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 Spring 2009
Mission Statement
Are we in a recession? Who defines that? Do you know people who are hurting? Have you been impacted by the financial downturn over the past 12-15 months? Are you worried? Dr. John Piper, pastor of Bethlehem Church in Minneapolis, said in a recent sermon that “God is sovereign over these things, he foresees them all, he causes or permits them all, and when he causes or permits something, he does so with purpose and design. So none of the recessionary events has surprised the Lord.” We may not understand his purpose and plan, but his Word is sufficient to guide us through these challenging days. In this issue we’ve provided some tools for assembling a biblical game plan to assist you with practical steps to minimize the impact of the country’s current economic woes. But Philip Yancey, in a January 2009 article in Christianity Today, reminds us very pointedly that… “Indeed, prayer provides the best possible place to take our fears. The first stage is simple, an instinctive cry: ‘Help!’ For someone who faces a job cut or health crisis or watches retirement savings wither away, prayer offers a way to voice fear and anxiety. I have learned to resist the tendency to edit my prayers so that they sound sophisticated and mature. I believe God wants us to come exactly as we are, no matter how childlike we may feel. A God aware of every sparrow that falls surely knows the impact of scary financial times on frail human beings.” The Lord has given us the tools and directions to face the challenge…are we willing to use and follow?
How to Prosper in a Declining Economy Newscasts report daily that our economy is unstable and vulnerable. People are losing their homes, highly-paid executives are losing their positions and having to settle for lower-paying jobs, food and energy costs continue to increase, and the list goes on.
We have compiled a list of things you can do to survive or thrive in our current economy.
“A prudent man sees danger and takes refuge, but the simple keep going and suffer for it.” (Proverbs 22:3) Finally, as the Lord enables you, be generous and open to opportunities to continue giving faithfully to the work of Christ. As the potential fear about the economy rises, tithes, offerings, and other charitable giving tend to decline—at the very time the need for ministry is the greatest. Visit us online at Crown.org. © 2008 Crown Financial Ministries. To publish or quote this information in your publication, contact Crown at Permissions@Crown.org to request permission. Help is the Operative Word “Historians will look at the year that just ended as a financial tsunami that left in its wake millions of foreclosed homes, bankruptcies, and lost jobs. As if competing to abandon the basic tenets of capitalism, governments threw money at banks, investment companies, and huge insurers in an attempt to restore trust and stanch the flow of capital…What a testimony it would be if, in 2009, Christians resolved to increase their giving to build houses for the poor, combat AIDS in Africa, and announce kingdom values to a decadent, celebrity-driven culture. Such a response defies all logic and common sense – unless, of course, we take seriously the moral of Jesus’ simple tale about building houses on a sure foundation.” Philip Yancey – The Back Page – Christianity Today January 2009. Indeed. What a testimony if we could find help with the financial struggles which many face in our society. Common sense would tell us to batten down the hatches in hard economic times. Cut spending. Save more. Give less. John Wesley taught the Methodists – “Earn all you can. Save all you can. So you can give all you can.” Any other response flies in the face of divine common sense and logic such as Jesus employed when faced with tough economic times. 35In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” Acts 20:35 The weak are everywhere. We can help them. There are a number of spiritual principles which we need to put into practice. Look for opportunities to help others. Acts 3:1-10 Our willingness to help others will lead to health and recovery. Look for occasions to be used by God in helping to support the Gospel mission. Acts 4:32-37 Barnabas was an encouragement to the mission of the Church as he invested his resources in reaching others for Christ. Look for obstacles in your life which hinder your ability to help fulfill the call of God. Acts 5:1-11 Greed will limit your generosity if not identified as sinful behavior. You are blessed when you learn how to give.
No, but you might have to prop up the church ceiling. Does the economy affect what people give to your church? I can hear a resounding, yes! Some pastors are convinced of this because weekly offerings are shrinking. So many voices are saying the same thing, “Houston, we’ve had a problem.”1 The world economy ran downhill in 2008 and no one is sure where it will stop in 2009. It is alarming to many and rings a cautious warning to others. If your church feels its negative impact, what can you do to alleviate it?
There are leaders in your church who may overreact or choose to manipulate the current economic climate to force or curtail the church agenda. Mature leaders understand that money is only a tool for accomplishing God’s work. Leaders who understand biblical generosity teaching know that generosity expressed through giving measures how fast and how deep a disciple matures in Christ. Dollars are important to advance ministry but should never be the deciding factor for determining God’s will. Bradford Voigt, in his article Resilient Philanthropy, states that, “in a downward economy, people continue to give, especially to their church or religious causes (the church is high on their list of giving priorities). The sky is not falling. Even in the darkest days of the mid-1970s, during the worst recession, giving remained strong for the church. If weekly offerings are shrinking, you will have to prop up your church’s financial ceiling by strategically reducing the church budget. But, the past is an indicator of the future. The economy will recover. It may take 12 to 18 months or more to do so, but the market will correct. For some, 2008 was a wake-up call. These days are reminders of how vulnerable humans are to powers they cannot control. God is in control. God’s heart will protect the church, Christ’s Bride. So, lead with confidence.
If you know God is leading your church to grow, which involves capital expenditures, then consider utilizing a competent capital campaign consultant who can help you craft a successful plan for raising funds…even in a down economy.
Proverbs' Plan A recent sermon series co-preached by Adam Reardon, pastor of Meadowland Church, Johnsburg, Illinois and Gary Rohrmayer, National Director of ConvergeUSA, effectively mined the wisdom of Proverbs regarding our handling of God’s resources in times of challenge and abundance.
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Some Assembly Required
While these facts are true, what we are experiencing is not new. In Jeremiah 29, the “weeping prophet” predicted long-term captivity. Israel would endure 70 years of hard labor before they would be allowed to return to their homeland. Let’s all hope and pray that our current economic downturn won’t last that long!
But where do we look? All around us in the financial and spiritual crisis we are facing there are unlimited chances to demonstrate the grace of God by being generous in our giving to people in need. Be active in looking for giving and growing opportunities in 2009. This could be the greatest year yet in our journey to becoming generous followers of Christ. Let us build on this foundation.
Is the Sky Falling?
Everyone knows financial conditions are bad, but just how bad? The church offering is an important lifeline to the future. If your church is showing signs of financial weariness, could it
have more to do with the Chicken Little effect 2 than a real threat? In that old fable, the chicken’s belief that the sky is falling set off hysteria, a mistaken belief that disaster is imminent. History changes the moral of the story based on whatversion is told. One version’s moral says that Chicken Little jumped to conclusions, creating mass hysteria, “which the unscrupulous fox uses to manipulate them for his own benefit, some as supper.”3
