Receive Free Monthly TeachingResponses (cont):
Pastor Sam Smucker – Lancaster, PA
A couple things we have done:
1. We evaluated all areas of ministry and were able to discontinue several staff positions - the individuals affected were able to quickly find other employment.
2. We downsized our budget - income and expenses - by about 7% (however, our income has stayed steady). It seems like when times are tough, people come to church more so our attendance has increased a little.
3. I think it is a good time to evaluate all areas of the ministry to see what is effective and what has lost effectiveness and discontinue programs that are no longer effective. 4. Every week in our church services, at offering time, we share a minute or two encouraging people to keep their faith in God's Word regardless of the circumstances.
5. It is important to stay within our means as a church - not spend more than you take in - which sometimes requires tough decisions to be made - and at the same time believe for increase.
6. For families that are going through a rough time because of a job loss etc., we give them food, several months mortgage payments, and help with electric bills etc., if needed. We have received a special offering to build up our benevolence fund so we are ready for more requests like this.
Pastor Mark Garver – Madison, AL
One of the unique things about being a Pastor is that we, along with the Board of Trustees, are responsible for the financial well-being of our church. There are some things that I think we should always do with the finances of our church regardless of the economy.
First, no matter the size of the church I believe you should always have a budget. I believe that a budget helps us to stay within the money that we currently have available. It is sometimes difficult to budget when you do not know the income for each month during the year. What I have done is take a 3 year average and also look at the trend of each month and set an amount. I also ask the Holy Ghost to help me. After I have arrived at the income amount, then I look over the expenses for the last year and set a budget for each area per month for the entire year. A budget is a good estimate of what each area needs. You do not have to be rigid with it, but just use it as a guide. Maybe it is because I used to be an accountant, but I think if we do not have a good system in place to watch over the finances that we have, than our stewardship is in question. As the one primarily responsible for the finances of the church, I have the final say-so on what money is spent and I am the one who has to make the choice of where to spend, and some things may just have to wait. If I do not have the numbers available to me in a budget form, how can I make a wise decision?
There have been times when the church was smaller that we would not meet the income that I had in the budget. Several years ago a family left the church and with them about 20% of our budget. What do you do? Well, you believe God to bring more people in to help with the vision, but until those new people come, you look at the variables in your budget and you cut them back. Just like you would counsel a family in financial difficulty to change their spending habits on the nonessentials like eating out and entertainment, we all have things that are variable in the church budget, but you can’t keep up with it if you do not have the numbers in front of you. If you as the Pastor are not good with numbers, believe for a loyal person to come around you who will help you in this area. This is a very natural, yet important part of making it through a tough economic time.
One thing you should not do is quit ministering on finances. For the entire 15 years of our existence as a church, I have given a 5 minute message on finances before taking up the offering, keeping it full of faith and never pressuring the people. For the last few years, I have a businessman who ministers the Word on finances for 5 minutes before the Sunday morning offering is received. Whatever you do, give your people faith in the area of finances especially during tough times. I do not know what others do, but I believe in the spiritual law of the tithe and if it works for an individual, or a business, it should also work for a church. Since the very first offering was received 15 years ago, we as a church, have tithed. We have never been late on a bill because of a lack of finances. Did I have to believe? Of course I did. But because my church tithes and gives, I have confidence that the Lord will supernaturally send the money in and He always has and always will.
We must also be led by the Spirit of God during these times and not make decisions in the ministry based solely on money. I refuse to be dictated to by the circumstances of the day, but I endeavor always to be led by the Lord as He alone truly knows what is going on in our economy and what the future holds. I will give you an example of how the Holy Spirit has led me recently in the area of church finances. In March of last year we were able to purchase 17.5 acres of prime real estate in our city. Of course, we are all excited and the church is really excited about building. We would all like to go back to one service and not have to go to three services. So as I was seeking the Lord about building and the finances for the building and what to do, I could not seem to get any direction. So I just waited. The church members were pushing, because they were excited, but it just didn’t seem right to take another step right now. So I decided not to build yet. It has proven to be a good decision because of where things are right now. We could not possibly have known such an economic downturn was coming, but HE did. Some might say it was a lack of faith not to step out, but I have tried always to follow the leading of the Holy Ghost and I am glad that I did. We will build when we get the direction, but for now we are paying the monthly payment and putting extra in the building fund and we are at peace and have joy.
The early years of the church were very lean at times, but we came through it because of our faith and commitment to obey God and His call on our lives. During this economic problem in the world, I encourage you to stay full of faith, keep your people full of faith, and be a good steward of the finances that you receive.
Pastor Rob Wynne – Linden, AL
We are fortunately in a very good financial state, although I must admit we have always had money in reserve. Though our reserve is larger than it was when we started nearly 10 years ago. We have always tried to use good financial practices. I have never harped on money but have endeavored to impress upon my folks that tithing and giving offerings is, in reality, given to Jesus and not the church or to me. It is not that some of my people are in or have not had financial problems, but we have, for more than a year, been addressing financial health to as many of our folks as would listen. I cannot take the credit for any success though. I have been led since my conversion 27 years ago to be more cautious and to be prepared in case of trouble. Though I must admit there has been, and probably will be, challenges without me believing for them.
