THE FORGE
A Quarterly money and ministry update
"And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth."
— John 1:14
Dear Foundry Family,
Welcome to the second edition of The Forge—our quarterly money and ministry update. I'm grateful you're here.
As we enter Advent, we're exploring how Jesus' arrival wasn't a quiet entrance, but a cosmic disruption. The good kind of disruption. The Incarnation reminds us that God doesn't stay distant—He draws near and brings joy, peace, hope and love. And when we follow Christ, we're called to do the same: to be present with others, helping them know, follow, and share Jesus.
Your generosity makes this possible. Every dollar you give supports life-changing ministry—students discovering faith, families growing deeper in Christ, mission work extending God's Kingdom around the world.
As you'll see in our financial report, we need strong year-end giving to finish 2025 well. God always provides—and He does so through you. I invite you to look at the snapshot of where we are and prayerfully consider how God might be calling you to give.
Inside, you'll find:
A financial report for the year to date.
A practical Year-End Giving Guide with strategies by age to help you give more effectively
Justin and Lane Clark's testimony about their journey from inconsistent to intentional giving
Mission updates
And more opportunities to learn and grow
My prayer is that this resource helps you steward well what God has entrusted to you—so together, we can maximize Kingdom impact.
With gratitude,
Pastor Ray
2025 Giving
Jan - July 2025
What We’ve Recieved
$2,108,197.29
Given So Far
What Was Expected
$2,297,980.00
Needed By This Point
The Gap
-$189.782.71
Behind Budget
Visual Snapshot
• We are slightly behind where we hoped to be at this point in the year.
• Every dollar matters in supporting ministry, outreach, and daily operations.
Why This Matters
We are grateful for your faithfulness and generosity. If you haven't started giving, or if you feel led to increase your giving, now is a great time to help close the gap.
Encouragment
$6,146,357
Total Amount Pledged
$1,403,282
Total Pledges Received
Stewardship:
Planting for a Kingdom Harvest
Written by Tim Hudson. Tim has been a member of Foundry since 1997 and is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional with SilverStar Wealth Management/LifeBridge Financial Group. He can be reached at tim@silverstarwealth.com.
Regardless of our occupation, income, or level of wealth, the amount of “seeds” (money) we earn over a lifetime can be significant. But if those seeds are not managed wisely, much of what we earn can be scattered and lost. Scripture reminds us in Galatians 6:7–9: “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows… Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”
When we take a purposeful, biblical approach—treating our finances as seeds entrusted to us by God—we can multiply what has been given into an abundant harvest that blesses our families, advances His work, and secures our future.
-
Before we can manage money well, we must understand who owns it. Psalm 24:1 declares, “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it.” That means our resources—our time, gifts, possessions, and even our ability to earn—belong to Him. We are merely trustees.
When we embrace this truth, financial planning transforms from a mere task into an act of worship and obedience.
-
To manage God’s blessings well, we should first discover our gifts, purpose, and goals. Understanding our “why” motivates us to align our money with our values. Psalm 32:8 promises: “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go.” Proverbs 15:22 adds: “Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.”
-
Managing a budget (cash flow planning) may not sound exciting, but it is one of the most powerful tools for planting seeds of wealth and creating lasting impact. Many of us are surprised to learn how much we spend, which often leads to unnecessary debt.
The START framework provides a simple guide:
-
Seek God’s wisdom and ask Him to guide our financial decisions. When we embrace this truth, financial planning transforms from a mere task into an act of worship and obedience.
-
Think about where we are today and where we want to be in the future.
-
Act by developing a written plan that begins with managing our cash flow—so it does not manage us. As they say in West Texas, “Big hat—no cattle” unfortunately describes far too many Americans living beyond their means. Practicing gratitude, distinguishing needs from wants, reducing unnecessary spending, and eliminating the “weeds” of high-interest and unnecessary debt all contribute to growth. Consider partnering with a spouse or trusted friend to share goals, track progress, and stay accountable. Including clear rewards for success and consequences for setbacks can provide added motivation.
-
Review the plan regularly to ensure progress and maintain positive cash flow. Once the cash flow foundation is strong, we can begin planning in other areas such as risk management, investing, tax strategies, retirement, and estate planning.
-
Tune the plan as life changes, aligning new opportunities and goals with God’s purpose while refining broader strategies for long-term growth.
Conclusion
Every dollar we earn is a seed. When planted intentionally—by giving first, saving diligently, spending wisely, and investing for the future—those seeds can grow into a bountiful harvest of gratitude, provision, security, and an enduring legacy.
As I was preparing this article, someone shared a story of a couple in our church. Just a few years ago, they were in serious debt, putting a child through college, and navigating the loss of a job. But instead of giving in to fear, they decided to pray. God led them to create their first budget and commit to giving consistently. Within a few years, they had eliminated all credit card debt, built an emergency fund, and increased their generosity to missions—seeing God provide in ways they never expected.
The apostle Paul reminds us in 2 Corinthians 9:6–8:
“Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give… And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.”
A First Step:
Take one simple step to sow a seed this week: pray over your finances, start a basic written budget or reach out to a trusted financial adviser or mentor. The hardest part is getting started. But once you take the first step, momentum builds. Pray, plan, act, and watch how God multiplies the seeds you sow.
What happened next changed everything.
In this video, Justin and Layne share how one moment of obedience turned tithing from a burden into a joy—and how teaching their kids to write the checks has shaped their family's rhythm of worship. Their story is a powerful reminder: everything we have truly comes from Him.
From Inconsistent to Intentional::
Justin and Layne Clark's Giving Journey
Meet Justin and Layne Clark—longtime Foundry members who serve in children's ministry, on the board, and in countless other ways. But their generosity didn't start with confidence. It started with fear.
"I was prideful. I made that deal happen. God didn't negotiate that contract," Justin recalls about his early reluctance to tithe. Like many young couples, they gave here and there, thinking that was good enough. But when Layne faced a serious health crisis, God tugged at their hearts—and they took their first leap of faith.
Staying Safe in a World of Smarter Scams
Scammers are becoming more creative every day. Whether it’s a call, email, or text, the best protection is knowing what to look for. Technology is advancing quickly—and scammers are taking advantage. A growing trend is the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to clone voices and impersonate people you know and trust.
These tips are designed to help you guard your finances and personal information in everyday life. Along the way, we’ll also point out how this applies to messages you might receive from Foundry, so you can always feel confident about what’s real.
A Real Life Story
One pastor in the Foundry Network—despite a strong background in finance and a solid understanding of scam tactics—was recently deceived by a highly sophisticated attack. After noticing suspicious activity on his account, he did the right thing and called his bank directly. Just minutes later, he received what appeared to be a return call, displaying the same legitimate bank number he had just dialed.
Trusting it as a follow-up from the bank, he spoke with someone who sounded professional and convincing. But it was a scam. The fraudsters had spoofed (duplicated) the bank’s number and intercepted his call, creating a scenario so real that even an experienced financial professional fell victim.
In the process, they gained access to his phone and sensitive financial information. That’s the danger of today’s AI-driven scams: they can replicate not only a trusted voice but also appear to come from a trusted phone number.
That’s why we want every member of our community to be prepared and protected.
What You Need to Know
Voice cloning is real. A scammer only needs a few seconds of recorded audio—something most pastors (and many of us) have online—to create a convincing deepfake.
Caller ID can’t be trusted. Fraudsters often spoof (or duplicate) numbers, making it appear as if the call is local or from someone you know.
Scams are urgent by design. Criminals count on panic, secrecy, and pressure to override clear thinking.
Protecting Yourself from Threats
Create a “Safe Word.”
Have a private passphrase with your family or close contacts. If a suspicious call comes in, ask for it. 👉 Why You Need a Safe WordAlways Verify.
If you get an urgent request, hang up and call back using a trusted number—or confirm by text or in person. 👉 How to Spot Voice Cloning ScamsWatch for Red Flags.
Urgency, secrecy, or unusual payment requests (gift cards, cryptocurrency) are red flags. 👉 Rise of AI Voice Cloning ScamsStrengthen Passwords.
Use strong, unique passwords, enable two-factor authentication, and consider a password manager. 👉 Password Best PracticesMonitor & Protect Online Activity.
Change passwords after breaches, use two-step authentication, avoid phishing links, and consider monitoring credit. 👉 Seven Ways to Protect Yourself From Cyber Attack
Our Commitment to the Foundry Family
We want to be absolutely clear: No one from Foundry will ever call you asking for money, gift cards, or banking details. If you ever receive such a request, it’s a scam. And in the case of disaster relief or urgent needs, a secure giving link will always be available on the Foundry website.
Final Word
These scams are designed to exploit trust—especially within faith communities. By staying alert, using simple verification steps, and practicing digital wisdom, we can protect ourselves, our families, and our church.
And remember: if you ever get a call asking you to send money now—it’s not us.
