Let’s Talk About Money
LEGITIMATE CONCERNS
When it comes to the American Church and money, there’s no shortage of need, concern or complaint:
“Pastors are always talking about money. Instead, they should just trust God!”
“The church doesn’t care about me…It just wants my money!”
______________________________ (fill in the blank)
Sadly, frustrations like these not only abound but are often warranted. More than a few pastors have caused harm or broken trust with their people over issues of money.
Yet, while some pastors have done so, it’s not true that all pastors are doing so.
FAITHFUL STEWARDSHIP
At Grace Fellowship, we strive daily to be faithful stewards of the financial resources entrusted to us by church members and others who give consistently, generously, and sacrificially as unto the Lord. Over the course of more than 36 years, our leadership has pursued and established systems of financial accountability, learned to stretch dimes to dollars, and continued to believe:
”Faithful is He who calls you, and He will do it.” (I Thessalonians 5:24)
In practice, this means that we regularly encourage, challenge, and inspire the body to support the church financially, believing that when we do for ourselves what we can do, God will do for us what we cannot.
HOUSEHOLD NEEDS
With this in mind, it's important to recognize that pastors responsible for church finances are no different than men and women who are responsible for the finances of their own households.
Think about it:
Beyond the basic costs of renting an apartment or a house or owning a home, etc., there is an ever-present need for more money.
Stated another way, outside of fixed monthly expenses for which we can budget, there are at least three areas that remain an ongoing challenge where money’s concerned:
Rising Costs of Maintenance
General inflation or (in the case of the church) increased expenses due to growth, expanded use of the facility, etc.
Unexpected Repairs or Replacements
Malfunctioning or broken appliances, plumbing problems, a leak in the roof, etc.Desired Improvements or Aspirational Goals
Remodeling an outdated kitchen, installing new carpet or buying new furniture, etc.
Whether as people responsible for our own households, then, or as pastors responsible for the church, when it comes to money there will always be a need to:
Seek more of it
Juggle or borrow funds to meet immediate needs (whether or not we want or can afford to do so at any given moment)
Budget to address what will soon or next need to be done
Pursue aspirational goals whenever possible
OUR PROMISE
While we can’t promise you a church that never asks for money, we can promise you a church that remains on the matter...
Open & Approachable
Honest & Accountable
Thoughtful & Resourceful
Faithful & Hopeful
...believing that God will continue to provide for us what is needed to advance the mission and vision of Grace Fellowship for His glory.
Should you have any other questions, please contact
Deb Stoddard, Operations Director, at Dstoddard@findgrace.com