Yes…I get that a lot. Especially when people ask about our ministry in a small town. IT CAN BE DONE! IT can be TRANSFORMING to an entire community! It can also be very tough.
We just launched another multi-site in ASHLAND, OH 4 weeks ago. 1 mailer, 1 news article, 2 billboard and a few ads. We are averaging 220 people in 4 weeks and many have come to Christ! The stories from our other campuses through this marriage and relationships series are blowing me away…wait until I post a few.
All of this during the worst economic crisis in our lives. God is not moved during down times. Did you realize that? Keep pressing on! He is in control! He knows our every move. Is it tough? Heck yes! Does He care? Of course He does.
My personal budget is messed up right now with increasing costs. Not to mention we have HUGE medical bills…sound familiar? Just being real with you.
Our church is pressed on all sides as well and are having to cut some hours and pay. We might even have to cut a full time person or 2…all this when we are already very SHORT-STAFFED! We need to add 4-5 more staff so we don’t die by the age of 40, not take away. And it has little to do with our multi-sites (this had ALWAYS been an issue). Each campus is supposed to be self-budgeted and funded, though we are 1 large budget.
God knows. He doesn’t just know, He HURTS. He hurts for you, and for me. Why?
God taught us to SAVE and not use BAD credit. Big difference. He asked us to be wise and not frivolous. Now we as a country are paying the price.
And we as a church are as well. Just when we think we get ahead…boom, something happens! (At New Hope we have had our best year EVER in our GENERAL FUND [thank you] but our BUILDING FUND is -$33,000 [let's do something about that]…hard to save when that happens!). Ouch. So for those of you in other churches…we feel your pain too!
2 years ago we didn’t raise our budget, last year we raised it minimally. We saw this coming. We desired to put money into savings for 2 months operational expenses…but have been forced to limp on. And if we don’t have a massive turn-around in the next 2 weeks, we will have to make some really tough decisions, despite barely raising our budget in what will now be the last 3 years! Guess what…GOD KNOWS! He CARES, He is LISTENING! And I choose to let HIM be in control.
Does it make me really nervous? To be honest, it used too…
But seriously…I actually started believing that HE is in control, He is on the throne, He is really the one who said, “I WILL BUILD MY CHURCH AND THE GATES OF HELL WILL NOT PREVAIL AGAINST IT!” And it is NOT UP TO ME TO SOLVE IT.
In my HOME and my CHURCH, I will be obedient. I will give my time, talent and treasure. I will TRUST in Him. I will wait for HIS provision and HIS promise. How about you? He is listening. Go to Him. Right now. Whatever your pain…go to HIM. Let it go, give it away, make the dump, puke it out, see ya vile spirit…giving it over to the Lord…right now, right here, right away, with no delay. Bye.
“Cast your (worries, anxieties, fears and cares) on HIM…for HE cares about YOU!” (-God through Peter in 1st Peter 5.7) And I choose to believe and claim this.
