Is there anyone in your life who would fit the description, “above and beyond?" Maybe they have a family and a job like you, but they also do some kind of extraordinary volunteer work as well? Or possibly they have some kind of athletic training or sport they maintain on top of all the other things that most of us do? And likely, you have said (or you’ve heard someone say), “How do they do that?”

You may be newer to Trinity, but we want to be that kind of church. This is not an ego thing; it’s a mission thing. As a church planting church, Trinity has a greater impulse — out and beyond our own preservation. Churches can have a remarkably entrenched instinct toward self-preservation, but to be fundamentally oriented to help start other congregations that will help reach our city for Jesus, that goes above and beyond.

We have given, and regularly prepare to give away people, time, and our money in ways that other churches don’t ever consider.

Our motivation is in the Gospel. Just as Jesus did not remain in the comfort of heaven, He moved out of what had to have been unimaginable security and privilege to come to this world to accomplish our salvation. While remaining in the Father’s Presence had to have been indescribably better, in terms of comfort or advantage, in love for sinners like you and me, He cared more about saving us than holding onto His rights and benefits. “God so loved the world that He gave…”

This means first, we believe that we are recipients of great generosity, a generosity that changes lives, and as a consequence, it’s an amazing privilege to enter into God’s very mission and generosity.

This also means that we always want generosity to be a talkable subject. Our budgeting process is consummately transparent. Every line item, every staff salary, every ministry budget is published freely, every budgeting cycle.

We’re a sending church, with missionaries, campus ministry staff, and church planters regularly being raised up. Since our inception, we have sent over 20 men to seminary to be trained as pastors or church planters, and our Campus Outreach ministry has now raised up over half a dozen new staff members. Therefore, as we have asked the Lord to raise up workers for the harvest that is Central Florida, those being sent are an answer to prayer. They’re also regularly going to be raising support.

This means that if you are around Trinity for very long, you are going to see remarkable generosity, and you are going to be asked for it also. Do you have a plan or a readiness to commit? If not, what or who would help you?

As we have now crossed over the mid-point in the year, I want you to know that our giving is down. If you watch Ashley Coleman’s weekly email, the income report is there and is currently showing that we are between $100,000 and $200,000 below what is needed to meet our budget. In keeping with responsible work and living, we have kept our spending down correspondingly, so as a congregation, we are living within our means. Our staff is doing a great job of stewarding what we are given, so our spending is being held back to match our income.

But the vision for our work is great! We are growing at every level and the need for ministry is too. If you are able, we are in need and the harvest is plentiful. If you have benefitted from Trinity and you have never given to support us, would you please consider starting to give? If you give sporadically, would you consider giving regularly or systematically? And if you already give consistently, thank you. Your generosity makes our work possible! Every dollar of support is a privilege and a sacred trust that our leaders take seriously before the Lord.

As an above and beyond congregation, let’s keep in mind what the Apostle Paul wrote to the Philippians believers: “Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on… One thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let those of us who are mature think this way.”