If we are committing to Unstoppable, how does this change my giving to the general fund, and other special offerings?

During this two-year period, every contribution to God through First Church is a contribution to our Unstoppable initiative. Every aspect of the ministry vision God is calling us towards for the next two years will be funded through Unstoppable. There will not be separate funds. Every gift made will go into the same fund and will be our Unstoppable giving. Therefore, every day becomes a day to celebrate and contribute towards what God is doing in us and through us as we seek to be Unstoppable for Jesus and His mission.

What are you asking me to do?

First and foremost we are asking that you pray and seek God's leading on what He is asking of you. Prepare your heart to hear Him, and then listen to what He says. Engage in a small group during this season, if you haven't already engaged in one. Engage in personal reflection with God in the Unstoppable workbook you will be receiving. Talk with your group, your spouse, your family, friends, or others about what this commitment will mean for this next exciting season of your life.

We are asking that you make a commitment to gospel-driven, Unstoppable generosity - whatever it is that God leads you to do. Follow His leading.

Finally, prepare to be amazed. It is an awesome God that we serve, and we anticipate He will move in huge ways as we seek an unprecedented impact from our collective Unstoppable commitments - something only God can do. Please mark your calendar for Commitment Sunday, November 14, and prepare to experience a life-changing worship service that will forever be remembered as a defining moment for our church and for our own faith.

Are there additional ways besides cash that I can give more towards Unstoppable?

Be creative as you explore ways you and your family can give towards Unstoppable. You might have some stocks, property, or other items of that nature. Or you may have some stored resources that God has blessed you with in the past that He might be calling you to give out of during this time. Please let us know if you need assistance with facilitating gifts of property or stock, and we would be happy to help you with that. You can contact Darla Clark or Matt Thomason to find more information about making a gift of this type.

Darla Clark: dclark@firstchurchok.com

Matt Thomason: mthomason@firstchurchok.com

Church Office: 918.272.9551

How long is my commitment?

We are asking that everyone make a two-year commitment. The fulfillment period for your commitment will begin with our First Big Give on Sunday, December 5, 2021, and will culminate in December of 2023.

What if I don't have a job right now? What does that mean for my Unstoppable commitment?

Unstoppable is about your total, prioritized, gospel-driven generosity to God's mission at First Church. We believe God calls us to action in times of hardship just as much as He does in times of abundance, and that looks different for every person. Unstoppable is about a heart surrender - one that is only accomplished by seeking the Lord and responding to His call and His Word. So that may mean you are being challenged to sell things, to pick up odd jobs, or even to trust God in faith by making a commitment you don't quite know how to fulfill right now, but you believe God will provide for as you seek for ways to sacrifice and work towards that commitment. We would love for 100% of us to be a part of Unstoppable so that we can all be supporting, loving, encouraging, and praying for one another through this spiritually stretching season at First Church.

What if I am significantly in debt right now? Am I still supposed to give?

If you are someone currently seeking to make payments to pay off debt right now, we commend you for making progress on that. And you should continue to do so. We would be happy to help you in this journey by recommending a budgeting class that might minister to you. Being in debt does not, however, make someone "excused" from giving. Giving isn't about what God wants from you; it's about what God wants for you. So it should be our joy and privilege to give at all times, regardless of the amount or percentage. Please contact us if you need assistance with paying off debt while still giving or if you would like to speak with a budgeting counselor, and we would be honored to help.

What if I have never even given to First Church before?

Unstoppable was crafted specifically with you in mind. Unstoppable is a "one fund" generosity initiative, meaning that it is different from a traditional capital campaign where you are called to give an extra gift above and beyond your normal giving - thus creating two steps for people who aren't yet giving. Unstoppable is a call to surrendered, gospel-driven generosity for absolutely everyone at First Church. If you have never given before, this is your chance to get in the game with committed giving. We hope you will!

What if I am new around here?

Unstoppable is about the vision for our church and our personal discipleship in giving as followers of Jesus. We believe the local church is one of the most compelling missions to give towards, and we would love for you to make First Church your home and join us in Unstoppable. If you are ready for it, this is a perfect time for you to put a stake in the ground and make this your church. We need you on the team!

What if I haven't been baptized yet?

Great question. People take different spiritual steps at different times. Some people begin praying before they begin attending church. Others begin going to a small group before they begin talking to God in prayer. Giving is another spiritual step, and it comes at different times for different people. One thing is for sure, however. Just like other spiritual disciplines, giving draws us closer to God. And God is calling ALL of us to give. Jesus says, "Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." (Matthew 6:19) Whether you have taken the spiritual step of baptism or haven't yet, we would encourage you to join us in this Unstoppable initiative. We firmly believe it will draw you closer to God and hopefully to a place where you are ready to make the decision to be baptized into Jesus, surrendering your life to His Lordship.

Why build a building now?

Currently, our elementary children are meeting upstairs in a space that was not designed for them. Our elementary ministers and volunteers have done a great job of making it work, but it is not ideal. Also, our elementary numbers continue to climb and we're running out of room. This is a great problem to have! But, it is still a problem that needs to be addressed. We can't afford to wait. Our leadership firmly believes that this is the next move God is calling us to make.

Why not pay off our existing debt first?

First, know that we have a financial team made up of trusted volunteers that know finances. They know where we stand financially as a church. They believe it would be best to hold that debt until after Unstoppable and then attack it then. If God blesses us tremendously, we could potentially pay it off with Unstoppable if we exceed the $11.3 million goal! Wouldn't that be awesome!