In the middle of April, we were inspecting the land that we believed the Lord was going to have us possess as our future home site for ministry. Our PAAT (Property Acquisition and Architectural Team) continued diligent negotiations with all parties involved and we entered into escrow last week.

Yes, we are in escrow. Lord willing, escrow should close on Monday, May 21, 2007. It will be a momentous day in the life of Evergreen SGV. We have been “wandering” for a decade and are now poised to possess a land for the Lord.

As soon as escrow closes (it’s not over ‘til it’s over), we will begin an informal giving campaign. This campaign is informal only in the fact that there will be no paper pledges, no home groups, no campaign dinner and all the other trappings of a formal campaign (our formal campaign, which is required by our lending institution will begin in August of this year).

The theme of the campaign is “Faithful Living, Generous Giving 2: Occupying the Land”. It is a sequel to our first giving campaign held in 2000, which raised approximately $4.6 million.

Recently, at the box office, sequels have been all the rage. From Spider-Man 3 to Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End, Hollywood has discovered the success of sequels. Our first campaign, “Faithful Living, Generous Giving” was an incredible blessing for all of us who participated. We were able to see, first hand, the goodness and generosity of God.

As your pastor, I was able to witness the incredible faithfulness and commitment of our church family. I was overwhelmingly blessed by everyone’s faithful living and generous giving. Our “First Fruits Giving” (a one-time, up front monetary gift to the Lord) netted approximately $1.4 million.

I am confident that this sequel will also be a tremendous blessing for all of us as we sacrificially give to the Lord’s work.

Again, “FLGG 2: Occupying the Land” is informal in name only. It is critical and crucial to what is happening in the life of our church. There are two numbers we need to reach.

We need to raise at least $1 million up front in order to have the minimum capital necessary to move into the property. After we do an assessment of the land (we haven’t had permission to do so yet), we will have a more concrete number to give you.

We also need to have monthly commitments totaling approximately $83,000 in order to meet our monthly mortgage payments.

The challenges are great, but as the Lord told Joshua, “Be strong and courageous…” and as they trusted God, they were able to possess the land of milk and honey.

During this season in our corporate lives, we need to be strong and courageous…we need to continue to live faithfully and give generously…and we will possess the land.

Starting this Sunday, I will begin sharing the series leading up to “Commitment Sunday”. This Sunday, May 20th (during the celebration of my 30th year in ministry at Evergreen), I will be sharing my family’s financial commitment for the next three years as an encouragement to you (based on 1 Chronicles 29).

This newsletter is merely an introduction to what is to come.

Please pray that the Lord will bountifully bless our effort on behalf of the kingdom of God.

Blessings,
Pastor Cory, d.v.