Trinity Together | November 2016

third quarter report

BY trinity's leadership teams

Each quarter, Trinity's leadership teams (Worship, Spiritual Formation, Community & Care, Global Missions, and Local Missions) report on their current efforts within the context of our strategic plan, including stories and anecdotes of what their respective ministries are doing. To learn more, download the PDF here.

2 ADDITIONAL MEMBERS FOR PSC

MEET ELDER CARLTON DIXON

Carlton and Beth Dixon met at Virginia Tech. Raised in a church-going family, Carlton still knew he was not living as he should and, to earn Beth’s commitment, he needed to change. While skiing in Aspen he encountered a group of Young Life leaders who drew him into their fellowship and helped him gain a clearer understanding of Christian faith and life, enabling him to fully embrace his faith. As he neared completion of a master’s in business, Carlton and Beth were married. He accepted a job in Charlottesville in the fall of 1983. Asking about local churches led them to Trinity, where they have happily remained ever since.

With his career in the financial world, Carlton had a natural interest in personal money management and stewardship. When he was elected to the Diaconate in 1990, he began working with other deacons to help educate the congregation on a biblical view of money and personal finance. They looked into various programs and settled on Crown Ministries, a leading organization doing that work, and brought the program to Trinity, teaching and overseeing it for several years. During these years the three Dixon children were being nurtured through Trinity’s Children’s Ministry, and Beth was building relationships and serving as an encouragement and prayer support for others.

As the Fellows Program began in 2003–04, the Dixon family became involved and have continued, mentoring individuals and hosting Fellows in their home. From their investment of time they have seen dividends paid in the lives of the Fellows and of their own family. Among those blessings are their two grandchildren born to daughter Kelly and her husband, former Fellow Sean Greer, a second-generation Trinity family.

When first encouraged to consider service as an Elder, Carlton felt he did not have the necessary gifts. After a period of prayer and reflection, he began to see that he might have a gift of shepherding, so he accepted the nomination when offered again and was ordained in 2005. “SonShip” played a large role in helping him develop as an Elder. This is a program of World Harvest Ministry, now called Serge, that was introduced to Trinity members in the late 1990s.  Carlton and Beth have both participated in this study and feel the material it presents has had a greater impact on their lives than any other. They have seen it powerfully used in mentoring relationships. Carlton used it when assisting with training men to become Elders. This fall Beth and Carlton are mentoring and leading a new group of former Fellows through SonShip, and they see the Spirit already moving among them.

Carlton runs the local office of an investment management firm based in North Carolina, but he has a number of interests to pursue at other times, including traveling with Beth. He has always loved to hunt and fish with his sons, Kyle and Eric, and several Elders with whom he is close. He also enjoys watching his Hokies in most any sport.

Reflecting on the last half of Trinity’s history, Carlton says that he was sad to see senior pastors John Hall and Greg Thompson leave, but he knows they were both God’s men given to us for their time and that each helped us grow as a body in our brokenness. Carlton is excited to see Trinity poised for the future, in gratitude for the past, under the vision articulated by the Session and leadership teams.

FINANCIAL UPDATE

BY BOB LUCK, CHAIR, FINANCE COMMITTEE

Through October 31, 2016, our overall church revenue numbers are nearly even with last year. Total contributions to the General Fund are $1,596,000, only a few thousand dollars behind 2015. We are encouraged by your generous giving during October and for your renewed efforts to support Trinity’s mission. Thank you.

As with most churches, we typically receive most of our income during the months of November and December. We have 8 Sundays remaining and are prayerful that we will be able to replenish our reserves to begin the new year—ready cover the costs of running the church, and meeting the needs of our local community and our global missionaries. Our church giving and expenses for FY2016 have been budgeted at about $2.3 million. We anticipate the need to fund $2.6 million in 2017, with a full staff and our ongoing mission to share the gospel both locally and around the world.

We remain in a heathy financial position for 2016 with sufficient funds to cover our expenses this year, but will need to increase giving in order to meet our plans for 2017. Please consider how you can support Trinity with your tithes and offerings, both in the closing weeks of 2016 and into the new year.

UPCOMING EVENTS