By marklail
Having observed the church for quite some time, I believe Nazarenes are well equipped to face the current financial challenges in the USA. Most Pastors have experience and expertise in stretching meager resources into miraculous results. No one ever really gets used to miracles, but many Nazarene Pastors are surrounded by them, especially when it comes to God’s provision.
In financial crisis, the world asks: How do we make a little go a long way? Pastors and their churches have learned that the answer to that question includes faith and trust. They know that the Bible’s record of provisional miracles is truth for today. The God who sent ravens with bread and meat to Elijah in the Kerith ravine and who fed 5,000 with a little boy’s sack lunch is the God who today makes church funds go further than they could without his blessing.
On my district 47 churches raised less than $100,000 for all purposes last year, 19 raised less than $200,000 and only 11 raised over $200,000. In each of those categories, the Pastors have become experts at depending on the Lord’s provision. And at every level there are genuine miracles. Several of these churches operate on less money than the average American household. Still, this group of faithful churches gave away $1.6 million to the World Evangelism Fund, their district, university and mission specials. These pastors know the difference between essential and discretionary. They believe in miraculous multiplication. They have seen the Lord come through in crisis. They live generously.
So, as Circuit City turns to Chapter 11 and General Motors turns to the Feds for cash, we turn to the Lord. He’s been in the bailout business since the fall of man. He has prepared the church’s leadership for current conditions.
By marklail
An article in today’s USA Today is titled It’s a hard time to be a charity.
You can read the article here if you wish, http://www.usatoday.com/money/economy/services/2008-10-26-fundraising-crisis-donations-charities_N.htm but the following phrases should give you the flavor:
- the worst recession in decades has set off tremors among non-profits and charities large and small
- could take a financial toll on non-profits
- notified that it would “rotate out” as main sponsor of the program
- the non-profit froze all hiring and halted spending on all but core program services
- the goal’s been cut to 35%
- many charities are between a rock and a hard place, being asked to do more with less
- And finally, says Ken Berger, president and CEO of Charity Navigator, a large independent U.S. charity evaluator. “If there’s any so-called bright side it’s that the economic crisis could force redundant, inefficient or otherwise weak charities to merge with stronger organizations or simply shut down, reducing the competition for contribution dollars.”
What a great time to be a Christian, a Nazarene and a pastor! Those of us who place our hope and security in the Lord Jesus Christ see the economy under a totally different world view. We recognize that the Lord is our provider during markets of bulls and bears. We faithfully tithe on large paychecks as well as tiny ones. And if recession turns to depression and depression turns to famine, then we will surface as the conveyers of hope. Faith is an antidote to fear. We have great news for poor people! We have Jesus!
By marklail
Okay…on the presumption that anyone anywhere ever reads this…it is my first ever post to a blog. In response to the world’s current financial mess, the following are my predictions of what will happen in America during a depression.
- Starbucks and flavored, bottled water will be memories.
- Home owner’s associations will begin allowing clothes lines and chicken coops.
- Neighbors will become acquainted and will help each other.
- Leftovers will be saved and eaten.
- Auctions will be more common and well attended.
- The mechanical skills of anyone who can get an old lawnmower running will be in high demand.
- Churches will do more ministry with less resources.
- The earth will be greener.
- Faith will seem more important.
- Lessons learned will be as much spiritual as economic.
Am I on target?
