ASBURY FIRST MONDAY READER | APRIL 06, 2026

CONTENTS:

EASTER: by BONNIE MATTHAIDESS

FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY UPDATE: by DAWN RIEDY and TIM MAHAN

We rejoice! We sing our Alleluias! Christ has Risen! Christ has Risen Indeed!

And in your Easter rejoicing, you are invited to slowly ponder the images of this painting, Eruption, created by my artist friend, Marla Friedrich. Note the shape of the heart buried in darkness.Experience the energy of the upward movement in the dots of color as they erupt joyfully shouting RESURRECTION!

It’s as though Jesus tells us He has come from a broken place, that He knows our dark times and that we, too, will break free into Resurrection!

Recently, a dear friend moved from long-suffering into the Light of Resurrection. She is sadly missed. Her Christmas gift to me was an amaryllis bulb that had slowly been peeking through the darkness of the earth – to amazingly break into full bloom and incredible beauty the day she died. Through my tears the Light of Christ that dwelt in her, erupted like the dots of color in the painting and in the blossoming. The Light of Christ lives on in this breaking forth and lives on in the eyes of her children and grandchildren and embodied within me. Alleluia, Alleluia! 

Here's what you will learn in this article:

• Why financial sustainability matters

• Why we’re not there yet

• How you can help

Financial sustainability is one of our congregation’s top priorities, and an ongoing, collaborative work focus of the Governing Board, committees, teams and staff.

Financial sustainability is essential to ensuring Asbury First continues to thrive as a vibrant Christian community.

Over the past year, we’ve made meaningful progress:

• Improved financial transparency and communication

• Reforecast and fully funded our 2025 budget

• Stabilized our operating cash balance  

• Completed a successful pledge campaign  

• Adopted a fully funded, balanced 2026 budget

This is important progress. And there is still work ahead.

Our ministries and campus cost approximately $2.7 million annually (about $7,300 per day). After a period of structural deficits, we are now focused on building a sustainable financial future—one that supports both our mission and long-term stability.

In 2026 and beyond, we will focus on:

• Developing a multi-year financial plan  

• Continuing to right-size our expenses, including staffing models  

• Planning for fixed asset replacements and major capital needs  

• Growing membership, engagement, and stewardship  

This is not a one-time effort—it’s a long-term commitment. And it will take all of us.

We invite you to learn more and engage with this work: See our detailed FAQ (click here) for more information.

We also welcome your questions and input. Please reach out to finance@asburyfirst.org.

Thank you for your continued support.

With gratitude,  

Dawn Riedy, Finance Committee Chair  

Tim Mahan, Financial Sustainability Task Force Chair 

Would you like to submit a story for inclusion in a future Monday Reader? Please do! 
We'd love to hear from you. Email David Stith at dstith@asburyfirst.org to get started.