Our Budget Plan, Generous Gifts, and the Future of Our Campus
by Bart McNiel, Associate Pastor
Budgeted Ministry Plan
A Word on the Year
“Every time I think of you, I am grateful.” That is where this report begins. Paul wrote to the church at Philippi with thanks for their partnership in the gospel from the first day until the present. That same spirit of shared commitment describes what we experience at Smoke Rise. This report is an account of what we have tended and given together and a look at what we are called to carry forward.
Closing Out Fiscal Year 2025-2026
We are grateful to close the 2025-2026 fiscal year in a position of strength. Total tithes, offerings, and other income for the year reached $2,742,940.52, against budgeted expenditures of $2,617,193.25. We ended the year with a surplus of $125,747.27. That is not a small thing. It is the result of consistent, faithful generosity from this congregation across every season of the year. We do not take it for granted.
This surplus will be used to shore up our reserves that bless the missions and ministries of our church in special ways. We give in recognition that the measure of what we give is returned many times over where we are committed to the furtherance of God’s Kingdom in the world. Our decision to reduce spending in the 2026-2027 budget was not made lightly. The outcome of this past year affirms that we are moving in the right direction. Strong reserves are not a luxury. They are what allow us to absorb unexpected costs without crisis. They are what give us the freedom to plan and serve without fear.
We will continue to be careful stewards of every dollar this congregation entrusts to us. Inflation will continue to press on our costs, as it presses on the budgets of every family in this church. Giving, whether in times of plenty or seasons of financial anxiety, is an act of faith. We do not spend that gift carelessly. We spend it to support and sustain the faithful worship and fellowship of our community in Christ, on the care of one another and our neighbors, and to sustain the mission and calling of Smoke Rise now and for generations to come.
Stepping Into Fiscal Year 2026-2027
We are pleased to report that pledging in support of our new budget year met and exceeded expectations compared to the previous budget year. Pledged giving accounts for roughly 55 percent of our total budgeted ministry plan needs on the fiscal year. The combination of regular, pledged giving with other consistent and seasonal giving as part of our end-of-year giving emphasis combine to meet and sustain the financial health of our church.
2025/26 Designated Gifts
Worship, Ministry, and Caring
Above and beyond regular giving, members of this congregation made special designated gifts to support the worship, ministry and caring work of Smoke Rise. These gifts funded families in need, community care, children, youth, discipleship, special music and worship experiences, and outreach. These gifts reflect a deep commitment to the life we share together in Christ and our love for one another. Total special designated giving in this category reached $157,767.27.
Missions
This past year, Smoke Rise gave generously across every channel of our missionary commitment. Our annual World Missions Offering brought in over $55,000. Through the budget, we directed $205,508 to support missions partnerships and our work at home and around the world. Special designated gifts to missions added another $56,385.62 to that effort. Together, the total given in support of missions this year reached $317,722.62.
Campus and Capital Needs
Members of this congregation also gave above and beyond their regular giving to support the tending of our campus and its long-term capital needs. Gifts designated to Aspire projects and other campus needs totaled $54,647.73 this year.
Music suite entrance roof renovation
Children’s suite carpet
Bus barn parking lot top coat and striping
Exterior painting
Boiler maintenance and upgrade
A new industrial warmer and walk-in freezer and refrigerator
New condenser line
Wi-Fi infrastructure updates
Sanctuary modesty rail renovation
The State of the Campus
Looking to the Long Term
Completing all the projects we managed in the last fiscal year is cause for gratitude. It is also a reminder that a campus of this size requires constant attention. The work is never fully done. What follows is a summary of the capital needs that lie ahead. Our Building and Grounds Committee has identified these projects as essential or significantly beneficial to the life and mission of Smoke Rise for years to come. Some are urgent. Some are visionary. All of them matter.
First-Floor Water Damage Repairs
Following a period of heavy rainfall, ground erosion caused a drain beneath the lower level of the building to clog. Water moved through the center of the first-floor basement, affecting several Sunday school classrooms and the counseling center. No one was harmed, and the damage was contained.
Working with our Building and Grounds Committee and with environmental and flooring professionals, we have assessed the damage and identified the full scope of repairs. The work will include upgrading the outdoor drainage to prevent future intrusion, replacing carpet in three affected classrooms, and installing new luxury vinyl tile throughout the first-floor hallways. The existing hallway tile, original to the building, will be encapsulated beneath the new installation, a step that ensures the continued environmental safety of the space.
Because this was a ground water event, the repairs fall outside our property insurance coverage. The total costs will come in just under $50,000. The costs will be absorbed by existing reserves. If you feel moved to give above your regular generosity toward this effort, gifts may be designated to the Water Damage Repair Project.
We do not take lightly the responsibility of caring for the spaces where our congregation gathers to learn, heal and grow. We are committed to completing this work promptly and openly.
Other Planned Repairs
In addition to the first-floor water damage, there are other projects already underway. We have planned a $30,000 baptistery renovation. The baptistery basin needs resurfacing and sealing, and the plumbing requires updating. The heating and pump system is dated and insufficient and will be fully replaced. This renovation will restore a sacred space to full function and dignity. Additionally, roofing and rot repairs are needed to prevent further deterioration and extend the life of the roofing structure. Lastly, we are addressing humidity and water damage issues in the choral suite to ensure the health of the space and the care of our instruments and music library.
Insurance Coverage Review
In the coming budget year, we will conduct a thorough review of our primary property and liability policies as well as our umbrella coverage. This is a review we undertake periodically. We hold comprehensive protection as a high value. We are also mindful of the pressure that rising insurance costs place on the budget. Our goal is the right level of coverage for the short-term security of our congregation and the long-term benefit of the church. We will not sacrifice protection for the sake of cost savings alone.
Paul closed his letter to the Philippians with a simple charge: Stand firm. It is what he asked of a congregation he loved and trusted. It is what this congregation has done. For a church family that stays the course, we are grateful.
Capital Needs and Dreams: Aspire Projects
Smoke Rise is a large and aging campus; our responsible stewardship means naming what it will take to maintain and improve what we hold together. The following capital projects, identified through our Building and Grounds Committee and designated as Aspire Projects, represent both essential infrastructure and meaningful enhancements to our congregational life.
Digital Audio Update — $50,000. Our sanctuary sound boards are more than 20 years old and are running on analog technology. We have patched them for years. The time has come for a full digital upgrade. A new sound board and microphones will improve in-room audio and strengthen the online worship experience for the 250+ viewers who join us each week via our stream.
A 15-Passenger Van — $70,000. Safe transportation is foundational to youth and children’s ministry and our adult travel group. The church currently operates one aging minibus and one Ford Transit van. A second Ford Transit 15-Passenger Van, with dual rear wheels for highway stability, is the next step toward meeting ministry transportation needs.
Outdoor HVAC Chiller Unit — $135,000. The chiller that has served the campus for 27 years has at most three years of service life remaining. A replacement is required. A new energy-efficient unit will keep the campus functional and reduce long-term utility costs.
Memory Garden Courtyard Windows — $50,000. Thirty-four courtyard windows, many original to the building, need replacement. New insulated windows will improve energy performance and restore the character of the Memory Garden, a space of quiet remembrance for our congregation.
Pavilion — $260,000. A covered 2,400-square-foot outdoor pavilion near the playground has been a congregational vision for more than eight years. It would serve as a permanent gathering space for fellowship, summer youth programming, worship and community events.