Celebrating Charlene Echols’ faithful leadership and the church’s continued financial strength.
by Bart McNiel, Associate Pastor
The Finance Committee continues to steward the church’s resources with care. Our financial standing remains healthy and stable as we move through the fiscal year. Giving has historically lagged behind budgeted expenses heading into late October, a trend that evens out by year’s end, with giving typically picking up in late November and early December.
The most significant news from the committee this season is a bittersweet one: Charlene Echols, who has faithfully served as church treasurer for three terms, will be relocating to South Carolina with her husband, Wilson. While we extend our prayers and support for Charlene and Wilson in this new chapter, our finance and church administration team will deeply miss Charlene’s presence.
Charlene brought a rare combination of practical know-how and professional expertise to the treasurer’s role. She came to the role with a corporate management background and with years of valuable experience and service leading our Missions Committee at Smoke Rise. Charlene has served selflessly in her role as a fiduciary and steward of the church’s finances. She has not only been a trusted treasurer, but she is also a dear friend to our entire financial team at Smoke Rise, consistently going above and beyond what the role required, giving countless hours to ensure our finances were handled with thoroughness and care.
We are profoundly grateful for Charlene’s years of dedicated service and wish her and Wilson all the best as they begin this new adventure in South Carolina.