Dear Beargrass Family and Friends,
We hope that you have found several recent initiatives meaningful to you here at Beargrass as we have launched new programs like the Senior Adult Group, All-Church Summer Sunday Schools, and an upcoming update to our Children’s Sunday School programming and spaces. The ministries of Beargrass are wide-reaching, and our outreach funds support the denomination and many non-profit organizations right here in Louisville, throughout the state, and even around the world. Your generosity and giving make all of this possible – and more.
These are certainly trying times as a whole for many churches faced with declining membership, but healthy and growing congregations like Beargrass are an exception. As one of the 15 largest churches in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), our church has continually adapted to changing times for more than 240 years. Since the historic pandemic, our leaders have been working diligently to ensure our church is poised to grow and thrive with the resources necessary to provide a healthy, long-term posture of strength for the years ahead.
Over the last couple of years, intentional investments have been made in various projects to help us grow into the future by increasing the presence of Beargrass in the wider community: improving the technology for our weekly livestream, adding in-house capacity for communications, enhancing the Beargrass engagement at the Farmers Market, placing more public emphasis on community events like the Easter Egg Hunt, increasing our online presence for people looking for churches, strengthening our relationship with the Cornerstone community, launching the monthly WHAS broadcast, and more. These efforts have had a fairly immediate impact. Over the past year:
- *Our stewardship commitments have reached an all-time high of $984,000 for 2025.
- *Worship attendance has steadily grown at both services (+20% at 9am and +28% at 11am).
- *Online worship participation now reaches an additional 800 households each week.
- *We have welcomed 135 first-time visitors and 56 new members.
- *Volunteering through Ministry Teams has grown to 209 people serving across 24 teams.
- *37 new households have given to support Beargrass for the first time ever in 2025.
While the investments to make these things happen have certainly produced a positive long-term impact, the church also ended up spending around six percent more than we took in last year. Although both our pledged commitments and actual pledged giving were as high as ever in 2024 ($130,000 more than pre-pandemic pledges), our overall income still ended up falling short of the projected budget last year. These shortfalls and overages led to an overall 6% deficit for 2024, with $1,760,173 of income vs. expenses of $1,873,640.
Many people work hard to maximize the impact of every gift entrusted to Beargrass. From the Executive Board and Finance Committee to our ministers, staff, and the leaders of our 24 mission teams and 9 executive committees – the best possible stewardship of our resources is always a sacred priority. To ensure that 2025 is a year we are “in the black” with a net positive impact on church financial health, all of our leaders have made fiscal responsibility a priority and have trimmed back on expenses wherever possible, including in the necessary resources for personnel and property, to help us make sure we are on the right track financially as a congregation with our best days ahead (see a list of 2025 financial emphases at the bottom of this page).
Sometimes, however, unexpected needs arise. And now is one of those times. Earlier this year, we were suddenly forced to address the replacement of three of our largest HVAC units on campus, including both Sanctuary air systems and the main unit for the Children’s Wing so that we could continue to have worship and programming on Sunday mornings. The total cost for these large but necessary expenses exceeded $90,000 – well beyond the scope of our operating budget. While a portion was covered through special gifts, the majority of this unanticipated expense reduced our overall cash balance.
We have abiding faith that the future is bright for Beargrass Christian Church, with new ministries developing alongside those that continue to grow and strengthen. The strength and creativity of our members gives us all kinds of opportunities to live out our mission in new ways. Exciting project proposals have emerged from our first Leadership Beargrass cohort, including the launch of a Beargrass app, the new Children’s “Rotation Model” Sunday School, a “Caring Congregations” pastoral care program, improvements to our campus, and so much more. Potential projects like these may also require additional funding, yet our current cash position has temporarily hindered progress on some of these important initiatives that will help us grow the church in the future.
For the long-term health and growth of the congregation, it is vital that we increase our current cash reserve levels so that we can always be prepared to support new ways to live out our mission. That can only happen in one of two ways: by further reducing expenses or by increasing our congregational giving. Since maintaining strong ministries, programs, staffing, facilities, and outreach is essential to our mission, our leadership is requesting the opportunity for all of us to come together to increase our giving, rather than cutting at a level that would hinder the church’s growth and impact in the long-term.
We are asking members and friends of Beargrass to prayerfully consider making a special one-time gift or increasing your 2025 pledge if you are able to help us remain on solid footing and continue growing into the future. This request is not taken lightly, and it’s one that deserves thoughtful reflection — and we are hopeful that you understand the need and will prayerfully consider supporting this important appeal. If you are able to join us in this important effort, we would be deeply grateful for your extended generosity for our “Miracle Sunday” on August 17.
We invite you to join us to make your “Miracle Day” contribution in any of the following ways:
- *Give online by visiting www.beargrass.org/miracles
- *Use one of the dedicated Miracle Sunday special contribution envelopes in your worship bulletin on August 17
- *Dropping off or mailing your Miracle Sunday special contribution check to the church office at Beargrass Christian Church Attn: Shelly Grant 4100 Shelbyville Road, Louisville, KY
- *Increasing your 2025 Stewardship Pledge by contacting Shelly Grant (Director of Finance and Operations) at sh****@*******ss.org or by calling the church office, and she’ll be happy to help
- *If you are anticipating a Required Minimum Distribution, consider making a gift to Beargrass
Please join us in helping be part of God’s miracle together!
In faith and partnership,
The Executive Board, Finance Committee,
Ministers, and Staff of Beargrass Christian Church
2025 Finance Initiatives:
- *Real-time budget trackers were created this spring to allow all Team Leaders, Committee Chairs, and Staff to monitor their current budget and expenses for the first-time ever
- *The Finance Committee and Executive Board have instituted a new Purchasing Policy to ensure large purchases remain in budget and receive multiple bids when possible
- *Personnel is projecting a net savings to come in under budget for 2025
- *Ministry Teams and Executive Committees have been trying to keep expenses as low as possible without hindering ministries or programs
Below is a snapshot of our 2025 expenditures YTD broken down by ministry areas. Click here to find a more detailed breakdown of YTD expenses for each area, including Administration, Worship, Spiritual Formation, Mission & Outreach, Children & Families, and Youth & Young Adults.
