2024 State of the Church Report

 “And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.” (Acts 2:47)

One of the responsibilities that all United Methodist churches have at the first of each year is to give a statistical accounting of their annual ministry.  As this data was prepared for our “2024 End-of-Year Report” to the North Georgia Annual Conference, I thought you might be interested in what I consider to be some of the highlights for Cornerstone UMC (percentages represent growth since the previous year):

            • Total number of new members in 2024:  9

            • New members joining in 2024 by profession or reaffirmation                                                 of Christian faith: 3

 • Number of persons baptized (all ages):  1

            • Net growth of CUMC church membership in 2024:  +2

            • Church membership as of December 31, 2024: 1079

            • Average attendance for worship services during 2024:

--In-person: 155 (+17%)

--Online:  63 (+15%)

--TOTAL: 218 (+16.5%)

            • Average attendance in all Sunday School classes and small groups

during 2024: 112

• Number of participants at children’s Vacation Bible School:  120 (+9%)

            • Number of persons engaged in mission/community ministries:                                         110 (+47%)

            • Number of persons served by community ministries of outreach,                                     justice and mercy: 1175 (+18%)

• Total number of family units financially supporting our church’s mission

and ministry: 173 (+5%)

            • Total income received for ministry in 2024:  $598,559 (+13%)

            • Amount spent in 2024 on program ministry and operational expenses

(excludes salaries): $138,999 (+9%)

            • Amount given during 2024 for local, state, and world mission                                             ministry: $58,142

            • Current value of all church-owned buildings & property: $2,492,000

            • Principal and interest paid on indebtedness: $99,674 (+131%)

            • Debt remaining on current physical buildings & assets: $255,326

 Many thanks to both Janet Poulsen and Nina Stubbs for collecting this information and especially to Janet for preparing and submitting it all to the Conference!  As you can see, the statistics reveal that our church is once again on a path of steady growth!  If you haven’t already, I pray that in this new year, you and your family will not only “get in” on what God is doing in our midst but will invite others to be part of it as we seek to “reflect the love of Jesus” to our community and world across all generations!  Remember that God loves you and I do, too!