Programs Grew, Finances Fell
One day a rider and his friend came into the skatepark. The friend was new to the park, but had heard how this rider’s life had been impacted by Jesus at JSAW’s Bible study at the skatepark. He wanted to come skate and check out this Bible study for himself. As we launched into the Bible study, he sat back and was amazed by the story and asked all sorts of questions about faith. JSAW’s volunteer Rider Support Specialist sat and explained what it means to be a follower of Jesus, sharing the gospel with this young rider. When the Bible study was over, the rider was given a Bible. This rider didn’t know God but now he knows who Jesus is and is learning about what it means to be a disciple. Romans 10:13-14 says,
“Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent?”
Your support is sending it. Riders are believing on the name of the Lord and being saved because of you. JSAW’s disciple making programs impacted 439 unique riders in 2022, 37% more than last year. 238 riders attended a Bible study. We currently have 45 riders in mentoring relationships. A huge part of this growth is due to JSAW’s wake program quadrupling over the summer with the new wakeboat that was donated. In December JSAW was given a 4500 square foot space in the Seven Points mall in Uptown in Minneapolis. The space was donated to allow JSAW to build a temporary ‘pop-up’ skatepark, called the Uptown Park Project, for riders in the inner city to have a place to skate over the winter. JSAW’s 8 staff and 15 volunteer rider support specialists are hard at work every week making riders into disciples. Your support is transforming action sports culture.
JSAW fell short of its financial goals in 2022. JSAW’s income fell short of our budget by $90,000. Fundraising was $10,000 short of our $305k goal for the year, although it surpassed 2021 giving by 7%. Most notably Help Boardshop sales were 10% lower than 2021 sales, falling short of the budget by $70,000. However the number of unique skaters visiting the park grew 65%. Our challenges of a small marketing budget, decreased retail sales, not adding enough new donors and volunteers will impact the ministry in 2023. We are cutting expenses by 25% to make up for the shortfall and we are looking for opportunities to get JSAW in front of churches to find new donors and volunteers. JSAW’s board of directors is also thinking about what God is calling JSAW to next, doing some long term planning. It isn’t likely there will be any big new projects in 2023, but we will be making more disciples!
Jonny Nelson
Executive Director | JSAW
PS - We have 9 riders who are in need of a sponsor. If you’d like to donate monthly, would you consider sponsoring one of these riders today at www.JSAW.org/sponsor?
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