We will as always live within our budget though. We put off what we can’t afford and figure out how to pay what is urgent and/or essential. We don’t live and function through debt. Also, we are trying to aggressively reach out and help our own members financially through these holidays and times. Jack and Kyle, two of our shepherds, have taken charge of our church and community benevolence and are continuing to love those in need, while understanding and controlling spending there. They are doing an excellent job. I want you to also know that currently I personally am taking action to reduce church expenditures as well as to increase my own giving. Our whole staff has a “whatever it takes” attitude. We are not “hirelings”. But, it’s time to make some more sacrifices as a body to move our ministries forward. I really fear we’ve gotten a little comfortable and perhaps even a little selfish or greedy overall.

Now, I’m certainly not talking to those who are without jobs, are under-employed, are suffering various challenges and burdens, who already make great sacrifices to give, and so forth. I am talking to those of us who really haven’t been affected financially by the current recession and have more to give if we want. It’s time for us to squeeze more out of our personal budgets into the church budget—the mission. We need members to consider if what’s being gifted or spent elsewhere might be more important to the general church contribution right now. That’s the repository where we get the real financial fuel to drive our leadership/minister development and ministry advancement. I believe it is a time in our mission to be careful that each of us is not too “busy with his own house” and letting God’s house go in need (Hag. 1:9).

Most of our church budget goes to the salaries of the multiple staff members that we help fund. Trust me, we generally are far below averages at every position, especially when you consider the education and talent level of the staff God has and is assembling here. Our staff works creatively and frugally. I would be glad to speak personally to anyone interested about specific salary ranges, ministry situations, and so forth. You would be impressed. We indeed have highly talented and devoted staff members who are most sacrificial.

With all that said, I would like to ask that every member consider giving a special contribution in the first quarter to help us build up our church reserve again. Our overall somewhat inconsistent giving has caused us to have to continually lean on our reserves as well as to forego needed spending, as we work on thin margins. Hence, we need to build up our reserve to give us some breathing room in making spending decisions. Additionally, I would like to ask every member to consider raising his/her giving to the general contribution by at least 10-20%. If you give $20 a week, that’s just $2-4 more dollars. If you give $100, that’s just $10-20 more dollars. If you give $200, that’s just $20-40 more dollars. Most of us could give that much more money just by missing a couple of meals a week, meals that we’d probably actually benefit from missing! Maybe skip a movie a month and just watch one at home. This really is pretty easy money, church, and not all that sacrificial in the bigger picture.

Perhaps some might consider selling unused jewelry, valuables, or household items to make a special gift. Some might consider doing without cable boxes in every room or getting rid of that home phone that is never used. Maybe sell that expensive treadmill you use as a clothes rack and give the proceeds. Then get outside and run in the fresh air away from the TV and noise. Some might want to consider taking on a small part time job once a week or month to give a little more. I will guarantee we can raise our giving 10-20% without any of us suffering. I hope we’ll raise it by even more than that though. The 10% challenge is as a minimum. Some may actually want to feel their sacrifices more though (Remember, “I will not give to the Lord that which costs me nothing.”) and raise their contributions even more significantly.

Although I really try not to notice, I do indeed notice that many of our teens and college students don’t seem to give at church. I know some college students give at FOCUS and that’s great, but the FOCUS contribution generally does not pay for salaries and stipends for FOCUS ministry leaders, and it’d help if some could be given to the general contribution by those who are members at Northeast. College students, you might ask your parents to consider giving a regular contribution to help support the FOCUS ministers, as your parents most assuredly can see the benefits to themselves through the work done for their students.

High school students, surely your love for Jesus and some sense of obligation to help might lead you to give part of your allowance, part of your earnings from babysitting, etc. I know that there would be friends, family and/or neighbors who’d find odd jobs you could do if they knew you were trying to earn it to be able to help drive the church mission. God sees and blesses our gifts based on “quality” more than quantity. You seemingly “small” gifts can be seen as huge to God.

Again, all-in-all, we need to ask ourselves what was asked in the Old Testament, if we are letting the house of God go in disrepair while we build up our own houses. Does God’s work get our seconds? Or, is God truly getting our first fruits? Are we serious about the mission and therefore funding the work of God?!

We are not begging here. We are challenging you. We are not asking for money to build a new building, a new wing, an activity center, offices for ministers, more equipment (our ministry staff mostly provides their own offices, equipment and supplies), above or even “average” salaries for ministers, more creature comforts, etc. We are asking for sacrificial giving for driving the mission, pure and simple. We are asking the blessed to bless others and to dig a little deeper to do so. We are asking those who are the recipients of the greatest sacrifice ever made to make a little sacrifice of their own on His behalf.

So pray about it, consider it, and please make plans to respond in whatever way the Spirit leads you. And, I’d like for you also to please respond to me at Ronnie@worshamstrategic.com and let me know what you are purposing, what your plans are, what the Spirit has shown you, or what thoughts you might have otherwise in response to this letter. You can also talk to me by phone or personally. I am glad to answer whatever questions you might have.

Thanks for your love, your sacrifices, and your commitment to the Great Commandment and the Great Commission.

I love you all,
Ronnie