2018 AG Letter 4 pages

Sharing Our Faith. Securing Our Future.
Dear Drawing Near to God Friends,
As we enter the season of Annual Giving for Drawing Near to God, I want
to thank you for sharing our passion to teach women how to make space
for God in their lives. It is because of YOU we are able to fulfill this vision
statement and provide emotional and spiritual support to women who
juggle the daily responsibilities of work, family, and personal obligations.
I am always humbled by the many stories that are shared with me from
women who are so overwhelmed with life that they have lost their connection
to family, friends, and God. These women share stories of how Drawing
Near to God has provided them with healing, encouragement, hope,
peace, joy, and most importantly transformation in word of God. I wish I
could share with you each and every one of their stories so you could truly
understand that together we are making a difference in lives, strengthening
marriages, building relationships and bringing unity into chaos. As
we are reminded in Matthew 19:26 “with God all things are possible.”
Today we are kicking off the Drawing Near to God 2018 Annual Giving
Campaign: Sharing Our Faith. Securing Our Future. Our ministry teaches
women to make space for God so they are not overwhelmed with life, and so
they can inspire, equip, and empower others in the word of God. We achieve
this through our invaluable programs like weekly Teaching & Worship
Experience, Face to Face, Missions & Outreach, Prayer Teams and the
Annual DNG Conference. This year’s campaign will have a special emphasis
on growing our Ministry Partners. We have set a goal to add 100 NEW
Ministry Partners this year. This monthly commitment to DNG allows the
ministry to create long-term sustainability for the programs and outreach.
As DNG celebrates our past, present, and future with grateful hearts my
thoughts turn to you. As a part of the DNG family your gifts of time and
treasure have provided the roots for the ministry to grow. Our ministry is
blessed by your love and faithfulness to our mission and the women we serve.
Thank you for your prayerful consideration of
making a gift to Drawing Near to God.
In Christ,
Joanne Ellison
Founder & Executive Director, Drawing Near to God
A DNG Testimonal of Faith & Inspiration
JOYCE’S STORY
2018
Annual Giving Goals
One-Time Gifts & Ministry Partners
~ Raise $75,000 ~
~Add 100 NEW ~
DNG Ministry Partners
Your Gift
Allows Us To:
Equip more mentors for the
Face to Face Program
Seed Community Groups in
North Charleston and Peninsula
Grow the Weekly Teaching &
Worship Experience
Provide volunteers and financial
support to local nonprofit that
align with our mission
Continue to offer resources
including live streaming, Joanne’s
blog, DNG App and
online Bible Study
One cold Thursday morning in January a woman named Joyce sat in her car outside of St.
Andrew’s Church trying to decide if she was going inside. Her daughter had given her a gift
to attend the spring semester of the Drawing Near to God Teaching & Worship Experience,
but Joyce just wasn’t sure she had the courage to go inside. She sat in the car thinking and
waiting. It was only minutes before small groups were starting that she made the decision
to go inside. Those few steps from the parking lot to the building were hard, but once inside
Joyce knew she had found where she belonged. Once she started attending DNG, her life was
forever changed. She found “sisters in Christ” in her DNG Small Group, she learned to make
space for God in her life, and found peace and joy in her relationship with Christ. The next year when Joyce found out she was sick, the
ministry immediately came around her. When she became bedridden, her small group came to her home to pray with her and cover
her with the presence of the Lord. These women wanted Joyce to know she was not alone and wanted her to feel the love of Christ. In
September of 2017, Joyce went to be with the Lord leaving behind a tremendous story of faith and inspiration. To honor her memory,
her Small Group strarted the Joyce Petzold Scholarship Fund allowing women to attend DNG regardless of their financial situation.
Picture: Joyce (far right) with her DNG Small Group
Drawing Near to God
“Herein is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit; so shall you be my disciples.” ~ John 15:8
Missions & Outreach
253 Weekly Participants
Ashley River Baptist Church
129
400 Attendees
Saint Peter’s Church
2 to 5
95
Christian Speakers
Community Groups
25
32
Member Prayer Team
12+
Praise & Worship Team Members
Teaching & Worship Experience
25
Organizations Served
by Missions & Outreach
1040
People Reached by DNG
Missions & Outreach
Partner Non-profits:
Young Lives of Charleston ~
Next Steps Ministry ~ Sanctuary
of Unborn Life ~ Lowcountry
Pregnancy Center ~ HIS Radio
Ministry Annual Report for 2017
Face to Face
30 Trained Mentors
Launched the
Essentials of Mentoring
Enrichment Program
in 2017
DNG Annual Conference
Fundraising & Annual Giving
$124,924.38
30% One-time Gifts
23% Ministry Partners
17% Community Partners
30% Annual Fundraiser
Board Giving Participation 100%
Financial Data for Fiscal Year
June 2016 - June 2017
DNG Teaching & Worship Experience
Live on 2 Campuses + Community Groups