Noah’s Ark
P.O. Box 9376
Panama City Beach, FL 32417
850-234-6062
December 16, 2009
Greetings from beautiful Panama City Beach and Noah’s Ark! After several rainy days here, the sun it shining brightly today, and it’s a great day to be at Noah’s Ark and Panama City Beach.
Thanks to the kindness of those who support the Ark’s mission of making God’s presence known, and thanks to the courage of the Board of Directors in liquidating the Ark’s endowment, we can be confident that the Ark will remain afloat into 2010, and we have no plans for closing the Ark. Through a combination of expense-cutting measures and revenue-increasing measures, the Ark continues to look toward the summer of 2010, followed by another “Snowbird Season” for 2010-2011. We appreciate everyone who has given time, prayers, encouragement, and money towards the mission of “Making God’s Presence Known” in Panama City Beach. That’s really all we’re here for, and if you have taught a class, led an activity, sung or danced or played an instrument, cooked, served, or cleaned up after a meal, or anything else for and with Noah’s Ark, you have been a part of that mission. Thank you!
The Board of Directors of Noah’s Ark continues to seek God’s guidance and people’s help in shoring up the financial base of Noah’s Ark, so that it can continue to minister into the future. In times of financial uncertainty and hardship, we know it’s hard for people to find more money to give. In fact, that is true with all non-profits right now, and even with for-profit organizations and companies. That’s the reason two carmakers have been bailed out by the United States government. It’s also the reason there are more empty beds in Panama City Beach than in recent years. Finally, it is the reason that the money that Noah’s Ark received from our Conference decreased 65% between 2008 and 2009. We do not know how much we will received in 2010. The reason for this is that the individuals who make up the membership of the churches of the Alabama-West Florida Conference are giving less to their local churches, who in turn give less to the conference mission funds, which greatly decreases the amount of money available for missions/ministries such as Noah’s Ark.
At the same time, our buildings get older and require more frequent and costly repairs, and utility costs rise each year, as do insurance premiums. Because of the necessity of maintenance/repairs and the booking of groups who come as part of our summer ministry, we simply cannot cut staff positions without paying a dear price in decreased safety and diminished income. Therefore, we cannot consider cutting staff at this time. However, the Board of Directors has made some very hard decisions to try to remain solvent for the foreseeable future.
- First, the rate paid by groups participating in our summer ministry has been raised by 25% for 2010. We hate to do this, but it is truly necessary.
- Secondly, although the Board and staff have agonized and continue to agonize over this, an additional monthly fee of $30 for January and February has been added to what was previously a season-long “dues” payment of $50. This was a very difficult and unpopular decision, but it was the only responsible choice. The Board simply recognized that the Ark could not remain open through this season with the ministry costing more than we were generating, and sought to implement the most equitable solution they could find.
- Finally, realizing that the new financial requirements could make it impossible for some people to participate in and benefit from the ministries of Noah’s Ark, a very generous and compassionate donor has established the “Arlene Deveroux Fund,” whose purpose is to provide a way for persons to be a part of the Ark who would otherwise find it impossible.
Will we make it through this season with the Ark still afloat? Absolutely! Can we guarantee that our finances will improve to the point where we will never need to ask for money? Absolutely NOT! Until and unless we become a for-profit company and simply charge (and receive!) enough money from enough people to completely pay the expenses of keeping the Ark afloat 365 days per year, we will continue to need and ask for donations from those who believe in this ministry, or those who believe in what it could be. Only through consistent donations can we keep the costs of “joining” low. The reason the new fee structure was put in place is simply this: our expenses stayed the same or rose, while undesignated giving went down (especially from “institutional” donors such as our Annual Conference). I’ve already explained why our financial support from the Conference has decreased.
It has never been the intent of anyone on staff or on the Board of Directors to attempt to threaten or cajole anyone into giving to Noah’s Ark. We quite frankly would not do that! However, to tell you any less than the complete truth about our financial status would indicate a lack of trust on our part. So we didn’t threaten to close, because we do not want to do that. Rather, we needed our friends to know the degree to which we need their help in order to continue this ministry. This is the message we tried to communicate to everyone for whom we had contact information: former staff members, youth leaders, pastors, and churches, vendors, family members of people who have come to Noah’s Ark, and even those who are connected to the Ark through our Winter “Snowbird” ministry. For anyone who felt singled out, we are very sorry you felt that way; the truth is, we sent the same message to everyone we knew, trusting that among all those people there would be sufficient numbers of people who have met God through the Ark and want to make sure future people and generations of people have the same opportunity. If our wording was offensive to some, again, we are very sorry; it was not our intent to offend, but to inform.
That brings us to today. Noah’s Ark continues to minister to locals and guests through classes, activities, worship, meals, shows, and outreach. We will continue to minister as long as we can, and without a safety net. If you would see fit to help ensure that God has an Ark whose purpose is to make God’s presence known in Panama City Beach, we need and would welcome your gift, be it large or small. And if we can help you through praying with/for you, or any other way, it would be our privilege.
Please do what you can. Pray. Give. Encourage. And please do it NOW! To donate online or arrange for monthly donations to Noah’s Ark, please click on this link:
To make a donation or pledge on our secure site click here
If you have questions or ideas, please contact us.
Prayerfully,
J. Michael Bryan
Pastor/Executive Director