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GENEROSITY IN ACTION | Q3
Called To Serve
Fishers United Methodist Church is blessed with a congregation, pastors and staff that love Jesus and want to follow his commands of loving God, loving our neighbors and making disciples for him. We are called to serve God in many ways as each of us have different gifts. But we know that these gifts are from God and he knows where to put us to do his work. Praise the Lord for the things we can do together through Jesus!
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1 Corinthians 12:12,14,18,27
Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ…Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many…But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be…Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.
| | | Thank you for your generosity in following your calling! | | Greg Arnott Provisions Sub-Team Member | |  | Mike Cooke Provisions Sub-Team Leader | | Tiffany Frash Co-Lay Leader | | | Julie Rockwood Co-Lay Leader | |
ASSISTED LIVING CHURCH EXPRESSIONS
A “church expression” is where Christians meet to worship, disciple others, and further the Kingdom of God other than in a physical church building. This includes getting to know each other, sharing prayer concerns and praises and spending time in prayer, singing hymns and having bible study.
We currently have several members of our church that have felt called to this outreach including Connie Hughes, Milton Pressler, Jen Atkinson, Glenn Blackwelder, Milt Yakey, Ginnie Kasten and Pat Flannery. The call to do this came about from realizing that some brothers and sisters in Christ might have physical or mental impairments that keep them from worshiping in our sanctuary. Currently we are helping with these programs in two different assisted living locations.
| | Fishers UMC Church Expression: Woodland Terrace Bible Study | | Connie Hughes, a current resident of Woodland Terrace and Fishers UMC attender, helps lead the weekly Bible Study along side Milton Pressler. | | |
In June a weekly church expression was re-started at Hamilton Trace as we had been doing an expression there prior to COVID. Glenn Blackwelder was drawn to this new opportunity. In his Followers Made class through an assessment of his spiritual gifts and passions he found a calling for working with the elderly. He pressed into that calling and connected with Milton Pressler who was already helping with a similar program at Woodland Terrace in Carmel. Currently the Hamilton Trace expression is averaging 6 to 8 people each week attending the group.
Glenn shares the following thoughts about getting this group started at Hamilton Trace. “Personally, I’ve felt a lot of encouragement and support from the church. Especially, with the help of Milton and the introductions by Pat Flannery to the staff there at Hamilton Trace. It has also been good to have Jen Atkinson and Pat recently start attending routinely as well. Milt Yakey has stepped in to assist as he can with some of the singing and vocals (a needed addition!). When all this started, I thought it may just be me running this study by myself, but the Lord has provided the resources and support needed to have this done with excellence!!”
Our church is here to help with new ministries and there are more assisted living locations nearby that might benefit. If you feel a calling reach out to our pastors or Milton Pressler and they can help you discern that call and find you support.
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HELPING HANDS MINISTRY
Every week in the weekly news email and the announcements on our webpage is something called Helping Hands Ministries. The announcement asks if you or someone you know need help around the house or with getting to an appointment you should reach out to Pastor Ben. You can also add your name to the list to be a helper to the team.
There are currently about 32 helpers on the list. When a request for help comes in to Pastor Ben an email goes out to these helpers with the details and then those that are available go and help. They have done yard work, hung ceiling fans, changed light bulbs, raked leaves, built a handicapped ramp, helped people move furniture, installed a bathroom fan, painted, got preschool rooms ready in the fall, etc. Talk about being the hands and feet of Jesus! There is no expectation that you help on every situation, but where you are able. Please consider giving of your time and talents to this ministry.
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GENEROSITY MOMENT
Tiffany Frash has started a new ministry called Sparkle & Hope. Their first project was a baby shower where nearly 500 items of food were collected to donate to the Indiana Women's Prison maternal care center. The women participating ranged from congregation members to unchurched friends/family in other cities/states. Tiffany explains this ministry, the first initiative they took and how Christ moved through their efforts.
“Sparkle & Hope began as a quiet idea from God—invite a few friends to connect in a private, online space. I believe deeply in the power of women supporting women. I also believe in the importance of faith—though I know some women have lost theirs, questioned it, or simply drifted away from it. I wanted to create a space where we could explore that together, without pressure or judgment, while working to help other women. Then I learned about the Leath Maternal Child Health Unit at the Indiana Women’s Prison, a remarkable program that allows pregnant, non-violent, short-sentence mothers to deliver and stay with their newborns until release. Since 2020, the unit has supported 386 mothers and their babies. This program depends on donations to help care for the babies and I felt called to act. Even the smallest gesture, I thought, might encourage the mothers—offering a glimpse of hope. And maybe that hope would spark a new kind of faith.
The Sparkle & Hope group responded to a call to collect food. At first, just a few boxes arrived but in just a few days, our living room was filled with boxes! Enough to fill not only the back of my truck (as you see in the photo) but the back seat and front seat, too! Over 500 food items were collected and were delivered to the prison--what a wonderful day that was!
I've never led a ministry and I am proceeding as God directs me but I know there will be continued outreach to support and encourage women, building their faith in Jesus along the way.”
| | | Please see a summary for the six months ended September 30 for the operating fund below: | | |
| September 30, 2025 | September 30, 2024 | | Revenues | $984,700 | $979,600 | | Expenses | 1,038,500 | 1,032,500 | | Excess Expenses over Revenues | $(53,800) | $(52,900) | | | |
The above numbers are for the operating fund which do not include any amounts received or spent for any of the separate designated funds of the church. The revenues for 2025 are up and include a 4.75% increase in contributions. Expenses for 2025 are slightly higher than 2024, which was expected and is on budget. As noted in the paragraph below the seasonality of giving to the church compared with the rather consistent monthly expenses typically causes expenses to exceed revenues at this point in the year.
As with any organization some expenses are regular and predictable such as payroll and others can change substantially each month such as repairs and maintenance. Revenue for the operating fund consists primarily of contributions which also vary as to when they are received from year-to-year. Additionally, the church uses the cash-basis of accounting meaning that it records its revenue and expenses when cash is either received or paid rather than when revenue is earned or expenses are incurred which can affect the comparability of amounts, between years.
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Generosity comes in all shapes and sizes.
Explore these upcoming opportunities.
Perhaps you'll find one that speaks to you!
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REFEREES & SCOREKEEPERS
NEEDED
The Upward Basketball & Cheerleading season at Fishers UMC starts in January! You can make a difference in the life of a child by volunteering as a Referee or Scorekeeper. On Form, type Scorekeeper in Comments if you would like to help in that way.
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GIVE THE GIFT OF CHRISTMAS TO A
FAMILY IN NEED
Fishers UMC is partnering with Family Promise this Christmas to provide gifts for children and families facing hardship. Donate gifts by December 14, details and sign up below.
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GUEST SERVICES VOLUNTEERS
Fishers UMC is looking for friendly volunteers to serve in 2026 for either of our Sunday morning services. Specifically, we are looking for Greeters, Ushers and Connection Central Volunteers.
| | To Make Disciples of Jesus Christ For The Transformation of The World. | | | | |
