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“As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, continue to walk in him,
ROOTED AND BUILT
up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.”
Letter From the Senior Pastor
For more than two centuries, First Baptist has been rooted in Christ and built up through the faithfulness of generations. Those before us prayed, taught, served, sacrificed, and gave so our congregation could become a place where people encounter God’s love and discover they belong.
Now it is our turn.
The images in the booklet linked below offer more than a glimpse of a new building. They reveal the future we are being invited to create together: vibrant spaces where children and teenagers will grow in faith; welcoming places where friendships will form; classrooms where questions will be welcomed and lives transformed; and ministry spaces designed for spiritual formation, mission, hospitality, and service.
This is our moment to take the faith we have received and invest it in generations yet to come.
Rooted and Built is not ultimately about bricks and mortar. It is about making room for life—ministries not yet imagined, families not yet connected, and people not yet born who will one day find their home here.
We have dreamed faithfully.
We have discerned prayerfully.
Now is the time to risk generously.
Together, we can build upon the roots that have sustained us and create a place where God’s love will flourish for generations to come.
Rev. Barrett Owen
Commitment Profile
October 11 is Commitment Sunday. You will be invited to make a three-year pledge to Rooted and Built. You may fulfill your pledge in the way that works best for you—annually, monthly, weekly, and/or through an upfront gift. You may make your gifts through the Loop giving platform, or by using the blue giving envelope included in your quarterly envelope packs or available in the pew backs.
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Please use the sample giving plan as a guide to choose a level for your three-year commitment. If the chart does not include a level that fits, you may choose your own. If possible, please consider making an upfront launch gift—front-loading all or part of your commitment. We need a significant portion of our goal on hand to minimize costly interest charges.
GOAL: $17,500,000
Ways to Give:
BY MAIL
If you are writing a check, make sure to note, “Rooted and Built” in the memo line.
SUNDAY OFFERING
Be sure to use the blue Rooted and Built envelopes.
Consider a Gift Beyond Cash:
A financial commitment to Rooted and Built does not have to come solely from cash or checking account funds. These options can sometimes provide significant tax benefits. Please consult your financial advisor, tax professional, or attorney regarding your individual circumstances before making a non-cash or retirement-account gift. To learn more about transferring an asset, please contact John Daniels at 910-763-2471. Here are several possibilities to consider:
Appreciated Assets
Appreciated assets that have been held for more than one year—including publicly traded stocks, mutual funds, bonds, and certain real estate—may offer tax advantages when donated directly to the church.
Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs)
If you are age 70½ or older, you may be eligible to make a Qualified Charitable Distribution directly from your IRA to the church. A QCD can count toward your Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) and, when properly structured, is excluded from your taxable income. Current federal limits apply.
Retirement Account Gifts
You may also be able to make charitable gifts using funds from a traditional IRA or other retirement accounts. Depending on your circumstances, a charitable gift may provide tax advantages.
Charitable Gift Annuities
A Charitable Gift Annuity (CGA) can provide a way to make a charitable gift while receiving income in return.
Traditional and Roth IRAs
Giving from a traditional IRA or Roth IRA may be possible, depending on your circumstances and the type of gift.
Not Equal Gifts, but Equal Sacrifice
The concept of everyone contributing an equal amount has never existed at our church. Instead, we believe the sacrifice should be equal. This means every member has a role to play in this spiritual journey. Your financial involvement is a personal decision between you and God, offered as an act of worship, faith, and commitment.