Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: REDUCE (11/05/15)
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TITLE: Trust God | Previous Challenge Entry
By D. Michael Newell
11/11/15 -
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The last few months, offerings have been down. The last few years the economy has declined, coupled with rising cost, everyone is feeling the pinch.
I was not encouraged at the start of last night’s budget committee meeting. These are solid people. Most of them have experience with finances. Yet the atmosphere made me think we were meeting in Gussy Gloom’s house, not the church conference room.
With each budget item was the same question, how much can we cut here?
Some things like utilities can’t be cut unless we find a way to decrease the expenses. The only way to cut the electric bill is to use less electricity. We already have set the thermostat lower, and don’t turn on the lights until shortly before service and turn them as soon as possible afterward. Sadly, this can make the church appear look a little unfriendly.
We can’t shrink the payment on the property.
The missions account is a hard one. How can we cut support from someone who is overseas? Missionaries left for the field because we committed to support them while they serve the Lord in difficult places. How can we reach the lost if we don’t send out missionaries?
Yes, we could possibly save a little by cutting back on our Sunday School material. But what is value of those precious ones we teach. What is the price of a soul?
The flower account can’t be slashed because most of the flowers are either donated or are artificial.
The maintenance fund has always been a problem. Fortunately, the roof is new. The heating – air conditioning unit was replaced three years ago. A deacon is heading up a house-cleaning committee of volunteers to clean the church. Can we save on the cleaning supplies?
Then we were down to salaries. That would be mine, the part-time youth pastor, and our part-time secretary. Do we let the youth pastor go? How will that effect the youth and the church? We would lose people because we have no program for the youth? If we lose people how does that help? If we reduce the secretary’s salary, who will print the bulletin, church correspondence, answer phones, etc.? Could we find volunteers to do the job? If we did, who would correlate their schedules? Is this another burden for the pastor?
Standing, I took a deep breath, “People, we have looked at this from man’s perspective long enough. It is time for us to look at it from God’s perspective. Let’s spend the next half hour in prayer. Then come back here and see what we have learned. You can stay here or find another place to pray. We’ll meet back here in thirty minutes.”
They moved to different places in the church, while I went to my study to pray. I prayed “Our loving Heavenly Father, I thank you for the way you have promised to help and provide for us. Part of that provision has been to give us good men in leadership positions. People with wisdom and a real heart for You and Your Church. Father you know how much we want to be salt and light in our community and around the world. Right now, Lord we need Your direction as we seek to spread the Gospel here and abroad. I thank you because have promised to give us wisdom and to be our guide. Thank you for showing us a way out of this financial desert. Amen.”
When everyone returned to the conference room, our meeting continued.
Bill Bishop said “Pastor, we have been going at this the wrong way. In my company when we want to decrease the red ink, we spend more. I know it may sound silly. We just hired two new salespersons to hit the road for us. We increase our expenses. but reduce our deficit.”
“As we find ways to increase our income, our deficit will disappear. I know that most of us are giving all we think we can. While we were praying, God spoke to me about my giving. Pastor, could you bring a message on sacrificial giving? Challenge us to ask ourselves, ‘What do I really need? not how much can I give?’ We could turn this financial thing around and see some growth. In other words, how much can I trust God for?”
Now how could I do anything but agree. The committee decided not to cut, but trust God for more.
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Be careful to proof your final copy. I'd urge you to either read it aloud or even better have someone else do it. If the person stumbles, you need to smooth it out. For example, by hearing someone read it, you'd hopefully catch that you had the word appear next to look.
You have a good grasp on what you want to say, and I think your message is powerful. You just need to double check the little things. I loved your ending. It's a powerful reminder for all of us.
Congratulations on winning 2nd Place!