In 2025 we are focusing on Jesus’ promise that he will build his church. He always has, all over the world, and he still is, including here in Cairns. And we all get to play our part. Jesus places us like living bricks, building up the community that is the church.
And when it comes to our physical buildings, we also get to play our part in what Jesus is doing. We get to steward, or look after, the physical things that serve the people and the mission of Jesus.
We have received an amazing legacy from previous generations. We worship in these buildings, we meet in a fantastic location, our kids have a beautiful playground to enjoy, and we serve the wider community from here because those who have gone before us gave generously and served sacrificially.
And now it’s time to do it again. For the people of The Lakes Church in 2025, it’s our turn now. It’s our turn!
At the beginning of the year Geoff planted a seed about two projects that we would love to see happen this year.
The first project is to put solar on our roof for long-term sustainability. For some of you the biggest win will be the environmental sustainability. That we play our small part in Cairns, in Queensland, in Australia, in the world to being good carers of the environment and using the renewable resource of the sun. For others the biggest win will be financial sustainability. Solar will take long-term pressure off our day-to-day finances as a church community.
The best time to have solar was 10 years ago, and then second best time is today. We have a few options to consider, but we believe this year we can raise $30,000 to put solar on our roof.
The second project is painting the outside of our building. We’ve been on this corner for 30 years and we’ve blended into the background for the thousands of people who pass our doors every day. A fresh coat of paint will not only give our buildings an updated look and feel, but they will draw the attention of the people that God’s Spirit has been stirring. Because we know that he is stirring people’s hearts.
Some sociologists and commentators are calling what is happening in the western world today a ‘quiet revival’. It’s not big and loud like revivals in decades past, but there’s a quiet revival happening where people have a renewed hunger for God, a renewed interest in the person of Jesus, a renewed curiosity about the Bible. And we, as The Lakes Church, have always been about inviting people to join us in a growing relationship with Jesus. It’s been in our DNA from the early days, that when we gather it’s not just about us and God. We also gather in such a way that those we bring and those God brings can understand and come on the journey with us to their own vibrant, life-long faith in Jesus.
Painting the outside of our buildings might seem like an unspiritual thing, but remember that Jesus was a carpenter for most of his life. The reality is we need good, modern, functional and attractive buildings to serve our mission with Jesus.
These practical things will play a part in seeing people take another step towards Jesus. There are a few pieces to this step, and professionals needed because of the height and complexity, but we believe this year we can raise $30,000 to paint the outside of our buildings.
Here’s the bottom line. We believe God will provide $80,000 this year for us to partner with him in refreshing our buildings:
$30,000 for solar
$30,000 for painting
$10,000 for gutters that are rusting and can’t just be re-painted
$10,000 for some flood repair and prevention in the hall
You can give to this whole project, or you can designate one part of it that is a priority for you.
$80,000 is a lot of money from one person’s perspective! Especially because it already takes money to do what we do as a church community. Your regular giving each week makes it possible to be The Lakes Church, to minister to each other and to reach the community in the ways we already are. But what we’re talking about in this project is $80,000 on top of what we already give.
There might be some reading this who think $80,000 isn’t a big enough vision. Let me tell you, we have vision and ideas to spare. Our sense is that this project is big enough to stretch our church and big enough that everyone can play a part. But if God is putting on your heart to be more generous than what we’re asking for, please reach out to Geoff or to the Pastoral Leaders. We are open to thinking and planning beyond these ideas. This is a season to call out generosity in us, the church community.
We don’t know what miraculous, unforeseen ways God is going to provide for us this year, but even from our limited perspective we can see two main ways.
We’re asking each individual and each family to think and pray about their own financial situation. As you do this, is God prompting you about a specific amount, or changing something about your personal finances to be able to give? Could you sell something? Cash something in? Change a repayment amount to free up some cash? Change an investment? Update your will? Give your tax return? Is there a surprise amount you’ve received that you can use to build Jesus’ church and invest in his Kingdom?
We are also aware that grants or loans may be available to us. Through Churches of Christ, our wider movement, we will apply for any relevant grants throughout the year. Because we are debt-free as a church we can also consider a loan, rather than relying on the full amount to be received this year. There are many ways God can provide for our church.
$80,000 is a lot of money for one person, and it may be for you. But it’s not for God. And it’s not for us, when we rely on Jesus to build his church through us.
It’s our turn. We, the people of The Lakes Church in 2025, can honour the legacy of previous generations and previous eras, by building on the great foundation we’ve been given. We can each pray and consider if there is any way we can give above and beyond, sacrificially and generously, to set our church up for the future.
We believe this is what God is calling us to do. To put the big bold opportunity out there. To pray, to respond, to see how God is going to provide for us and through us.
When you’re ready, you can use the following details to give to these exciting projects.
Give by bank transfer
Bank National Australia Bank
Name The Lakes Church
BSB 084-472
Account 540723349
Reference ‘Building projects’, ‘solar’ or ‘painting’
Give by credit card
To give securely online with a credit card, use the form below.
Can’t see the form? Click here. Or download the Tithe.ly app from your iOS or Android app store and follow the prompts.
Give at The Lakes Church
We have three secure Giving Boxes at The Lakes Church. They are located on the wall next to the three main exits to the auditorium. You can put cash in these giving boxes any time you are at church. Please mark the envelope with ‘Building projects’, ‘solar’ or ‘painting’.
After each service you can give securely by credit card at the Info Desk. Our team can help you use the easy ‘tap to give’ system.
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