"When life hands you lemons, make lemonade!" So says the old proverb. With high unemployment, tight credit, and forecasted deficits rising with each passing week, we certainly have our share of economic lemons around us. Here are some of the positive things I see brought into my life from the economic downturn:
The gifts of God's people are more sacrificial and therefore, in a sense, more meaningful in difficult economic times. You remember the story of the widow's mite, don't you? As you get closer to her economic stratum, your faithfulness to give reveals more and more the depth of your commitment to honor God with your substance.
The Lottery Jackpot. I am opposed to the state lottery, but I have found a way for the Lord' to work good in my own heart through our lottery billboards posted around town. Whenever I see one (like today) announcing a $325 million jackpot, I take that as an occasion to breathe a prayer to the Lord and say, "Father, I'd rather be worth [whatever I'm worth] and be in your will than to have $325 million and be outside your will."
Yes, the odds are 1:175,711,536, and yes, that's a different situation by far than actually turning down $325 million. Nevertheless, it is a good thing to look for chances to tell the Lord that He is more valuable to you than is money. Lottery jackpot billboards are one of those occasions for me, and all the more so when economic times are tight. For these difficult times are a great opportunity for us to clarify in our own hearts that we serve God and not Mammon.
Economic downturns give us an opportunity to talk about priorities. We are presently planning church calendar and budget for 2010. We've done remarkably well so far this year, considering the year, but much of that is because we're not foolish spenders here at FBC Farmersville. Now, planning for next year, I find that the membership and pastors of our congregation are even more prone to have good discussions about which expenses are the most important in connection with the basic mission of our church.
It would be great to have so much money that we could just spend and spend and spend without ever worrying about running out of money (and indeed, if FBCF has ever actually worried about running OUT of money, it has been long, long ago). But there is value...great value...in knowing why you exist, knowing how your activities and expenses connect with why you exist, and reviewing everything carefully. If downturns in our economy force more of us to do that at our churches, at our businesses, and in our own personal lives, then that's a good thing.
I don't go out of my way to look for policies and practices that wreck the economy and make life difficult on people, but a recession we have (soon to be coupled with oppressive taxation), and we might just as well look for the good things that God will do with these difficult circumstances. Romans 8:28, remember? That's exactly what He does.
Bart,
ReplyDeleteGreat perspective. I am hearing of stories from churches were giving is starting to increase and people are learning that sacrifice is more fun than having all we want and owing our souls!
The recession is a blessing in so many ways!
Fortunately, all is as well in God's economy as it ever has been, and His people can have complete confidence in Him--and that He will fund the lives and ministries He leads us to, in a perfect way at a perfect time. No worries, just faithfulness (2 Corinthians 9).
ReplyDeleteDavid Troublefield
By the way, the Lord provides for congregations as those churches remain faithful to Him for the Great Commandment and the Great Commission. Economic downturns are times to preach "Sunday School/small group enrollment," not "stewardship."
ReplyDeleteDavid Troublefield
David,
ReplyDeleteWhy not Stewardship?
Tim:
ReplyDeleteBecause,
(1) 98% of churches' receipts are brought to the building in the pockets/purses of people attending Sunday School (or equivalent term);
(2) People who attend Bible study and worship give at a rate of about $30 per person per week in the SBC (but the rate varies by church; calculate yours), while folks who attend only worship services give at a rate of about 50 cents per person per week (difference between the two: $31.50 per person per week);
(3) Sunday School attendance is directly related to Sunday School enrollment;
(4) There's a good chance that folks already attending are giving all the tithe they can or will;
(5) Via Sunday School done right--which includes being faithful to its traditional/historical task of enrolling as many people in Bible study as possible on a regular basis--a congregation will have all the money it needs for its ministries.
The authority on the above, in my opinion, wa the late Dr. Andy Anderson--who pastored Riverside Baptist Church in Ft. Myers, FL for 19 years, then served for 10+ years on the staff of the SBC's Sunday School Board promoting his Church Growth Spiral and surveying its results among the hundreds of churches who implemented it. See his training videos and book for more info. There was nothing like the CGS before it, and there's nothing like it since. (Andy used to say, "God is under no obligation to fund the activities of a Christian club--which essentially is what a congregation has become when it ceases to do the important work of Sunday School done right. However, God has promised to fund the activities of churches faithfully on-mission with Him for the Great Commission.")
Have a great weekend!
David
David,
ReplyDeleteOur church gives double the money during worship services than comes in during Sunday School. True also now in many churches. I knew the statistics from days gone by but those have now become outdated. Example: the average church over 200 in SS and 250 in worship will now only see 1/3 of the total offering for the day come in during SS.
This began to be seen in the late Nineties and is a growing trend. Reason? Some say it is that people are leary of the number of eyes on their gifts. I am not sure about that one but, the ratios are changing.
Our church is no exception to this. In fact, two years ago my 80 year old church treasurer came in on Monday morning and could not believe the difference.
That is why we at Eklund Stewardship have been prmoting the worship service approach to tithing and giving. That is where the majority of people are and give. Though not every church is different, we are seeing huge results from understanding this new practice.
David,
ReplyDeleteTo add something else, The Growth Spiral though good and helpful for years, appears to be waining in the last few years. With all the emphasis on Bible Study (or SS or SG), it is a proven fact that people will attend a worship service many times before even thinking of going to a group such as SS.
We have broken the model some with a recent new class we started yet, we are discovereing that people still are slow to commit to a group. Are you seeing something different?
Tim:
ReplyDeleteWhat I'm seeing--have seen for 22 years in vocational Christian ministry--is large amounts of apathy and need for revival in God's church, particularly as it relates to evangelism and discipleship--and to giving, like everyone else, I'm afraid.
I served a 3600-member church prior to being called to the smaller one I serve now (800 new members in 3 years). In that church, with a $2 million general fund budget, 98% of the total annual receipts came in via Sunday School (2 Bible study hours, actually, at that church). I was that congregation's financial administrator and kept track of the records weekly; and, it's true where I serve now. Despite your comment, my guess still is that this is the prevailing way among the majority of SBC churches; honestly, assertions that the contrary is true seem rather impossible. I'd love to look at the research, though.
I think Anderson's research (which was based on Flake's Formula--which can't not work if worked) still stands, personally. An irony though, shown by recent ACP records: the total receipts of some churches increase over time despite their attendance decreases over the same time (congregation shrinking down to faithful core which continues to tithe).
Best wishes for future accomplishments!
David
Tim:
ReplyDeleteI noticed at your blogsite that you serve as a senior pastor but are pursuing a DMin with an emphasis in the church administration area. Been/Are there, done/am doing that, too, brother (presently, a minister of education/missions--but been a senior pastor and a church administrator of five churches, various sizes).
You referred to the Growth Spiral as if you're familiar with it. I honestly believe that its use again by passionate Southern Baptists (the Assembly of God denomination also learned to use it almost 20 years ago) is the solution to almost all of the biblical growth ills of the SBC's congregations today. The hundreds of churches who implemented it fully during years gone by saw gains in each important growth area; the gains ranged from 44% to 300% in those churches. If it were money, we'd still be using it--as a matter of fact, if it were money, you and I'd go on Monday to borrow as much money as all our local lenders would loan us, at any rate they wanted to charge us, knowing that we'd gain a minimum of 44% on our investment. But it was souls instead of money, so we don't do the Spiral approach to biblical growth anymore.
Anyone acquainted with Andy Anderson's ministry knows that he was very innovative (think Ed Young, Jr. prior to 1980--but with better hair!), and that the Spiral and Flake's Formula are customiz-able (the "Consider the possibilities" part--like Rick Warren did when he surveyed the Saddleback Community years ago; he was using Flake's Formula at the time--and John Vaughn of Church Growth Today still promotes it to megachurch pastors because, despite all he's seen in them, he still believes in it even if LifeWay doesn't [my DMin project: reviving the Spiral for all the right reasons]). Andy advocated off-site as well as on-site small group Bible studies, Bible studies every day of the week--and even preachers preaching every day of the week! He told his audience that they'd expect to hear a minister of education say such things, but that he was a senior pastor! But, really, anyone who knows the history of Sunday School ministry in the SBC understands that use of the Spiral model simply was returning to the kind of passionate Sunday School work that tens of thousands of Baptist did across the South, particularly, during the first half of the twentieth century. I think God still makes people today as He did then; nothing about U.S. society has so changed that people by the thousands wouldn't respond to a loving message emphasizing relationships/etc. if they only received one. As it is, I've lived in my town for over 5 years and if I've met 10 members of another Baptist church (including the largest one) in this city, I don't know about it because they aren't saying even that much!
On capital fund-raising: the church I served prior to my current one built a new 1800-seat auditorium several years ago. It hired a well-known ministry to help it raise funds, but it was really expensive to do. When that pledge campaign was expiring, we did it again--but didn't hire a consultant; we did it in-house, spent a lot less money, and raised the same amount as before. I'd say the guidance is great the first time for folks paying attention; then, do it yourself in-house after that.
Hang in there with all you're doing, brother--else something's got to give!
David
Tim:
ReplyDeleteI noticed at your blogsite that you serve as a senior pastor but are pursuing a DMin with an emphasis in the church administration area. Been/Are there, done/am doing that, too, brother (presently, a minister of education/missions--but been a senior pastor and a church administrator of five churches, various sizes).
You referred to the Growth Spiral as if you're familiar with it. I honestly believe that its use again by passionate Southern Baptists (the Assembly of God denomination also learned to use it almost 20 years ago) is the solution to almost all of the biblical growth ills of the SBC's congregations today. The hundreds of churches who implemented it fully during years gone by saw gains in each important growth area; the gains ranged from 44% to 300% in those churches. If it were money, we'd still be using it--as a matter of fact, if it were money, you and I'd go on Monday to borrow as much money as all our local lenders would loan us, at any rate they wanted to charge us, knowing that we'd gain a minimum of 44% on our investment. But it was souls instead of money, so we don't do the Spiral approach to biblical growth anymore.
Anyone acquainted with Andy Anderson's ministry knows that he was very innovative (think Ed Young, Jr. prior to 1980--but with better hair!), and that the Spiral and Flake's Formula are customiz-able (the "Consider the possibilities" part--like Rick Warren did when he surveyed the Saddleback Community years ago; he was using Flake's Formula at the time--and John Vaughn of Church Growth Today still promotes it to megachurch pastors because, despite all he's seen in them, he still believes in it even if LifeWay doesn't [my DMin project: reviving the Spiral for all the right reasons]). Andy advocated off-site as well as on-site small group Bible studies, Bible studies every day of the week--and even preachers preaching every day of the week! He told his audience that they'd expect to hear a minister of education say such things, but that he was a senior pastor! But, really, anyone who knows the history of Sunday School ministry in the SBC understands that use of the Spiral model simply was returning to the kind of passionate Sunday School work that tens of thousands of Baptist did across the South, particularly, during the first half of the twentieth century. I think God still makes people today as He did then; nothing about U.S. society has so changed that people by the thousands wouldn't respond to a loving message emphasizing relationships/etc. if they only received one. As it is, I've lived in my town for over 5 years and if I've met 10 members of another Baptist church (including the largest one) in this city, I don't know about it because they aren't saying even that much!
On capital fund-raising: the church I served prior to my current one built a new 1800-seat auditorium several years ago. It hired a well-known ministry to help it raise funds, but it was really expensive to do. When that pledge campaign was expiring, we did it again--but didn't hire a consultant; we did it in-house, spent a lot less money, and raised the same amount as before. I'd say the guidance is great the first time for folks paying attention; then, do it yourself in-house after that.
Hang in there with all you're doing, brother--else something's got to give!
David