Ada First UMC

Dear Members and Friends of Ada First UMC,

As we enter this season of stewardship, we are excited to explore what it means to live our call to love as Christ loved in an authentic and tangible way. Inspired by 1 John 3:18, which says, "Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and truth," we are reminded that Christ’s love goes beyond words and intention - it’s love in action. When we reflect on what it means to be stewards of God’s creation, we recognize that stewardship is our response to God’s love. It’s not merely about what we give, but why and how we give - the love behind it.

Through all that we say and DO we too are participating in the work God is DOING in the world. Stewardship becomes a way we show that "Love Does" - it transforms lives, serves those in need, and strengthens our faith community. This year, we are called to give not just because we can, but because God’s love moves us to act. And, when we act out of love, we not only will impact others but will also allow God to work in our own hearts. Stewardship transforms us, encouraging us to grow in our faith and trust.

We invite you to prayerfully consider how God is calling you to love like Christ this Stewardship season through your prayers, presence, gifts, service and witness. In the pages to follow you’ll find more information about the role of stewardship, planned giving, and serving in ministry in and through our church. On, Sunday, Nov. 17, we will turn in and pray God’s blessing over our 2025 Pledge and Commitment Cards. The Pledge and Commitment Cards will be sent via email and are also available in the church office, or printable / mailable here.

Thank you for being a part of this journey and for the love you bring to our church family. Your love and support make a profound difference in the lives of many. Together, let us be a testament to a faith that acts and a love that DOES.

With gratitude and love,
Rev. Brandi Rigsby
Ada First UMC

P.S. Please join us for our Stewardship sermon series Nov. 3 – 17.

What is Stewardship?

Stewardship is a lifestyle.
Stewardship is too frequently equated with the annual commitment campaign to underwrite the local church operations. The Biblical message is that stewardship is a lifestyle. Stewardship literally means "to manage." We are called, as followers of Christ, to "manage" all the gifts placed into our lives, including time, talents, spiritual gifts, relationships, creation, income and assets. Stewardship is how we manage and use God’s gifts to us.

Does Ada First UMC have a budget? How is it created?

Yes, Ada First has an Annual Budget. This budget is similar to your household budgets.
Ada First's Budget is created by the Finance Committee with our Treasurer based on budget requests from each of Ada First's working groups (i.e., Worship, Choir/Music, Discipleship, Staff Parish Relations Committee and other church organizations) in November of each year.
The budget includes:
- Salaries and Benefits for paid staff,
- Non-personnel expenses such as utility bills, taxes, insurance, and other expenses including District and Conference Apportionments.
  - Apportionments are the main way we support the ministries of the larger connected United Methodist church, which is a method of giving that proportionally allocates the larger United Methodist Church (UMC) budget across the conferences around the world.
  - Apportioned Funds are Ada First’s way of giving to the larger UMC programs such as World Service Fund including UMCOR, Black College Fund, Ministerial Education Fund, Episcopal Fund, Interdenominational Cooperation Fund, Africa University Fund and General Administration Fund among other funds used to run the larger United Methodist Church.
- Expenses for various Church Programs (i.e., Christian Education, Materials for Bible Studies and other children’s/adult courses),
- Costs for Church Outreach: Weekly Bulletins, Livestreaming, Harvest and Herb, Trunk-R-Treat, music for our adult and children’s choirs, paper and printing supplies, and so much more.
Once the Treasurer receives inputs from the various church organizations, the Finance Team develops the next year’s budget based on past years’ budgets and anticipated expenses while being mindful of the anticipated income for the upcoming year.
This anticipated income comes from Ada First’s congregation in the form of Pledged and Unpledged giving.

What is the Difference between Pledged, Tithing and Unpledged Giving?

You can show your generosity in three ways at Ada First:

A Pledge is an estimate of giving; some call it a "statement of intent." Your pledge amount may be changed, increased or decreased during the year, at any time as your financial circumstances change.
- Pledging allows you to make intentional decisions about your financial giving. When you plan ahead for your giving, you make conscious choices about spending your money in ways that reflect your faith and values. Receiving your pledge allows Finance Committee and Treasurer to set a budget based on more accurate planned giving to the church.
Tithing is proportional giving, with a goal of 10% of your income. Ada First recognizes that many persons choose to divide their tithe among the church and other worthy organizations. A tithe may sound like an unattainable goal to begin with, but you can start with giving a lower proportion of your income and increase that percentage each year.
Unpledged giving means that you share your generosity with Ada First when you can/choose. You do not make an estimate of your giving rather you give when you choose. While unpledged giving is important to Ada First, it is somewhat less predictable than pledged giving. Think of trying to plan your home budget when you have your utilities on "budget billing," (i.e., one flat rate throughout the year like a pledge), versus trying to accurately plan your budget based on a utility bill that varies widely due to seasonal weather changes.
Supplemental Income– Ada First does get some additional income from earned revenue, (from dividends and Interest securities), and from the Stambaugh Trust fund and rental payments for use of the building. These monies usually have requirements for their use and often cannot be used for operating expense shortfalls.
The bottom-line is that Ada First depends on your faithfulness and generosity. Our ministries are supported by the commitment you make.

What are the Fruits of Your Generosity at Ada First?

Because of your generosity, Ada First has added new programs, new staff and new outreach into our Community, examples are below:

Busy Bee Pre-School and Child Care – providing loving care and a quality preschool education to children from our community ages 2-school age.
Small Groups – providing curriculum and supplies for Bible Studies, Online Small Groups, and Sunday School classes.
Family Ministry – Our children and family ministry programs provide discipleship to our youngest members through children’s church, service opportunities, and faith growing activities to over 30 children under the age of 12 and their families.
Tween Group – over 15 students in 3rd-7th grade meet on Sunday mornings to grow in their Biblical understanding and personal faith development.
Congregational Care Associates – Two part-time employees who work alongside Pastor Brandi to provide regular pastoral care and communion to our homebound members and all members and friends of Ada First UMC.
New Ministries – In 2025, we are looking forward to creating new ministries and opportunities to share the love of Christ with our community. A few examples include: Open Mic Night, Digital Book Study Group, expanded online/livestreaming worship, ONU student ministry, Teen Confirmation Class, and more!

Continued Giving to Ada First as Part of Estate Planning

Most of us are familiar with the traditional method of bequeathing money or other property to an organization in our will. This is an excellent way to support Ada First. There are other ways to contribute that you may wish to consider as well.

The making of a gift or establishment of a trust to benefit the endowment during your lifetime contributes to Ada First and may also be a prudent step in your own income or estate tax planning. The most common gifts are cash and stock or other securities. It is possible, however, to make a gift of almost anything of value that you own, including life insurance policies, annuities, and real property.
Trusts can be structured in many different ways. An attorney or financial advisor can advise you as to how to tailor one to your particular situation and needs.
- As just one example, it is possible to set up a trust under which you reserve to yourself the income from stocks or other property for your life or for a specified period of time, with the stocks going outright to the Endowment Fund you select at the end of the trust period.
- Or, you can do the opposite: set up a trust under which the endowment fund receives income from stock or other property for a period of years, after which the stock goes to your descendants or other beneficiaries.
Gifts to Ada First qualify for the maximum allowable federal income tax charitable deduction. Your attorney or other advisor can explain the particular tax benefits of trust arrangements such as those described above. All gifts to Ada First are for the benefit of the church.
Those who wish for their gift principal to be retained through time so that distributions from earnings will be available in perpetuity may choose to direct their gift to the endowment.
A gift directed to Ada First’s General Operating Fund provides the church with a flexible gift, one that our Finance Committee, Trustees and Treasurer can direct to fill special needs.
Endowments and trusts may not be on your mind currently; however, they are a way to continue to support Ada First and its mission to 'Proclaim Christ and Prepare Disciples.'

Online Giving

More info at https://www.adaumc.org/givenow

Electronic Recurring Giving/Scheduled Tithing

If you would like more information about how to set up recurring giving that automatically sends your donation to the church on a set date, please contact your bank and/or our Treasurer, Julie Hurtig.

Printable / Mailable Commitment Forms

2025 Stewardship Pledge & Commitment Form (.pdf)