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The DS thought the new appointment would be a great move for me. Afte 5 years in a booming church I was being moved to a growing suburb. Surely with my masterful and artful skills the church would also boom, and soon. Sure enough, arriving in Mustang, Oklahoma, in the summer of 1983 the future looked bright. New houses sprouted up every day. On one occasion I left the church early one afternoon, only to return later the next day to see that the shopping center next door had literally been doubled in size as great concrete walls had been hoisted into place. Symbolic of the incredible boom of people and money, the new shopping center took shape. In the same way that people flocked in, so did the money. Open the doors of the church and we had a crowd. Wow! What a thrill ride it was. Then came March of 1984 - The famed Penn Square Bank went down and with it came the signal that Oklahoma's short oil boom of the early 80's was over and Oklahoma was in for nearly a decade of recessionary growth. The next many years were difficult in most every church and for many many families. In the midst of that environment I began to face the serious challenges of leading churches in the matters of stewardship. For several months now the income that has driven much of our financial growth in Oklahoma has been slowing down. However, even though the stock market has been slowly in decline, Oklahoma has enjoyed the boom in oil prices. While we hated to pay the higher gas prices at the pump we loved the revenues that filled that brought in great blessings across our state. Many of our poorest parts of the state got a wonderful boon in their revenues as small oil and gas royalty owners received wonderful checks for their minerals. Praise God for the blessings. Ah, but just as I learned in the early 80's = whenever there is a boom ther is eventually a bust. The housing boom couldn't last. Oil booms don't last. Even the tech boom of the late 90's gave way to the recession of 2000. Here we are again. If we are to believe the nay sayers we might be in for a long recession or even worse. To be sure, all of us who have had investments in the stock and commodities market have lost much of our investments. People who have been receiving investment income are receiving as much as 20-30% less. I fully expect this to affect all or us in one way or another. The recent news in our district raises some concern as several significant industries and businesses are laying off employees. We usually expect the giving to increase in November and December, but we don't know what will actually happen. So, what's a church to do? Here are a few thoughts: * First, I hope you will do a very good job of lookiing over your financial statement. * Second, every church should be looking at ways to conserve and cut costs. * Communicate, communicate, communicate. Let your church know how things are financially. If you have needs... if the giving is down .... tell your leaders - * Have a season of prayer for church members and people in the community. Let people know you are worried and concerned for their welfare. If people have a difficult time in making church contributions see how you might help them. In times like this we might need to begin looking for ways to support one another. * Preach and teach stewardship. God's word doesn't change. This might be a great time to recall Joseph's leadership in Egypty during the fat years so that the lean years allowed for people to survive. * Hold a stewardship campaign. Don't change helping people to be givers. God has called his people to be givers. Besides knowing what people intend to give is always helpful in 1) encouraging regular giving and 2) building an honest budget. * Encourage tithing. * Use every Sunday's offering time as a teaching moment. I believe that every pastor has been given the freedom to give 52 annual stewardship messages as the offering is being received on Sunday mornings. * Use the Good Sense or Crown Ministries or Dave Ramsey material on financial management. Many people will be learning how better to use what they have. * Teach and preach on the joys of learning to live with contentment by not focusing on things. * Teach and preach and live out a life of stewardship. * Pastors - lead by example ..... We should be setting the example of tithing. *Evaluate and anazlye your income streams so that you can plan better for your spending. Paul's letter to the Philippians is actually a thank you letter. He received a care package while in prison and wrote back to say thank you. At the end of that letter he wrote these words, 10 I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. 11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength. 14 Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles. 15 Moreover, as you Philippians know, in the early days of your acquaintance with the gospel, when I set out from Macedonia, not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only; 16 for even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me aid more than once when I was in need. 17 Not that I desire your gifts; what I desire is that more be credited to your account. 18 I have received full payment and have more than enough. I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. 19 And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:10-19 - Today's New International Version). |
Monday Morning Quarterback