Touching Base...
monthly message, July 2010
The majority of congregations in the USA felt a financial pinch in 2009 and the trend is likely to continue throughout this year. LifeWay Research and a YourChurch.net poll both reported earlier this year that nearly half of respondents to their survey said their churches had been hurt by the economy. We reported to you that our Finance Committee, Diaconate Board and Pastoral Staff took a close look at our budget and spending mid-way through 2009, brainstorming various scenarios of if/when/what we needed to cut or hold off on to remain solvent as the economy continued its nose-dive. We were frugal, we were careful, we ended the year in the black and no ministry suffered, praise the Lord! To this day, we all continue to monitor and review our financial position monthly. Being discerning and selective, sometimes after hard conversations, we are navigating these uncertain times. It is akin to the signal lights at major intersections as some items get the green light approval for spending, some face a yellow caution and extra evaluation and some get a red on hold status. These mid-flight adjustments are made based on changes in revenue and expenses.
I want you to be proud of our outstanding Staff and Leaders that work so well as a Team supporting each other’s specific ministries, sharing resources and managing their Departments effectively. We are sooo blessed! The second annual “State of the Plate” survey conducted by Maximum Generosity and Christianity Today International’s Church Finance Today and Leadership, polled more than 1,000 churches asking them to report on their church giving. The reality is we are in uncharted financial waters . After the stock market drop, statistics for 2009 showed that 38% of churches experienced a decline in giving. Multiple research projects by other organizations last year documented the sharp decline in church giving and worsened situation for a growing number of churches at the conclusion of 2009.
47% of Mega churches (over 2,000 in weekly attendance) saw a decrease in their \ giving. Pacific states (California, Oregon, Washington, Alaska and Hawaii) were hardest hit with 55% reporting decreased giving. Barna Research reported that Church Offerings were Down 7% in 2009. Tulare First Baptist was up 1%! Thank You, Jesus, for our faithful church family!
A CBS News poll on Attitudes on Giving found
* I gave to charity last year: 72%
* I wish I could give more: 74%
* It’s a moral responsibility: 75%
* The average amount of individual income given: 2.2%
(Statistics from Matt Branaugh in Your Church magazine issues #1, 3, 2010 and Leadership Journal 5/31/10) The guidelines from God’s Word to us call for believers doing better than 2.2%. It calls for regular (1 Cor.16:2) joyful, generous (2 Cor. 8:2) giving. The wisdom of Old & New Testaments calls for at least 10% (Deut.14:23 LB, NLT; Mt.23:23). It is one thing to know what the Word of God says, it is another to do it (James 1:22).
Your Church and the Cornerstone Knowledge Network, which co-publish BuildingForMinistry.com, surveyed churches with recent and anticipated space expansion programs and found that healthy growing churches like ours were expanding in two primary areas: nursery/children and classrooms. Those are the top two areas of facility expansion. Our Building For Life focus is on that same target of added classroom space for our children, youth and adults as well as a large meeting area for worship and an area for study, counsel, fellowship and refreshment. At last count, we now have about 100 of you families/giving units regularly supporting B4L with your financial gifts. “Thank you!” to you who are continuing to complete and turn in Commitment Cards that help us monitor and evaluate what we believe the Lord wants us to do! I hope you are enjoying watching our Building for Life TREE add new leaves as we continue to give and move toward our goal of $21,000 per month for the anticipated Mortgage payments. Your commitments and gifts are making it happen to the glory of God and the building of His Kingdom.
LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING YOU THIS COMING SUNDAY!
Pastor Bob |
