Living Faith Lutheran Church
Annual Congregational Meeting Agenda
January 25, 2026
Presiding: Nancy Rehm, President
1) Opening Prayer
2) 2025 Annual Meeting Minutes
3) Pastor’s Report
4) Congregational President’s Report
5) Community Outreach
6) Treasurer’s Report
7) New Items
a) 2026 Budget Review
b) 2026 Church Council
8) Adjournment / Closing Prayer
Living Faith Congressional Annual Meeting
Sunday, January 19, 2025
Presided by Nancy Rehm
Minute taker Marissa McDermott
Nancy established a quorum, and the pastor opened the meeting with prayer.
Time was allotted for reviewing the 2025 minutes. Marty moved to approve the minutes as presented, and the motion carried.
Pastor’s Report Highlights:
Community Engagement and Mission Focus:
• The organization is committed to being a touchstone in the community, aiming to serve and create opportunities for others.
• A key goal is making disciples, modeled after Jesus’ example of offering love, healing, and connection.
Inclusivity and Accessibility:
• The use of a Picture Exchange System (PECS) for transitions during services has been embraced by the congregation.
• A social story is being created online to help newcomers feel comfortable and prepared for services.
• The community is welcoming of diversity, including verbal outbursts or movement during services, fostering a loving and inclusive environment.
Grants and Enhancements:
• Grant funding has enabled new purchases, including a table cover and backdrop for community events, expos, and workshops.
• Participation in events such as the Synod Assembly and the Conference on Ministry showcases the mission’s outreach.
Educational and Interfaith Efforts:
• Ongoing autism-related education and collaborations with organizations like CARD (Center for Autism and Related Disabilities) and ARC to support neurodiverse and IDD communities.
• Upcoming participation in an interfaith event in Coral Springs to build bridges between different faith communities.
Weekly and Online Activities:
• Two sermons are posted weekly online: a traditional sermon and an all-abilities sermon featuring the neurodiverse infinity logo.
• Wednesday night Bible studies are offered in partnership with Saint Timothy’s in Miami Gardens.
Leadership Updates:
• Leadership transition with Carlos Hamm as the new leader, bringing extensive global mission experience, including 20 years of ministry in Cuba.
President’s Report Highlights:
• Online Presence: Significant improvements have been made, as reflected in consistent online engagement numbers. Feedback from the online audience has been invaluable.
• Community Outreach: While there hasn’t been substantial activity in community outreach this year, efforts were concentrated on ministry initiatives, including participating in events like Stand Up for Downs to enhance visibility.
Treasurer’s Report Highlights:
One Accord, as part of Grace Alone, has taken over bookkeeping responsibilities. After exploring a few different approaches, we believe we’ve found the easiest and most transparent format to manage this effectively via Quickbooks.
Jim Belz’s discussion about the investments:
· The investment fund originated in 2015 when the church sold a property inherited from a dissolving congregation to the City of Sunrise for $854,000.
· Since its inception, $680,000 has been used to support the congregational mission of Living Faith Lutheran Church.
· This year alone, $120,000 was transferred into the operating fund. Despite withdrawals, the fund’s value increased by $160,000 during the year, resulting in a net year-over-year growth of $40,000.
· The value continues to fluctuate with market performance.
Discussions on the budget
• The budget for 2025 is almost identical to 2024, indicating a “bare-bones” approach with minimal changes in expenses.
• They are fortunate to have a well-performing investment fund, which helps sustain operations.
• A grant has been received and will be placed into a separate account for better financial management.
• A 2.5% salary increase was budgeted, but this may need revision to align with inflation or the Social Security cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) increase.
• Expenditures are minimal, with no significant increases or decreases across budget lines.
• Specific areas of focus include supplies, marketing, and building safety to support ministry activities.
• Questions about grant usage, supplies, and marketing were addressed by Nancy and the pastor.
Nancy proposed an amendment to the budget to provide Pastor with either a 5% salary increase or a cost-of-living adjustment, whichever is greater. The amendment was approved.
Jim Belz motioned to approve the Treasury report with the amendment, and the motion carried.
Discussion on next year’s Council:
The current council members have graciously agreed to continue serving. Recognizing our options and the momentum we’ve built; we’re committed to carrying forward together. With faith and dedication, we are confident that this ministry will accomplish great things for Living Faith.
Nancy closed the meeting and Pastor led us in Prayer
Pastor’s Report
Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
We at Living Faith believe that: Just because a person does not communicate or is not able to communicate in traditional ways that we understand at this time, or that they face barriers to communication or become overstimulated by the environment and things beyond their control that cause frustration to reach a level that inhibits participation or the ability to maintain personal safety, that they should not be excluded from the opportunity to worship, serve and experience the many benefits of being able to fully participate in and be welcome in a church community.
Therefore:
We developed a working strategy for a safe church and meeting environment for the IDND community. We provided a chair rack to improve the toppling chair situation that also provided mobility to a safer location. We rotated our worship space due to a plaster issue and found that we could mitigate the hazards inherent in the hall and kitchen. The unsecure mobile walls and chairs are blocked behind the altar and are not accessible to the public. Placed guards on outlets and alarmed exit doors. We have a monitored AED and the pastor is CPR certified. The closet with cleaning supplies is gated.
We have created and we host a sensory friendly worship experience that seeks to be concrete and engaging. We provide a variety of seating options, surroundings and an environment that seeks to mitigate dysregulation.
Much of the year was spent preparing to be ready for our new ministry focus. Trust levels are problematic, so we must continue to be present for the community to show that we are who we say that we are, a faithful partner and friend in their walk of life. It is hard being patient and waiting, but many have affirmed that we are doing the right thing and in the right way.
Highlights of the year:
● All Abilities Sermons
● Held Halloween Ball - 72 present
● Sponsored Step Up for Downs/Booth
● Booth at Pembroke Pines Joe Dimaggio Special Needs Fair
● 3 Day Booth at the Fort Lauderdale Abilities Expo
● Completed over 20hrs of IDND focused ConEd
● Conference Reformation Service
● Served as Dean for the Conference
● Served as Adult Counsellor for Luther Springs Camp Week
● Led LMIM Master Builders’ Event at Luther Springs/ Built Kayak Shed
● Attended Conference On Ministry
● Spoke at Coral Springs event
● Attended and met persons Boynton Beach Art show
● Sponsored Layla Crehan for “The Crossing”
● Attended “The Crossing” event
● Met with Synod Grant coach x2
● Met with Inter-Community Faith Alliance every other week
● Attended Interfaith Convo at Charles Dodd
● Attended and met presenters at Autism Art Show at The Plunge
● Attended and met persons Boca Raton Art show
● Booth at Weston Autism Awareness Fair
● Acting Bishop visited and viewed our set up site and met with Pastor Jonathan
● Attended Synod Assembly
● Booth for Chamber
● Booth at Miramar
● Miramar Autism Awareness Park Dedication
● Spoke at Miami Gardens Mosque’s open house and participated in interfaith dialogue
● Spoke at Palm Beach interfaith dialogue
● Boundaries Training
● Reallocated resources from external social media efforts to “in house” help with set-up, video/slide show operation, and family greeting and contact help
● Led Wading in the Word Weekly
● Wednesday Night Bible Studies
● Sponsored and spoke at Autism Theater Project Premiere
● Worship Weekly
● Posted to FB Weekly
● Bulletin and website updates weekly
● Uploaded sermon and preview weekly
● Update order of worship and Picture Exchange System on Sunday Slide show
● Purchased sensory supplies, booth supplies, and seating
● Achieve Anyway Autism Theater Project event
● Monthly Conference Meetings
We are looking forward to this new year, seeking to continue to be a vital presence in our community and to serve it. May we be ever attentive to the Spirit’s guidance and be propelled and invigorated in our mission to make Christ known in Pembroke Pines and the greater surrounding area.
Yours in Christ,
Pastor Jonathan
President’s Report
Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
I like to think of 2025 as Living Faith laying a strong foundation for our vision, and 2026 is our time to start building on that foundation. Pastor and Pam have worked tirelessly attending events, hosting booths at expos, and making connections. Living Faith has generated a lot of interest in the neurodivergent community, the Florida Bahamas Synod, and the Miramar and Pembroke Pines Chamber of Commerce. We have a comfortable and safe worship space. Now is the time for Living Faith members to help spread the word and invite friends, neighbors, or strangers to worship with us! There are business cards available to pass out or leave behind. Spread the word!
Our worship space has pivoted to allow for more room and to accommodate better lighting for a more viewable bulletin slideshow. Living Faith’s livestream on YouTube is stable and the graphic quality has increased significantly. We have a regular online audience that watches live and enjoys chatting online, as well as addition views logged throughout the week. Be sure to view online if you are unable to attend service in person or while traveling and be sure to say hello in the chat!
Please continue to support Living Faith by welcoming visitors, inviting friends and family to worship, and join us as we host or attend different community events. Could it be that we were born for such a time as this?!
Blessings,
Nancy
2026 Church Council
All members of council have agreed to continue to serve for the 2026 year. We do have a large void left by Marti Mang, in particular Marti’s expertise in all things financial and her role as Financial Advisor. If you feel compelled to help fill this void, please let a member of Council know.
President: Nancy Rehm
Recording Secretary: Marie Munsie
Financial Advisor: TBD
Members at Large: Marissa McDermot
Cathryn Secoy