The ACTS Group
Important End of Year Update from The ACTS Group Part 1 of 5
Christmas Past, Present and Future
We begin this Friday with a series for December on ACTS Group progress. Each week, we will highlight one of our strategies: Prayer, Service, Leaders, Gospel. We will be framing each of these highlights in a Christmas “past, present and future” context. These updates will be longer than usual for us, but I strongly encourage you to read each in full. Today, we start with an update about ACT Group itself - called "State of the ACTS Group". Thank you for your engagement. Remember that if you are reading this, you are the ACTS Group.
Jeff Kreiser, Executive Director of the ACTS Group
Giving & Telling about The ACTS Group
On December 1, “Giving Tuesday”, we launched our “Give a Ten” campaign. We realized that if everyone who has benefited from ACTS Group simply gave $10, it would be a game changer to close the year. As you give, remember that your local church comes first, then extra giving outward to missions and causes you believe in. Because you have known about, believed in, prayed for and/or financially supported and/or prayed for the ACTS Group, we are calling upon you to give in December. We are praying for at least 1000 of our 3000 person community to participate in these ways:
1. Please click here to donate $10 or more to ACTS Group today. This link is simple and goes through our Leadership website Convergence.World. OR, you can click here to set up monthly giving or give 10x10 ($100) or 10 "cubed" ($1000) on our main online giving platform.
2. Please forward this newsletter to 10 people inviting them to sign up for the newsletter or link to one of our online communities through Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.
State of the ACTS Group
I want to share with you transparently that this has been the greatest and hardest year yet for the ACTS Group. While energetically continuing to do the good work of advancing the four strategic initiatives in the region (prayer, service, leaders, gospel), we made the shift into nonprofit corporate status outside of William Jessup University. It has been hard work building business systems and corporate structure that will allow this missional organization to reach its full potential. But, we have clearly seen that this shift was essential – especially as it concerns finances. With all of the positive aspects of working from within Jessup, the perception of most was that ACTS Group was directly and substantially financially supported by Jessup. The reality was that Jessup provided supportive systems, positive accountability and in-kind service, but there were not dollars directly allocated to ACTS. In other words, ACTS Group from the beginning in 2012 has been reliant upon specified giving by individuals, churches and businesses.
Operating now as an independent organization outside of Jessup, it has become a lot easier for individuals, churches and businesses to understand that the work of “catalyzing and mobilizing united Christian initiatives” in the region needs everyone’s fiscal support, whether large or small. Ministry is fueled by money. As we close the year, we realize that only 2% of the 3000 people who are engaged with ACTS Group via our events, initiatives, communications and social media have made a contribution. Only 8% of the churches who have participated with SacramentoPRAYS, Serve United or Convergence initiatives or events have made ACTS Group one of their mission partners. Only 9 businesses or organizations have made a contribution.
For the ACTS Group to move forward in strength and vigor in 2016, we need to see these numbers change a lot in the next 30 days and into the new year. Our ACTS staff is devoted to helping inform and make simple a process for monthly or one time gifts for individuals, for congregations to make ACTS Group a mission partner, and for businesses to help underwrite Convergence and Q Commons. We will report to you each week the progress of the support base for ACTS Group. If everyone does something, we can close 2015 well and open 2016 with a resounding YES to cooperative gospel work in the Sacramento region.
Until everyone hears, understands and has the opportunity to respond to Jesus –
Jeff Kreiser, Executive Director of the ACTS Group
jeff@actsonline.net$25,000 Giving Goal for December
It is December and Christmas time is upon us! As we enter into the Holidays, I ask that you put The ACTS Group on your shopping list through the “Give a Ten” campaign. In just a few days since Giving Tuesday, we have had 8 people give a one-time donation. In this space, I will update you each week this month about our progress. As we close the year, we have over $20,000 in end of year obligations (bills) and every amount, large or small helps us meet those obligations. We want to enter 2016 fiscally strong as well, so our giving goal for December is $25,000. Please act now to make a contribution to ACTS that will help us fulfill our mission of seeing the gospel saturate our city through united witness! Please join me in that journey. ACTS Group is on my list!
Merisa Moy - Finance and Development Officer
Merisa.Moy@gmail.comEndorsement - Bryce Jessup
“God is up to something in the Sacramento region’ is a phrase that I have heard numerous times. The Palau festival in 2012 reflected and accelerated it. It is vital that we continue the momentum so that God can have access to all of those in need of the good news in our region. I am excited about the ACTS Group because it expresses God’s heart for a united church to meet the diversity of needs in our community by taking the “basin and towel” and serving others together.”
Bryce Jessup, D.D., President Emeritus of William Jessup University
bjessup@jessup.edu
About Us - Connect With Us!
Email: acts@jessup.edu
Website: actsonline.net
Location: 2830 G St, Sacramento, CA, United States
Phone: (916)577-2389
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheActsGroup
Twitter: @TheActsGroup