Let's Finish Beyond

Dear Anthem,

We hope you are doing well!

Taylor and I wanted to take a minute to celebrate and give you an update on what God has been doing through our Beyond Initiative here at Anthem Church.

LOOK AT WHAT GOD HAS DONE!

Back in October of 2024, we announced to our church family that we sensed God was leading us to send Beyond and start another church location in Merrillville, Indiana, as well as build Beyond right here in Hammond, Indiana. Looking back on what is over almost two years now, we are so amazed seeing all God has done. He has indeed taken us Beyond! 

We began with sending Beyond … which entailed many months of construction and countless hours of selfless service by our Anthem family, leading up to launching Anthem Church in Merrillville in March of last year. While this was happening -  unexpectedly, or at least unexpectedly so soon! -  God opened yet another door for us to purchase a larger church building where we could serve more families just down the street from our church on Hohman Avenue in Hammond!

Through your generosity, your prayers, your faith and your obedience, we have watched God take a vision that we could only see by faith and turn it into a reality. To every person and every family who has pledged ... Thank you. To every person who has given... Thank you. To every person who has prayed ... Thank you. To every person who has volunteered … Thank You. Every dollar. Every gift. Every act of generosity, every act of service has made a tangible impact for the Kingdom of God. People have quite literally come to Know Christ through your giving.

FINISH BEYOND

Now, here we are today, entering the FINAL THREE MONTHS OF BEYOND! And, we believe there is one more thing God is asking all of us to do … That is to FINISH BEYOND!

Recently, Taylor & I were reading in 2 Chronicles 24, and something really caught our attention. King Joash looked at the house of God and realized that it had fallen into disrepair. The Temple needed to be restored. So Joash ordered a chest to be placed at the entrance of the Temple, and he called the people to bring in the contribution that Moses had commanded generations earlier. 

Moses, we see in Exodus 30, had instructed every male 20 years old and older to give a half-shekel when they were counted. And here's what really caught our attention ...the rich were not asked to give more, nor were those less fortunate asked to give less. Everyone gave the same amount. Not because everyone's financial situation was the same, but because everyone was invited and encouraged to participate. 

That offering Moses instructed the people to give was used for the service of the Tabernacle, the place where God dwelled among His people. Years later, when the house of God needed to be restored, Joash went back to that same command. And the people came together and joyfully gave to the Lord, and the house of God was repaired.

As Taylor & I were reading this story, we couldn't help but think about where we are right now with Anthem Church. This story that took place so long ago suddenly didn’t feel like a story...It felt like prophecy! The House of God in need of repair. Everyone coming together. Everyone participating. Everyone giving joyfully. And together, finishing the work for God’s Kingdom!

2,000 people - TOGETHER - saying, "I’M IN!"

So, following in the footsteps of Moses and Joash, for these final three months, we are asking every adult in the Anthem Family who is 18 years old or older to join us in one simple act of generosity: 

Give $50 toward Beyond for each of the next three months.

Our prayer is that 2,000 people from our Anthem Family will simply say, “I'm in!”

This isn't about what $50 each month can do. It's about what WE can do if we all join in together. It's about people saying, “I'm in for building God's Kingdom on this earth!” “I'm in for leading this generation and the one still coming to Know Christ & Make Him Known!” “I'm in for finishing Beyond in the Name of Jesus!” 

We're not asking everyone to make the same sacrifice, but instead, what we are asking is for everyone to participate - those who attend church in either Hammond or Merrillville, those who are part of our online family, and also for those who see God is doing through Anthem Church, even if from a distance, and feel compelled to participate. ALL ARE WELCOME AND APPRECIATED! 

LET’S FINISH BEYOND TOGETHER

Three months. Three opportunities. One Church. Many families. Multiple Cities. All with the same Mission. 

To Lead people to Know Christ & Make Him Known. 

We CAN and WILL do this! Will you join us? Please, be one of the 2,000 who simply say, “I'm in!”

We're going to have three special occasions to do this together. To bring our $50 offering to Build God’s House.

• SEPTEMBER 13 — Our Anthem Family Convocation + 6-Year Anniversary Celebration

• OCTOBER 4 — Our second Finish Beyond offering

• NOVEMBER 1 — Homecoming — our final Finish Beyond offering

You know, since we started Beyond, God has continued to write a story that only He could write. We have seen God move. We have watched Him provide. We have witnessed Him open doors no man could open. We have seen Him send us into a whole other city. Now … Let's fix our eyes on the end of this chapter, and Lord willing, see Him finish what He started. We don't want to be a people who simply start well. We are a people who finish well.

Anthem Family, let's finish Beyond the same way we started almost two years ago. Together. Praying together. Seeking God together. Giving together. Obeying together. Anthem Family, let's FINISH BEYOND!

We love you and could not be more excited about what God has been doing and continues to do - for You, in You, and through You - and, through Your home at Anthem Church!

Pastors Sam & Taylor Hamstra

Senior Leaders | Anthem Church