Since rolling out our multi-year vision strategy in November our Elders and staff have been carefully preparing our first steps in implementing the vision. Take a look at this video or read on for updates. Stewardship: Our first goal has to do with a building pay off and increased stewardship at SMCC. Based on a strong financial conclusion to the 2024 calendar year end, we anticipate our first debt payment to the International Campus building to happen this spring. This payment will reduce the loan at that location by about 25%. Additionally, we are finishing up another audit of our financial processes. We are also strengthening our culture of stewardship with a refined vision for Gospel stewardship at SMCC all while entering into another budget season where we expect a deficit free budget for the third year in a row. We are excited to share about the financial health of our church at our annual business meeting in the near future at each location. Digital Reach: Our second goal has to do with the reach of our ministry digitally. Since January 1st, 2025, we have seen 659 first time guests at SMCC. That number is certainly connected to the work we’re doing digitally. We are now streaming full services from our St. George, Draper, and International campuses. Each campus is hosting Connect Now events to help assimilate all of these new people into the community of SMCC. Utah County Building: Our first step in acquisition of land in northern Utah County is to connect with landowners in the area personally who may be interested in using their resources for ministry purposes. A letter has been prepared and is going out currently to see what relationships may develop. Leadership Development: While our residency program is still a few years away, we have a cohort of young leaders meeting monthly for ministry training. This group is the residency program in its beginning stages. Additionally, we have connected with an outside group, Leadership Pathway, known for their residency expertise. We are confident these two strategies will guide us into a program for developing pastors. Discipleship: Over the last 6 months, over 2,500 people have participated in a group, class, or serve on a team at SMCC. This is the fruit of our head, heart, hands, discipleship strategy in action. 65 people have participated in all 3 categories within one year. Pastor Alec is now on staff providing careful leadership to the curriculum we use in student ministry and kids ministry. We are moving toward an aligned curriculum for the whole family on Sunday mornings. You can expect students to align first by the end of 2025. Sunday Environments: The first step in Sunday morning environment improvements is to do a refresh and remodel to the Draper campus which was built in 2012 and is in need of some updating. We have a church remodel group set to give us a quote in Q2 of 2025. This will tell us a lot as we move forward. The 6th Campus: Conversations are happening weekly around our next campus. While we have not made any decisions yet, we are getting closer. We anticipate communicating this location to you all in 2026. Increasing Care: We have been talking about the best ways to increase care and compassion while identifying leaders who can participate in leading these initiatives. We have ran into challenges on how to quantify care and compassion in a way that honors Jesus and makes an impact. We have no updates on this initiative yet. What’s Next? Our team is actively planning our first 2030 banquet to be held at the Draper campus on May 2nd, 2025. If you are able, save the date for this time together. We are also preparing additional documents, graphics, and pledge cards to help us all join together in making our 2030 vision a reality. You can refer back to this page quarterly for a new update on the progress we are making on our 2030 vision. With Joy, Pastor Eric