THE FORGE
A Quarterly money and ministry update
Welcome to The Forge
Hey Foundry family,
A new school year is here! Backpacks are packed, alarms are set early again, and school buses are moving out.
Which reminds me of something you probably never knew about your pastor.
For a season during seminary, I drove a school bus.
It was not my favorite job.
Picture seventy-five elementary kids after a full day of school—wired, loud, and competing to see who could make the most noise. By the end of the afternoon, my objective was simple: get every kid where they were supposed to go, safely and as quickly as possible.
But here’s the thing about driving a school bus: I didn’t get to decide the route.
I had been given a route, and my job was to follow it.
There’s something in that that feels a lot like following Jesus.
This month we started a new series called Sent—the outward life, in the power of the Spirit. The invitation isn’t simply to do more for God or sign up for more things at church. It’s to pay attention.
Where is God already at work?
Where is the Spirit prompting you?
Where might Jesus be sending you?
That might be across the world. But it might also be across the street, into a conversation, toward someone who needs encouragement, or simply into your everyday places with a greater awareness that God is already there.
And Jesus doesn’t just send us and tell us to figure it out. He gives us his Spirit. The power for the journey isn’t our effort. It’s his presence.
So maybe the question for this season isn’t, “What should I sign up for?”
Maybe it’s simply:
“Jesus, where are you sending me?”
And then—listen.
Inside this edition of The Forge, you’ll see some of the places God is already at work through Foundry—through our giving, serving, mission partnerships, and ordinary people learning to say yes when Jesus sends them.
May we be a church that keeps listening for where he is leading—and has the courage to go when he sends.
Grateful to be on the journey with you,
Pastor Ray
Where We Stand
Your faithful generosity is what makes everything you read in this publication possible—every ministry, every mission, every moment of life changes at Foundry. Here is a current snapshot of where we stand:
We are deeply grateful for your continued faithfulness. Consistent, generous giving is what sustains every aspect of Foundry’s ministry—our staff, our campuses, our programming, and our mission commitments locally and globally.
If you have not yet begun giving regularly, or if you’ve been thinking about taking your giving to the next level, this is a meaningful moment to take that step. Every dollar is stewarded with care—and every dollar matters.
Open Hands
Why generosity is a next step, not a side issue
Most of us file generosity under "church budget" — something the church needs from us. But Jesus never treated money that way. He talked about it constantly, not because heaven needs our cash, but because of what it does to the human heart. "Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also" (Luke 12:34). Generosity was never the church reaching for your wallet. It's Jesus reaching for your heart.
That's why it belongs in the same breath as prayer, Scripture, and worship. It isn't a fundraising strategy. It's formation — one of the truest next steps a person can take with Christ.
The part we don't always say out loud
Generosity is also one of the most common places people quietly get stuck in their walk with God.
The Reveal research behind the book Move surveyed over a thousand churches and found a clear path of growth — from exploring, to growing, to close to Christ, to Christ-centered. Giving rose sharply along it: those just beginning were least likely to give; the most mature, most likely. Yet nearly one in four churchgoers were stalled or dissatisfied — plateaued, going through the motions. For a lot of us, money is exactly where that plateau lives. We'll grow in prayer and study and still keep our hands closed.
Barna points the same way: only about half of practicing Christians give in a given year, and Barna concludes generosity, at its core, is less about meeting a need than about becoming like Christ. So this isn't a guilt trip. It's an invitation. Wherever you are, there's a next step in front of you.
Find your next step
If you're skeptical or exploring — Counterfeit Gods (Timothy Keller), an honest look at how money quietly becomes the thing we worship. Or John Wesley's free short read "The Use of Money": gain all you can, save all you can, give all you can.
If money and faith feel like separate worlds — The Treasure Principle (Randy Alcorn). Short, warm, and life-changing. If you read one book on this, read this one.
If you're growing and want to go deeper — How to Be Rich (Andy Stanley), a group-ready reminder that most of us are richer than we admit, so the question isn't how to get rich but how to be good at it.
If you're seasoned and ready to lead — Gospel Patrons (John Rinehart), the often-untold joy of funding what God is doing.
Or for something quieter and more reflective, Freedom of Simplicity (Richard Foster).
Make it real
Plan your giving. Decide in advance — generosity that's planned beats whatever happens to be left over.
Set up recurring giving through Foundry's online giving, and turn a one-time decision into a steady rhythm.
Start a conversation at the Connection Point, and we'll help you find the step that fits you.
To give, visit foundrychurch.org/give or stop by the Connection Point at either campus.
A Testimony
Linda Padovani
My name is Linda Padovani, and I’ve been a part of the Foundry family for five years. I come from a family legacy of service. For decades, my faith was built on a practical rhythm: if you want your community to be better, you roll up your sleeves. Because of that, I always said yes to the areas of serving that felt safe and comfortable.
As life changed, I found myself hiding behind a lack of time or talent. I respected the legacy, but I hadn't made it a part of my own faith journey. That started when I wanted to weave service into the way I raised my son. I started small—donating crayons for VBS or helping in the kitchen.
Over time, these small actions reaped a massive return. As my son grew, we served together, which kept our conversations grounded and our relationship close. My desire for God’s word grew when projects caused me to question the deeper purpose of what I was doing.
When I was asked to teach middle school confirmation, I was terrified. I didn’t have a degree in theology. But I discovered that God never needed me to be a theologian; He just needed me to show up as I am, so He could show up as who He is.
When we serve, we witness the extraordinary. I saw it when faith clicked in my son and when students asked tough questions that forced me to dig deeper. In every uncertain place, God made something whole. Serving became the unexpected warmth of each season, keeping my heart aligned with His purpose.
Today, this journey has completely changed how I follow and share Jesus. I no longer serve out of duty; I serve to stay close to His warmth. Sharing Him isn't about perfection. It is about giving Him my ordinary days and inviting others to join me. It has made my faith active, living, and anchored.
If you are wondering if you have enough knowledge, enough time, or a big enough story to step out and serve, I want to tell you: Yes, you do.
Staff Highlight
Aislinn McDonald
Meet Aislinn McDonald, Admin to the Director of Operations! Aislinn and her husband, Rosstin, have been married for six years and have two beautiful daughters...Adelaide (“Addie”), 4, and Penelope (“Penny”), almost 2. Aislinn became involved at Foundry's Jones Road Campus five years ago through MomCo, joining Foundry as a member about two years later. We were lucky enough to have her join the staff shortly after where she served first in FSM and then, after a short hiatus, joined the Operations Team as Admin to the Director. We asked Aislinn a few questions about her role here at Foundry...
What do you like most about your role in Operations? "I love that my role touches every area of the church. I get to collaborate with all of our ministries, so every day is different, and I enjoy getting to support the incredible work happening across the church."
What challenges you the most in your role? "You never know what unexpected issue is going to pop up next! It definitely keeps us on our toes, and while it can be challenging, I genuinely enjoy the problem-solving and working together to find solutions."
Do you have a favorite verse, passage, or Bible story, and why? "I love the book of Ecclesiastes, especially the reminder that “there is nothing new under the sun (1:9)” There’s something incredibly comforting about that truth. It reminds me that nothing catches God by surprise, and it encourages me to enjoy the blessings He has given us while trusting Him with the rest."
We are blessed to have Aislinn as a part of our staff and to celebrate the work that she, and our entire Operations Team does, to support our campuses and the ministries that take place at Foundry.
Costa Rica
In 2023, we began an official partnership with the Evangelical Methodist Church of Costa Rica (Iglesia Evangélica Metodista de Costa Rica). We were seeking a mission partner that not only was theologically aligned with us but also had a heart for planting new churches. We looked at heart, proximity, and approach.
We didn't just want to send money—we wanted to go and form lasting, meaningful relationships. The overflow of these Christ-centered relationships informs the nature of our partnership.
Over the last year, we have been strengthening our relationships with our five partner churches in the province of Guanacaste. The churches are located in Liberia, Belén, Santa Cruz, Nicoya, and Quirimán. Our three-pronged approach has allowed us to engage the churches and their respective communities.
As of the end of July, we have contributed more than $15,000 across the five churches. We have also sent more than 40 people on mission to Costa Rica. Through our giving and going, we have encouraged the pastoral families, fortified their existing ministries and facilities, and supported their collective initiatives. We are grateful for the opportunity to walk alongside these five churches.
There is still a lot of work for us to do. Ultimately, the pastors of these five churches will determine where the next church will be planted, and some exciting possibilities are already emerging. Please be in prayer for these churches, for our work there, and for discernment as we consider the next church plant.
We also have an established partnership with El Refugio, a recovery ministry in Costa Rica, and we are in the process of building a bridge between our two partners. There is a great spirit of collaboration and unity among them. We are trusting in the Lord and full of anticipation for what is next.
Mission Updates
Backpack Drive
We’re so excited to share an update on how Foundry has helped our community with school supplies and backpacks!
Hundreds of you donated items, Life Groups and students packed the bags, and our teams delivered the backpacks to our mission partners.
A total of 360 backpacks were distributed!
Some of our backpacks even made it as far as Monterrey, Mexico, with a small missions team who hosted a Back to School service.
Thank you for the ways you have generously given to help people know, follow, and share Jesus.