Revitalize Your Church

Reading about Saddleback's financial shortfall, and Rick Warren's urgent plea for a million in two days, reminds me that we're not in such bad financial shape in Hayward after all. 2009 was a very difficult year financially for a lot of people -- including congregations (our own included.) However, God is always faithful. Jehovah Jirah is Our Provider and He never fails His people. When things are tight financially, it's simply a call to reconsider the wisest way to use the money entrusted to us as faithful stewards. It forces us to make decisions and adjustments we probably should have made in the first place. In times of plenty, it is human nature to become less careful in spending practices. Financial hardship is good "quality control." Sometimes, a big financial problem isn't nearly as big as it seems. I did a little math and figured that the Saddleback shortfall is less than a dollar per attendee per week (or fouteen cents per day -- and Hannah tells...

A recent report from the Christian Post stated that only 9 percent of born again Christian adults tithe 10% of their income. Why do you suppose so few believers tithe? Is it a lack of training and education? A lack of spiritual maturity? A lack of integrity on the part of churches and other charitable organizations? Is it a lack of faith? A lack of self discipline? A lack of money management skills?

A fascinating report from Christian Leadership Alliance regarding the Recession's Impact on Christian Non-Profit Organizations

Seth Godin: There's Always Room for Jello

From Crosswalk: Christian News Wire reports that a recent survey of almost 1,100 church leaders revealed an increasing gap between income and projected expenses for churches. According to the survey results from Your Church magazine, tithes and offerings, which comprise an average of 87 percent of the average church's budget, have declined for 40 percent of the churches surveyed within the past six months. At the same time, 32 percent say budgets have increased between 2 to 10 percent over last year's expenses. "Historically, evangelical Protestant churches tend to be tithe-driven," says Ed Stetzer, president of Lifeway Research. "Effects of unemployment tend to lag a bit for churches that emphasize tithing, but as the unemployment rate continues to increase, more congregations will get hit financially. Churches need to be ready for this impact."

Get a free book from Injoy Stewardship Services, Raising More Than Money, by clicking here.

I think this is an AWESOME idea!

It was truly a delight to recently discover Experiencing the Spirit written by Henry Blackaby and his son, Mel. In a soul-gripping manner, these two godly men call us to a deeper walk with the Lord, and challenge our spiritual mediocry with this simple concept: Repent, Trust, Obey and Be Filled With the Holy Spirit! As I was reading this book, it seemed to be reading me! What a delightful treasure! Books like this don't come around very often. Experiencing the Spirit ranks right up there with my other spiritual "meat and potatoes" books -- such as Andrew Murray, Hannah Whitehall Smith, Wesley Duewel, Bounds, Tozer, and Brengle. (Most of those are more a hundred years old -- how exciting to find a fresh expression of the same thing!!) Speaking of treasure, if you haven't read Randy Alcorn's little book, The Treasure Principle , There's a recently revised edition available with a profound concluding chapter: 31 Radical, Liberating Questions to Ask God About Y...

Patrick Morley is offering a free online version of his latest book, How to Survive the Economic Meltdown. Get your copy here

Yikes!! From a Pioneer Press article (March 20, 209) by Minnesota Representative Michele Bachmann: A study by the Indiana University Center on Philanthropy found that. . . every time the stock market declines by 100 points, charitable giving declines by $1.8 billion.

An article in the Christian Post reports on churches defaulting on mortgages. I'm truly glad our church is debt free right now. We are going to be doing some construction this year sometime (education, office and storage space)-- but it will be with money we've already raised.

A very interesting article in Newsweek on generosity : People are more willing to help a single individual than many. In an experiment, one group was given general information about the need for donations, including statements like "Food shortages in Malawi are affecting more than 3 million children." A second group was shown the photo of a 7-year-old Malian girl named Rokia, and told that she is desperately poor, and that "her life will be changed for the better by your gift." People in the second group gave more.

"Today, Christians spend more on dog food than they do on missions." -- Leonard Ravenhill

How would you like to have more money available to you -- even if your income doesn't increase? Ellie Kay has written a fabulous book, Living Rich for Less , which gives practical, common-sense, advice for handling your finances. (Order here) In a humorous and easy to read style, Ellie maps out how to get the most BANG for your buck. She follows the 10-10-80 Principle: Give the First 10% -- The Sweetest Dollar You'll Ever Make Save the Next 10% -- The Safest Dollar You'll Ever Make Spend Smart on the Remaining 80% -- The Smartest Dollar You'll Ever Make Reminds me of John Wesley's adage: Earn All You Can Save All You Can Give All You Can It's particularly refreshing, during the current economic downturn, to discover creative ways to cut spending, save wisely and give generously. I'd like to provide a copy for all the members of our church.

In light of my last post, I think you'll appreciate this perspective on Christmas giving from Gary Exman: I am reminded of a guy several years ago who came to me with $3,300. in cash and had me send it with no return address to needy families on two Christmases. In this envelope he had me place a $100.00 dollar bill and another envelope inside with $10.00 dollars in it with a note suggesting the recipient give this $10.00 dollars to someone else. We did that for thirty needy familes. This man that had me do this kind deed understood it is more blessed to give than to recieve.

Todd Rhoades muses: Boy, I'm sure glad America's churches aren't run like the state of Illinois. Otherwise we'd have a ton of churches and pastors giving preferential treatment and bending over backward for people in the church who give the most money. . .

Barna on How Churches are Weathering the Economic Downturn

The recent financial crisis on Wall Street has caused more than its share of alarm. In fact, recent polls have shown that over 80 percent of Americans are experiencing tremendous anxiety concerning our economy. It’s hard not to worry when your investments go down the tube. This has certainly been a stressful season. Just last week, however, a sales clerk gave me a dollar in change. I happened to notice the little inspiring message on the back: “In God We Trust.” Did you realize that your money is a faith statement? There it is in plain sight. In God we trust! Using money is like passing out little gospel pamphlets: In God We Trust! In God We Trust! In God We Trust! Your wallet’s full of ‘em! Buy a Dilly Bar at Dairy Queen, and you’re telling the clerk to trust the Lord! How ironic! We have such a hard time trusting God with our money, when all along our money is telling us that’s exactly what we should do! It is far better to trust in God than in possessions. Jesus said you cannot ser...