Earlier this month, my wife Tammy and our daughter Ella embarked on a long-anticipated train journey to New York City. During our stay, we visited iconic landmarks such as the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, and the Rockefeller Center. While these were expected to be meaningful experiences, we never anticipated that a major league baseball game would provide a profound moment. On an evening when ominous rain clouds loomed, we headed to Citi Field, where we cheered for our favorite team, the Dodgers, as they triumphed over the Mets with a score of 6-0.
As we entered the stadium behind home plate, we paused for a photograph and glanced upward. Etched in stone on the stadium wall was a quote from the legendary Dodger infielder and civil rights pioneer, Jackie Robinson. It read:
“A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives.”
In the days following our return home, that inspiring statement continued to resonate within me. It prompted deeper reflection on my own life, encompassing work, family, daily priorities, and our beloved church community. This reflection rekindled as I prepared to provide an update on our endowment.
Drawing from Jackie Robinson's message, I thought,
"Why couldn't we say that our endowment is not important except for the impact it has on other lives?"
Now, as we find ourselves past the midway point of the year, I'd like to share some key facts about our endowment, its blessings from God, and the countless lives it has touched through your past generosity:
- As of June 30, 2023 our endowment stands at nearly $1.5 million. Unlike personal checking or savings accounts, endowments are designed to last indefinitely, with generated interest either reinvested or used for the greater good of the church. These proceeds can support new initiatives not yet in our budget or provide assistance for unexpected, immediate needs, as determined by a church committee.
- We express profound gratitude for those who have established and supported the six funds within our endowment, benefiting areas of utmost importance within our church and community. Other funds contribute to the maintenance of our beautiful building, the wonderful organ, and the peaceful Memorial Garden.
- Over the past year, the endowment has granted $16,000 to various church programs: $2,000 to Kid’s Morning Out for teacher communication tablets, $4,000 for Movie Nights that bring children and youth from the community for fun-filled evenings, and most recently, $10,000 to launch the initial support for a revamped WUMC website and enhanced social outreach, benefiting our entire community and attracting potential new members.
"We were the ones planted here 60 years ago on this site, not the building." ~ Pastor Dave Rochford
Our endowment is dynamic, continually expanding, and has been a blessing to countless lives for many years. As Pastor Dave emphasized last month, it is we who were planted here 60 years ago on this site, not merely the building. Let us join together as we look toward the future, proclaiming Christ’s good news far and wide! Reflecting on our recent journey, we are reminded that our "endowment will continue to impact many lives now and, in the years, to come."