FRIENDS OF THE GROOM 2024 ANNUAL FUND DRIVE LETTER

 November 29, 2024

Dear Friends,

 It’s the day after Thanksgiving, and I have a lot to be thankful for!

 This past year has been a year of creativity and growth as we embraced new ways to connect with people. In January, February, and March, we held a series of Lenten retreats under the theme “Conversations with God.” Two were conducted online via Zoom, and one was held live.

 This summer, we led a week-long Vacation Bible School using Zoom, where children gathered at their church and we led theater activities remotely. At the end of the week, I had the joy of performing with the children, appearing on a large video screen as they shared their talents with their families. 

 In the fall, we hosted three webinars for the Presbyterian Association of Musicians, helping small churches use theater and storytelling to enrich worship and Christian education. (Those can be viewed on their website in the “Great Lakes Region” area.) Meanwhile, our creative work continues. We’re producing videos for retreats, building an online training center, and offering short, engaging holiday-themed videos on YouTube—which have reached thousands of viewers. 

 Yet, as we expand our online ministry, we face financial challenges. With fewer live performances, our income from those events has diminished, and our donor base has declined. To meet these challenges, I have chosen to forego all but a small part-time salary, so that every dollar we raise can go directly to support our talented staff and vital programming. 

 We remain deeply thankful for the faithful support of donors like you, who help sustain this ministry. Your generosity not only keeps us going but enables us to move forward, finding new ways to share God’s message through theater and storytelling. 

 As we enter this season of giving, would you prayerfully consider making a gift to our ministry?  Your support helps us reach more people with the Good News, whether through a computer screen or on stage. 

 Thank you for your faithfulness and your care for this ministry.

 With gratitude,   

Tom Long, Director