The Per-purse Driven Church

MountainManna ^ | 1/7/10 | Pastor Terry Hagedorn

[Keli Kilohana]

To the Editor:

Every church depends by faith on God to supply its needs through the collection of tithes and offerings from its members for its operation. However, churches and ministries should be careful to not abuse that supply or to bring dishonor to God.

In this current economic turn-down almost every church and ministry has suffered some loss of income due to the suffering of its members. Yet, it seems that some churches and ministries are deemed to be too big to fail. (Where have we heard that before?)

One large church has spent $900,000 more than it took in during 2009, so a national appeal is made and it gathers at least 1.5 million dollars more than it needs. It is the donor's business what they do with their money; however, this Per-purse Driven Church begging for money seems unseemly. As did one Televangelist's appeal claiming that if he does not get $4.5 million that God was going to kill him and take him home. That's absurd! What threat is it for a Christian to be taken to Heaven? Another Televangelist's slide down the PTL theme park's water-slide for a fundraiser was all wet, as well. The ministry still sunk. It was all washed up.

Locally, a ministry declared bankruptcy on a $26.5 million debt secured by only $3.5 million in assets. Was this good stewardship? Is it a good testimony for Christ? No. It is a disgrace.

May I also add, the church at Rome's pleas for help for the poor rings hollow as long as it is lavishly bedecked with gold, riches, art and property.

Listen! Where God guides--He provides! Any church or ministry that can close--should close because the Devil would rather run a ministry than close it. My Bible still says that, "My God shall supply all your need according to His riches in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:19.

Pastor Terry K. Hagedorn Calvary Baptist Church PO Box 282 Reedsville, WV Ph. 304-864-3870 http://mountainmanna.com

"Pointing Mountaineers to Mount Calvary."

[Keli Kilohana]

"Let everything be done decently and in order..."

[Not A Snowbird]

One large church has spent $900,000 more than it took in during 2009, so a national appeal is made and it gathers at least 1.5 million dollars more than it needs

Wow, that was misleading. The discrepancy between spending and contributions was due to the way Christmas fell this year, and the request went out to MEMBERS only; it wasn't a national appeal.

[marron]

For the church in question, the $900,000 was a rather small percentage of their budget. They had a couple of short Sundays, and they made it up on one good Sunday.

Not a problem.

When you are a member of a congregation, that local church’s work is your work, their projects are your projects, their budget is your budget. Their shortfall is your shortfall. Some churches are having to cut back in the face of a bad economy, and some are stepping up. This particular church decided to step up.

[Star Traveler]

One large church has spent $900,000 more than it took in during 2009, so a national appeal is made and it gathers at least 1.5 million dollars more than it needs.

Hey, with Rick Warren saying that he's short about $900,000 at Saddleback Valley Community Church..., and then getting a few cool million in the process -- I predict a lot of other pastors are going to start making "appeals" like that... LOL...

Megachurch pastor calls financial crisis urgent

[boatbums]

I, too, think it is disgraceful for pastors to ride around in chauffeur-driven limos or high dollar cars, to wear custom-made suits costing thousands and living in mansions. It has the "appearance" of wrong. A man of God should live humbly and not "for filthy lucre sake".

God is ready to assume full responsibility for the life wholly yielded to him.

We should all live like we believe that!

[Quix]

And in giving let not your left hand know what your right hand is doing

avoid giving out of compulsiono—to me that includes NO PASSING THE PLATE to inflict social coercion on the potential givers . . . have a box in back.

give joyfully unto The Lord.

[cubreporter]

Churches should be small and modest. The parishoners can donate what they can and should not be expected to do more. Why does it take money anyway? There should be a church service (no matter what religion it is) and after church people go home, observe Sunday as a holy day and spend that time together as a family and enjoy a nice, sit down family dinner.
Do all churches have to be grand with marble and gold and stained glass? Why can’t they just be simple? Little maintenance and help from the parishoners when needed.
Having God in our hearts doesn’t mean we have to go to these HUGE gold glitzed buildings.
Small, modest and purpose fulfilled. Amen. :)

[Gamecock]

YBPDLN PL Ping

The YBPDLNPL is generally published infrequently, but based on the exploits of the megachurch pastors posts can spike for a period of time. If you would like on or off of this list please FReepmail me

[Gamecock]

it wasn't a national appeal.

Which explains why it was picked up by all the media outlets as an appeal for money.

[Not A Snowbird]

Which explains why it was picked up by all the media outlets as an appeal for money.

It appears that the Orange County Register got ahold of the letter and it went viral from there.

[lupie]

Back in my church shopping days, which thanks to Him are gone, an important criteria was the health of the finances of the church. My feeling is that if the church is first focused on the leading of the Holy Spirit, then it won’t have overextended itself for man’s goals such as “programs”, building projects, etc. but rather on what I feel is the purpose of a church, and that is growth in the Lord for the flock, and in the great commission - to bring all to a greater knowledge of Christ Jesus. This doesn’t necessarily mean lots of money poured into it.

I tried to look at what the monthly gifts and offerings were compared to budgeted items. What are budgeted items - how much of the budget goes straight to missionaries? How often, if ever, do you hear from the pulpit the need to give to the church. IMHO, the less said, the healthier the church in its focus on Christ.

I strongly feel that if a church body is focused on where the Lord Himself is leading, then He will bestow His grace on the financial means to accomplish that - and He will do it without begging from the pulpit, or pressure put on the flock. And, the budget will reflect whether the direction is man-driven, or God-driven.

[truthandlife]

Amen!!!

[truthandlife]

Sandy, the main reason people are up in arms is because Warren has sold his marketing plan to 100's of thousands of pastors on what direction the Church should go. This guy is the poster child for what the mega church looks like in 2010 with some very damaging results. I can speak to you from experience with our church. Warren's religion is the Church of Laodocia and you know what God said about this church... Read what churches are experiencing all over the place with Warrenism. This was written in 2006: Change Dividing Southern Baptist Mega-Church. I wish our pastor would have been able to read this before we went down the road of debt, greed and a congregation that was split in half from 3,500 to 1,500 members.

[Not A Snowbird]

I know what the criticisms are. I’ve heard them ad nauseum since I first signed on to Free Republic.

Rick has made it very clear that his guidelines won’t fit every church and every situation, and that if a church adopts his methods they must modify them to fit their specific congregation and area. Many churches mistakenly try to create another Saddleback, which is unique to the area it’s in and the people it serves.

I’m still on the rolls of Saddleback Church, even though I’ve moved and attend elsewhere. I get the emails, the briefings, and watch the services online.

I understood exactly what the fundraising issue was, and as somebody pointed out up thread $900K is a drop in the bucket for this church. It would be like my current church telling us we were short $2K and asking for a special offering to make it up.