitude, we’re also looking ahead with faith. As we head toward year-end, I’m excited to share how we can finish strong together and launch 2026 with fresh momentum. I’m inviting each of us to be a part of our year-end giving initiative called “Finishing Strong.”  A year-end gift will fuel four lanes of mission in the months ahead:

• Finish 2025 Meeting Our Budgeted Expenses.
  If there’s any remaining gap between our projected and received year-end giving by December 31, this offering helps us finish strong.  To be clear, this is not because of overspending, but simply because of giving not meeting our projections.  
• Guatemala Response.
  A ready fund for practical needs with our partners at Food For The Hungry.  They have already identified potential ways for us to serve Naquitob through clean water access, farm support (seeds, tools, training), and discipleship resources.  When God opens a door, we want to be able to say “yes” right away.
• Local Outreach Response.
  Loving our neighbors and partners beyond our planned budget.   This would give us the flexibility to meet real needs in real time through Love Your Neighbor and trusted local partnerships.  That’s serving people at the speed of life.
• Facility Stewardship.
  Let’s continue to move the ball down the court with stewarding the incredible facilities God has given us.  This initiative would help us with the wear and tear on our building, improving our kids’ bathrooms, campus signage that helps first-time guests find their way, and flexible mid-week spaces that welcome our city and form disciples.

Church family, for those of us who love Jesus and call Commonway Church home, would you consider the words of Paul as we talk about the heart of generosity?  He said this to the early church, and it echoes to us as Jesus followers today.  

• “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 Corinthians 9:7–8.  

That is the heart behind this initiative!  There’s no pressure, it’s only an invitation!  

So, would you do this?  Would you ask, listen, and respond?  Ask God what your part is.  “God, what do you want me to do?” Then listen for His voice.  Yes, God is alive and active, wanting to speak to us and work through our lives.  And then respond in generosity as He leads.   Respond with faith and with joy, knowing that the God who loves us is also giving to us as His children and giving to us, His church, Commonway Church.  

If you have questions about this vision, where we’re going, or what’s ahead, we’d love to talk. Our Elder Team is available and eager to answer any questions.  

Commonway Church, we are so grateful for what God has done this year, and we are excited to see what more God wants to do in and through us!  Together, let’s finish strong!  

With gratitude,

Pastor Steve & the Elder Team
Commonway Church

PS:  All year-end gifts must be made to Commonway Church by December 31st, 2025.  On your check or when giving online, please note “Finishing Strong.”   We are also excited to share more vision with you at our Annual Church Business Meeting on Sunday, January 25, 2026.