Keith Balkey
Ed. Note: The following article is taken from Hebron’s recently published 2020 Annual Report. Copies are available at the Sanctuary and Barclay entrances. In addition to this article from Keith Balkey, Stewardship Chair, are reports from Doug, Henry, the Deacons, and Trustees, as well as the 2020 statistical report and financial detail. Pick up a copy to see how Hebron navigated this most challenging year.
2020 can be best described as… unexpected.
During the first quarter last year Hebron celebrated the official re-launch of the Barclay Building with the newly constructed permanent stage. With the next step of identifying further capabilities to serve our community with our facilities, COVID-19 impacted our way of life as our routine livelihoods quickly came to a halt mid-March. By the end of the quarter, in person worship and church activities came to a halt and Hebron was facing a $70,000 deficit.
The second and third quarters were a roller coaster ride as staff and session navigated the ever-changing landscape of restrictions to determine the best way to continue to worship to the Praise of His Glory. In order to help offset a potential year-end deficit, Hebron did apply for and receive a loan from the Payroll Protection Program. The funds were applied to offset staff costs throughout the year. It is anticipated that Hebron qualifies to have the loan converted to a grant in 2021.
Hebron entered the fourth quarter with a $25,000 deficit. Any sense of normalcy was again interrupted as COVID cases ramped up in November/December and the difficult decision to not hold in-person worship on Christmas Eve was made out of an abundance of caution for the safety of the congregation. If nothing else, 2020 reminded us of God’s Sovereignty and why we remain faithful during the most uncertain of times. Concerns of a deficit were erased with a large December give and Hebron ended the year with a $53,000 surplus. A portion of these funds will quickly be moved to the maintenance escrow fund in 2021 as it was not funded as part of the 2020 budget.
As our world emerges from the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021, how Hebron emerges from a return to normalcy will shape whether we begin to grow our revenues again, or if we need to realign our financial expectations to a “new normal”.
