Ministry and money - minefield !
It is, though, isn't it ! And it's a bit of a joke, really, because everyone knows that everything in life costs money.
Three basic approaches.
1) We don't talk about that. We just talk about the work and if people want to contribute financially then they will.
I suppose one great example of this was George Müller. It's a noble tradition.
2) We tell people very clearly that it's their responsibility.
I think of the pastor who said "The good news is that God has already given us all the money we need for the building project. He has put it in your wallets and bank accounts !" I think this may be a little too forthright for my sensibilities !
But it is a delicate matter.
I tend to end up taking a third way. I think about it like this :
You are our partners in the work here. You take a serious interest in it, you pray for it and you give towards it. You invest in it, you give of yourselves. We are thankful for that and we respect it very deeply.
To me that respect implies a certain openness when we face challenges and problems. Including financial ones. Because in a very real sense we face them together. You stand with us, pray for us, do all you can for us.
Imagine if one day we had to abandon a project because of insufficient funds and we either never told you, or we told you only after the event. What kind of partnership would that be ?
What do you think ?
Three basic approaches.
1) We don't talk about that. We just talk about the work and if people want to contribute financially then they will.
I suppose one great example of this was George Müller. It's a noble tradition.
2) We tell people very clearly that it's their responsibility.
I think of the pastor who said "The good news is that God has already given us all the money we need for the building project. He has put it in your wallets and bank accounts !" I think this may be a little too forthright for my sensibilities !
But it is a delicate matter.
I tend to end up taking a third way. I think about it like this :
You are our partners in the work here. You take a serious interest in it, you pray for it and you give towards it. You invest in it, you give of yourselves. We are thankful for that and we respect it very deeply.
To me that respect implies a certain openness when we face challenges and problems. Including financial ones. Because in a very real sense we face them together. You stand with us, pray for us, do all you can for us.
Imagine if one day we had to abandon a project because of insufficient funds and we either never told you, or we told you only after the event. What kind of partnership would that be ?
What do you think ?
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