|
IN 2025 OUR THEME WAS BE GOD'S FAMILY
Throughout the year, we were reminded that through Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection, we are united as one family of believers. As God was generous with his Grace to all believers, Fishers UMC continues to grow in its generosity to the world and our local community.
This year-end newsletter highlights some of the ways our church lived out that generosity in 2025, sharing stories of how those acts of faith and compassion made a meaningful difference, both near and far.
| | for generously sharing your time, gifts, and resources to support the ministries of our church and God’s family. | |
BETHLEHEM UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
We have exciting news to share about how God is working through the partnership between Fishers UMC and Bethlehem UMC!
Since being assigned as interim pastor at Bethlehem UMC this past year, Pastor Troy Richards has been faithfully serving both congregations, splitting his time equally between our two churches. In November, leaders from both churches came together in prayerful conversation about the future, and we are thrilled that Bethlehem has asked Troy to continue serving their congregation through 2026 and beyond. The church board here at Fishers UMC wholeheartedly support this arrangement and celebrate the opportunity to extend God's kingdom through generous collaboration. Effective January 1, 2026, Troy was appointed as Supply Pastor at Bethlehem UMC. He will continue to split his time between the two churches. We give thanks for this beautiful example of two United Methodist congregations working together in ministry, demonstrating that when we share resources and support one another, God's work flourishes in powerful ways!
| | Pictured: Troy Richards preaching at Bethlehem UMC | |
MULTIPLY MINISTRY
Our Multiply Ministry is supported by the Multiply Fund, which was established a few years ago through the generous giving of our congregation. The purpose of the Multiply Fund is to help make disciples who know, love, and obey Jesus.
In 2025, the following ministries and activities shared God’s love locally and around the world through Multiply support:
| |
| | |
Provided scholarships for four students from Kenya attending United Theological Seminary in Dayton, each receiving a $2,500 annual scholarship for three years. One of these students, George Kimani, served as our guest pastor in January 2026.
Pictured: George Teaching at Fishers UMC
| | | |
Equipped church leadership for multiplication ministry by supporting the attendance of 13 church board members and staff at the national Exponential Conference in November, at a cost of $1,000. | | | |
| | |
Supported the Kenya Pastors School in summer 2025 by funding leadership and participation from Pastors Mark and Ben, with additional support from Penny Walker and Mark Stebbe, along with travel, lodging, and supplies, totaling $41,000.
Pictured: Kenya Pastors School
| | | |
Continued investment in the Kenya Pastors School for 2026, including support for George Kimani’s leadership role and his mentoring visit to Fishers UMC in January 2026. $15,000 was spent in 2025 toward this ongoing partnership. | | | |
Supported church growth and leadership development by assisting with the transition to two worship services in 2026 and contributing to Pastor Troy’s salary at Bethlehem UMC during 2025, totaling $17,500. | | | |
| | |
Invested in pastoral leadership development by providing a $5,000 scholarship toward Liz Simmonds’ Divinity School tuition.
Pictured: Liz at Duke Divinity School
| | | |
REACHING NEW DISCIPLES
Our Assimilation Team has been joyfully welcoming new faces into the life of our church, helping people find belonging and grow as disciples.
| | to the many volunteers who serve as greeters, ushers, prayer partners, Welcome Bakers, and leaders of NEXT sessions and new member classes, and to everyone who helps make this ministry possible. | |
GENEROSITY MOMENT
The Calling Of A Generous Heart
After receiving a diagnosis of breast cancer, Linda Williams prayed to God for a project that would help her through her treatment. Her desire to not focus on herself came at the same time our Church was considering the purchase of the Lion’s Club building located behind our parking lot. To Linda, this seemed like an answer to prayer. God had put on Linda’s heart the need for a food pantry, so she prepared a proposal for how the basement could become that food pantry. Linda’s infectious passion won over those she shared her dream with. The church agreed, and the Come to Me Food Pantry opened a couple months later in October of 2007.
Linda’s passion for the food insecure and deep desire to support those in need in our community quickly gathered momentum as she assembled a team to serve alongside her. Over the next 17 ½ years Linda was joined by many volunteers from the church who generously gave of their time and expertise to make this happen. To date, the pantry has distributed over 3.8 million pounds of food and served 13,867 families in 2025.
Sadly, Linda passed away in 2025, but the pantry she helped create now is one of our largest and longest running ministries. Due to the strong foundation she built, the Come To Me Food Pantry continues to serve any who walk through our doors. The current leadership continues to honor Linda’s legacy by carrying on a true passion for and generous heart toward those in need - more than a job it is a calling.
Our church and community continue to be very blessed by Linda’s faithfulness in following her calling and investing her energies into creating the Come to Me Food Pantry. We are also blessed by all the volunteers, not only our church, but from the community and even some past guests of the food pantry.
The ministry of the food pantry and Linda’s infectious passion will live on as we serve our community for many years to come. What a great example of how God can take an idea, turn it into a calling and inspire people to become the hands and feet of Jesus to help those in need!
| | | |
We held our annual pledge campaign for support of the 2026 operating budget. Wow! The support and generosity were tremendous. We received more pledge cards than in the past and the total dollar amount pledged was 24% more than last year!
Additionally, we received over $160,000 of pledges to build up our cash reserve, Stores of Oil. God is good, and we are deeply grateful for your generous support, which blesses and sustains the many ministries of our church through the operating fund. In 2025 $32,100 had already been received toward these pledges.
| | Please see the 2025 summary for the operating fund below: | | |
| The Year Ended | The Year Ended | |
| December 31, 2025 | December 31, 2024 | | Revenues | $1,514,100 | $1,376,700 | | Expenses | 1,423,100 | 1,396,800 | | Excess Expenses over Revenues | $91,000 | $(20,100) | | | |
The above numbers are for the operating fund and do not include any amounts received or spent for any of the separate designated funds of the church.
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.
| | The church has several designated funds for money that has been given to the church for a specific purpose other than the operations of the church and therefore are not included in the operating fund information above. The two largest funds are for the Food Pantry and the Multiply Fund. A summary for those funds is below: | | |
| Food Pantry | Multiply Fund | | Fund Balance 1/1/25 | $191,800 | $772,600 | | Contributions & Interest | 255,000 | 27,700 | | Expenses | 221,600 | 77,700 | | Fund Balance 12/31/25 | $225,200 | $722,600 | | | These designated funds also record their contributions/interest and expenses on the cash-basis of accounting meaning that they record their revenue and expenses when cash is either received or paid rather than when revenue is earned, or expenses are incurred. | | As you may recall an endowment fund is where cash and assets can be contributed currently, or future gifts can be made through planned giving such as through your estate planning. The money given will remain intact and the future earnings on those funds will be used to further the ministry of the church based on how it is designated to be used. We currently have a balance of approximately $28,300 in our endowment fund as of December 31, 2025. | | GENEROSITY OPPORTUNITIES | | |
Generosity comes in all shapes and sizes.
Explore these upcoming opportunities.
Perhaps you'll find one that speaks to you!
| | |
PANTRY FUNDRAISER: SIMPLY GIVE
The Come To Me Food Pantry is partnering with Meijer for their Simply Give hunger relief program. When the Food Pantry purchases $10 gift cards from Meijer, they will receive bonus money, making their gift cards worth $30 of food, to stock the pantry.
| | |
MILLION MEAL PACK
Fishers UMC is partnering with Million Meal Movement on Saturday, March 28 from 1-3pm at the Million Meal Headquarters to pack meals to give to Indiana food pantries. Donations are also needed to help offset the cost of packing meals, even if you aren't packing meals, you can make a difference by donating to the cause!
| | To Make Disciples of Jesus Christ For The Transformation of The World. | | | | |
