Hello - we hope this email finds you well.

Last Sunday, we started a 3-week series on giving and finances entitled "Radical Generosity." It has been about two years since we've talked specifically about this topic, and we feel like it is an important part of discipleship and following Jesus that we want to discuss as a community. If you missed our service on Sunday, we encourage you to take some time to listen to Greg's talk.

As Greg mentioned, we also want to be open about the financial situation at Kairos Hollywood. Year to date, our giving for the year has not matched the budget created for 2009. As an equipping leadership team, we have been working to cut areas of our budget for the remainder of 2009 to do what is necessary to bring our budget in line with our giving. Our budget has a number of fixed items (rent and facility costs, network fees, insurance, etc.) that we are not able to cut at this time, so we have had to make cuts in other areas, including gathering team and ministry budgets as well as staff salary support. Our current estimates project a shortfall of about $10,000 even after making these cuts as we approach the end of the year. This shortfall comes at a time that giving in other areas such as Unembraced and Toy Giveaway increase, and focus on the needs of our community budget tend to decrease.

Currently, we are also making decisions about what our 2010 budget will look like. Our desire is that we are able to craft a budget that takes our financial resources seriously, and allows our finances as a community to match our seasonal vision of living incarnationally by moving into our spaces. In two weeks (11/22), we will be talking more specifically about our budget at Kairos, and will have an opportunity for all of us to discuss together any questions or concerns that you have.

This week, we will be continuing our series on radical generosity with a specific focus on our partnerships in Kenya. The team who recently traveled to Kenya will be presenting some stories, pictures, and thoughts about our situation and relationship with our brothers and sisters in Kenya. There will be a time for an open conversation and dialogue, so think about questions and thoughts you would like to raise with our community regarding issues of international justice and generosity.

We believe passionately in Kairos: her mission, her people, her heart for God, her impact in this neighborhood, and around the world. We want to be the kind of community that is willing to engage in all areas of life, including our finances. As part of the Kairos family, we're asking you to pray a simple prayer - "Lord, what would you have me give to help Kairos as you use Kairos to help the world?" As we discern together what God is calling us to, we hope that you will continue journeying with us as we join God in the renewal of all things.

Warmly,

Audrey, Dave, Don & Greg