Elder Biographies and the 2022 Budget

Following is a link to our proposed budget for 2022 and information on the elders who are up for affirmation this year. Church members will be asked to vote on the budget proposal and the elder nominees at our annual meeting on Sunday, November 14. If you have any questions on the budget, please feel free to contact Gary in the church office at (209)634-4935 or by email at gary@mvcturlock.com .

 

There are two elders who are being presented to the congregation for affirmation. Cal Mast and Scott Elia have each been nominated for their first three-year term of service on the Board. You will find brief bios for each of these men by scrolling down this page. If affirmed they will join Christina Bylsma, Jim MacLaren, Bob Rasmussen, Phil Rogers, Debbie Smallwood, Jackie Vallier, and Ken Van Vliet on the board of elders. Casey Giffen and Rick Moen have completed their second three-year terms and will be stepping off the board. We are grateful for their service over the past six years.

 

The 2022 budget proposal totals $1,702,055, representing an increase of 3.2% from the 2021 budget. The budget change for next year comes from a $53,000 increase in payroll and a $13,000 increase in missions, since the mission budget is set at 20% of the overall budget. Most of the increased payroll expense is tied to changes in the minimum wage which drives increases for both hourly and salaried staff.

 

Formulating a church budget is always an act of faith as we trust in God’s faithfulness for the provision of our needs. However, it is not just an act of faith by the church as an organization, it is an act of faith for us as a body of believers. The budget is met as each of us look to God for his provision for our families and as we in turn give of that provision to meet the needs of the church. As we do so, God’s kingdom advances here and around the world. It is this reality that is exciting to me!

 

Thank you for your faithful support this past year. While the year brought many challenges, God is at work, and we look forward to God’s work among us this coming year. – Gary Sederquist

 

Proposed Budget for 2022
Scott Elia

Scott Elia

Elder Candidate

Greetings! I was raised on a peach/almond/grape ranch in Ballico and never had to search for a summer job growing up. Sharon, my wife of 38 years, and I have 3 adult children – Andrew, Esther, and Cyrus – and one 14-month-old grandson, Enso. I have been employed at the E. & J. Gallo Winery for 32 years as a graphic designer/Creative Director in their internal Creative Design Studio.

Growing up my family attended a Pentecostal church in Turlock, and I gave my heart to the Lord at the tender age of 9 at a summer church camp. This was a very conservative and legalistic upbringing where much emphasis was placed on externals (i.e., “holiness standards”) as a measure of one’s Christian walk and Rapture readiness. I continued attending there into adulthood until the age of 47 when following a revelation of God’s grace, we began attending and became members at MVC 14 years ago. I soon became involved in the Worship Arts Ministry and a men’s small group. It was through rubbing shoulders with the fine men and women of these ministries that I’ve learned (and still learning) how to live a balanced life in Christ.

I continue to enjoy playing drums for the Worship Arts ministry, currently help facilitate a Men’s Story Group, and have just started to co-lead with Sharon a small group for The Story.

I enjoy coffee, am a jazz enthusiast, passionate about drumming, and am crazy about my family.

Cal Mast

Cal Mast

Elder Candidate

I grew up in a Christian home on a dairy farm in a small Dutch community of Michigan. Life revolved around the farm, but Sundays were for going to church – twice (after necessary farm chores.) 

I  don’t have a specific “go forward and accept Jesus” date, but when I was 12 I told my parents I wanted to make Profession of Faith, a process in the Christian Reformed Church of being interviewed by the pastor and elders, then answering yes to a series of questions before the church. I knew and accepted what Jesus had done for me by dying on the cross but… there were lots of do’s and don’ts that needed to be maintained as well. Living in a small community, related to many, what would people think if I didn’t obey the Christian rules? Around that same time I decided that when I grew up I wanted no part of agriculture. My kids weren’t going to miss out on playing sports because they had to ride the bus home to do chores. I’m thinking now that God just smiled and said “We’ll see”. 

 Fast forward to 1979 and I’m moving to California to work for my girlfriend Lori’s father – building a dairy east of Denair that we now own and operate with our son Stephen. So much for not wanting any part of agriculture.  Lori and I were married in 1980 and attended Crossroads church until 2009 when we came to Monte Vista. During that time we raised 4 children, Rebekah, Stephen, Nathan, and Jason. They in turn have provided us with 12 grandchildren.  While the kids were younger I was an AWANA leader and a men’s group leader during the years of the Promise Keeper movement.  Here at Monte Vista, I’ve served on the missions committee and made 4 trips to Africa.  I’ve served on the Deacon Board and have participated in men’s groups, couples Bible studies, the Journey, as well as the Helping Hands ministry. Looking back I’m thankful for Monte Vista Chapel and its leadership which helped me better understand how to love God and love others, no longer needing to worry about and focus on all the do’s and don’ts.