Back in the early 90's, Jim Mellon was on the eldership team of a megachurch with a $1 million a year budget. One Christmas, their church didn't have the funds to help a member's family where both husband and wife had lost their jobs. As he and his wife, Cathy, discussed it, they realized that… Read More
Tag: Kingdom finances
Photo by TMAB2003 (Creative Commons) Many of us within the simple/organic church movement are so scared of organization and denominationalism that we have failed to work together to take financial responsibility for those from our midst who, according to Scripture, "deserve their wages." As a result, some of these people are either unable to put… Read More
"I think that God wants my wife and I to start up a network of house churches in a small town in northern South Australia. I am keen that these groups don't become inward looking, but give money (and time, energy, and prayer) away to needs within the local community and further afield. I'm of… Read More
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When Christian giving corrupts
Sometimes damage is done by well-meaning Christians giving their money in the wrong places. Example: if a church planting movement is dependent on outside funds to pay their church planters, there is a natural (financial) limitation as to how many church planters can be involved. This will limit the growth of what is going on.… Read More
It reinforces or creates a clergy/laity distinction. It can cause others to aspire to "move up the ladder" spiritually. Others in the body are tempted to let the paid person do all the work (after all, they are paid to do it!) Within a network of simple/house churches, there isn't enough work to do to… Read More
Christian religious leaders will commit an estimated $34 billion in fraud in 2011 compared to $31 billion spent on global missions. (http://bit.ly/nPMSkp). Enough said!
[Editors note]: What makes this guest post from Dan Hubbell, an apostolic father in the Kingdom, so remarkable is its context. The churches in his city, whatever their denomination, cooperate together for the Kingdom. This includes at a financial level. So I asked Dan to tell a little of his story to preface… Read More
One of the main challenges those in full-time ministry face if they sense Jesus leading them into simple/organic/house church is the question, "How will I support my family?" Here are some of the financial ways the Lord is using as He leads people out of professional ministry into a simpler form of church that doesn't… Read More
Following my post on our own financial journey, many people sent in their own stories which are worth reading because they demonstrate the pain as well as the blessings of the journey. Here are some of them: Elaine said: Having left "church ministry" years ago, I for one would NEVER chose to go back. I… Read More
One of the main fears that people in full-time ministry face when they think about house/simple/organic church is, "How will I support my family?" I had many wonderful comments after my last post when I shared the story of the financial journey that Tony and I traveled when we came to this country. Read, and be encouraged!… Read More