Annual Family

Update + Vote

Each year, WestGate members participate in our Annual Family Update & Vote - an opportunity to reflect on what God has done, look ahead to where we sense He's leading us, and affirm the direction of our church. 

The video provides a high-level financial update, shares an exciting ministry update, and introduces this year's proposed budget and elder affirmation. As you watch, we invite you to explore the additional details on this page before casting your vote.

LOOKING BACK

Last Fiscal Year’s Budget

Through God's goodness and your faithfulness, we finished the past fiscal year in a strong financial position. The Here to Stay giving campaign concluded in January, but giving for the remainder of the fiscal year was above the pre-Here to Stay level. In addition, expenses came in under budget, and we invested over $2 million into Compassion Ministries (which included Here to Stay contributions) and $600K into campus updates and improvements, including our new Student Center (shown here). 

We ended the year with over $4 million in operating surplus, giving us the flexibility to invest in new ministry opportunities while faithfully stewarding and maintaining the facilities God has entrusted to us.

LOOKING Forward

This Fiscal Year’s Budget

This year's budget reflects our commitment to faithful stewardship and an increased investment in WestGate ministries. 

We're forecasting $11 million in total revenue, with an $8.1 million operating budget, prioritizing recruiting and retaining strong and experienced staff, a stronger discipleship pathway, and the launch of our new Pastoral Residency to train the next generation of pastors and ministry leaders.

Our budget forecasts a $2.9 million operating surplus. From that, we've allocated $1.2 million to Global and Local Compassion Ministries and approximately $1.7 million to capital maintenance and improvements and contingency, ensuring we can invest in both today's ministry needs and tomorrow's opportunities.

Expense Summary

Our operating expense budget increases from $7.7 million to $8.1 million this year, reflecting intentional investments in three strategic priorities: strengthening our staff team through additions and compensation adjustments, launching a new Pastoral Residency to develop future ministry leaders, and expanding our Membership and Discipleship Strategy to help more people take meaningful next steps in following Jesus.

WestGate Ministry Expenses

This table outlines how we've allocated our proposed budget for the coming fiscal year. While some areas increase as we invest in strategic priorities, including staff development, discipleship, campus operations, and our new Pastoral Residency, other areas remain flat or decrease as resources are thoughtfully reallocated. Each budget was developed by ministry staff, reviewed by our finance and executive teams, and ultimately approved by our Elder Board as part of our commitment to faithful stewardship. If you have questions about the budget or would like additional detail, we'd be glad to help; simply reach out to our team.

WestGate Compassion Expenses

We’re committed to giving away as much as we can to Kingdom work beyond the four walls of our church. Your generosity enables us to invest in Compassion Ministries, including Beautiful Day, our missionary partners, and local and global outreach initiatives. In addition, we've budgeted $600,000 in response to benevolence needs, disaster relief, and other ministry opportunities as they arise.

capital projects

Core capital projects

In addition to our annual operating budget, we also set aside funds each year for long-term facility stewardship. These are projects that are funded through WestGate's annual budget, not the Here to Stay campaign, to help us care for the campuses God has entrusted to us. This year's Core Capital investments focus on three priorities: creating engaging environments for the next generation, refreshing the spaces where we gather for worship and community, and maintaining the critical infrastructure that keeps our campuses safe, functional, and ready for ministry.

Here to stay projects

Separate from our annual budget, Here to Stay is a designated generosity initiative that funds specific campus improvements made possible through your campaign giving. Current projects include the Saratoga Parking Lot, new Saratoga café and community gathering space designed to blur the lines between our church and our city, and South Hills Beautification. Remaining campaign funds are intentionally reserved until planning, design, and project costs are finalized, ensuring we can complete these projects responsibly.
MORE INFO CLICK HERE

celebration

501(c)3

This past year WestGate officially received IRS recognition as a 501(c)(3) - Non Profit.

While we've always operated as a nonprofit church, this formal recognition opens up new opportunities to increase revenue through corporate matching gifts and reduce expenses through nonprofit pricing. In fact, thanks to the hard work of our team and our official 501(c)(3) status, WestGate saved tens of thousands of dollars this past fiscal year, resources that can now be invested directly into the ministries of our church. We're grateful for what this means for the future of WestGate's finances and, ultimately, for the ministry God has called us to.

Set Up Corp Match

AFFIRMING OUR NEWEST ELDER

Mark chuang

Mark Chuang isn't new to WestGate or to our board. He previously served on our Elder Board and, after nine years, is returning to serve again. Mark and his wife Cindy have faithfully served WestGate for many years. He brings wisdom, steadiness, strong leadership experience, and, most importantly, a deep love for Jesus and our church family.

We're grateful for Mark and excited to recommend him to you for affirmation.

Get to know Mark

    • Born in Taiwan, lived most of my life in the South Bay Area. Grew up in Cupertino.

    • Married, with 2 sons in their 20s. Kids went to school at Baker Elementary and Moreland Middle, which are schools that WestGate has had connections with over the years.

    • Professionally, I've worked in high tech for over 30 years, mainly in product marketing and product management.

    • We have been at WestGate for over 20 years. We had just moved back to the Bay Area from Portland Oregon and a friend recommended to check out WestGate; we felt a connection to WestGate right away and decided to stay after visiting a few times.

    • What we love about WestGate is its focus and culture: 1) loving and serving the community around us and across the world in a winsome way with no strings attached, 2) striving to balance grace and truth in how we live out our daily faith, 3) being authentic and not trying to portray an image that we've got it all together.

    • How to do life well with adult children - how to let go, coach, and be their chief encourager

    • What might my "second act" look like

    • My need for God's grace every day

    • 1 Peter 4:10: "Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms."

    • I previously served for 9 years on the WestGate elder board, and have been off for 9 years. WestGate has changed over those years, and so have I in terms of my experiences. But we are still at WestGate because it's our home and we are on board with what God continues to do through WestGate. I said yes to rejoining to offer my mustard seed of faith and talent, to help in whatever God has planned for WestGate next.

    • The areas and people around our campuses in Saratoga, South Hills, and now Redwood City continue to change as the high tech driven economy drives major changes around us, with many new people moving in, while others move out. How do we as a church continue to adapt in how we love people well and share Jesus them well, in grace and truth, and not become stagnant? That's exciting to think about and be part of.

    • What it looks like to be faithful in our next stage of life, as both children are out of the house. To be open and available.

    • Wisdom, courage, and compassion from God to guide us every day - in our thoughts, words, decisions, and actions. Our lives are channeled and formed by the many small things we do (and don't do) everyday.

Next steps

QUESTIONS

We need you, as a member of WestGate Church, to VOTE. If you have questions about this year’s annual family update, click the button below, and we’ll answer your questions to assist you in your vote.

Ask A Question

VOTE

On Sunday, September 27, you’ll get an email as a member of our church family, where you’ll be invited to vote between 9 am - 9 pm. We’ll make sure we follow up to let you know the results via email. Thanks.

funding kingdom work

As we close, we’re reminded that behind every number in our budget are people, stories, and opportunities to participate in what God is doing in our church, our city, and around the world. Because of your generosity, we’re able to help people learn and live the way of Jesus, care for our neighbors, and invest in Kingdom work far beyond the walls of WestGate.

This past fiscal year, your generosity helped make things like this possible:

  • [XXX] people said yes to Jesus for the first time

  • [XXX] people were baptized or recommitted their lives to Jesus

  • [XXX / $XXX] invested in local compassion through Beautiful Day, School Impact, the Food Pantry, benevolence, and other ministries

  • [XXX / $XXX] invested in global ministry partners, missionaries, humanitarian relief, clean water, and community development around the world

  • [XXX people / groups] took meaningful next steps through Life Groups, discipleship, courses, and other formation opportunities

STORIES BEHIND THE NUMBERS

Numbers can give us a glimpse of what God is doing, but they never tell the whole story. Here are a few stories of lives changed and communities impacted through the generosity of the WestGate family.