Comments on: Money, Missions, and “Ministry” http://www.tillhecomes.org/blog/2007/09/20/money-missions-and-ministry/ Living life on mission Thu, 28 Aug 2008 20:01:40 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: Jeremy Myers http://www.tillhecomes.org/blog/2007/09/20/money-missions-and-ministry/#comment-24823 Jeremy Myers Sat, 01 Mar 2008 17:43:32 +0000 http://www.tillhecomes.org/blog/?p=53#comment-24823 Manfurion, I agree wholeheartedly. Of course, although it is easy for me to become too critical of the way other churches spend their money, I need to look at my church's budget and my own personal budget to see where I am wasting money as well that maybe could be used better elsewhere. As you point out, every dollar matters. Thanks for the comment. Manfurion,

I agree wholeheartedly.

Of course, although it is easy for me to become too critical of the way other churches spend their money, I need to look at my church’s budget and my own personal budget to see where I am wasting money as well that maybe could be used better elsewhere. As you point out, every dollar matters.

Thanks for the comment.

]]> By: Manfurion http://www.tillhecomes.org/blog/2007/09/20/money-missions-and-ministry/#comment-24732 Manfurion Sat, 01 Mar 2008 03:03:14 +0000 http://www.tillhecomes.org/blog/?p=53#comment-24732 Good take on the mega church industry as it is definitely already a growing American trend unlike anything seen before. On one hand, all of these people need to sit somewhere to worship. On the other, 50 million for a church in a country already densely populated by other Christian churches seems close to, if not completely, ludicrous. Of course, they are also much more than a place of worship, they are a testament to the success of the religion. Monuments of strength and unity. I just wonder how it is imperative to God's work. For example, 1 dollar will buy an African water for a month. A months supply of water is on average 16 gallons. That 50 million could supply 4,166,666 ((thats 50 mil/12 dollars (months)) Africans with 16 gallons of water a month for an entire year! The other fellow commented that 10,000 dollars seems like a fair price for the souls salvation in Texas. I say, if this staggering amount of impoverished people in Africa were to receive 12 dollars for a year of water you can bet that there souls will listen. They will listen for much less and the message will be spread astronomically farther. So, I suppose the decision remains: comfy seats and a enclosed parking structure for rainy days, or the possible conversion of millions. (p.s. kudos to those organizations who do take such considerations seriously) Good take on the mega church industry as it is definitely already a growing American trend unlike anything seen before. On one hand, all of these people need to sit somewhere to worship. On the other, 50 million for a church in a country already densely populated by other Christian churches seems close to, if not completely, ludicrous. Of course, they are also much more than a place of worship, they are a testament to the success of the religion. Monuments of strength and unity. I just wonder how it is imperative to God’s work. For example, 1 dollar will buy an African water for a month. A months supply of water is on average 16 gallons. That 50 million could supply 4,166,666 ((thats 50 mil/12 dollars (months)) Africans with 16 gallons of water a month for an entire year! The other fellow commented that 10,000 dollars seems like a fair price for the souls salvation in Texas. I say, if this staggering amount of impoverished people in Africa were to receive 12 dollars for a year of water you can bet that there souls will listen. They will listen for much less and the message will be spread astronomically farther. So, I suppose the decision remains: comfy seats and a enclosed parking structure for rainy days, or the possible conversion of millions. (p.s. kudos to those organizations who do take such considerations seriously)

]]> By: Jeremy Myers http://www.tillhecomes.org/blog/2007/09/20/money-missions-and-ministry/#comment-4856 Jeremy Myers Mon, 29 Oct 2007 18:46:47 +0000 http://www.tillhecomes.org/blog/?p=53#comment-4856 Brian, Wow. This is the kind of thing I like to hear and read about. For those of you who want to see what Cornerstone Simi is doing, check out this link: <a href="http://www.cornerstonesimi.com/special/building_project/why_have_church_outside.html" rel="nofollow">Church Outside</a> Here is a small sample: <i>On a practical level, Cornerstone has been unable to grow numerically for the past five years. This is due to lack of space. While many would be content to keep our church at the current size, our mission statement reads that we seek to reach “every individual” in our community. The obvious solution would be to buy more property and build a bigger building. However, this would require spending an amount of money that none of the leaders feel peace about spending. This lack of peace primarily springs from a desire to give more to the poor who are suffering around the world. The idea of building an outdoor amphitheater rather than an auditorium sprung from a desire to save millions of dollars. It came from a belief that God would rather we spend that money in other ways. It comes from a thought that God would receive more glory from seeing His children sacrifice for others- namely, those around the world who lack basic necessities. The idea then evolved into developing the property into more of a park-like setting that could be enjoyed by the community throughout the week. In this way, we would be giving to our community as well as to the needy around the world. In reality, this is about more than a building. The park/amphitheater is an expression of a mindset. It represents a group of people who are willing to sacrifice their own comforts in order to better care for others. The following are not just reasons to build inexpensively, but they are the reasons why Cornerstone strives to be a “giving” church. </i> Amen! Brian,

Wow. This is the kind of thing I like to hear and read about. For those of you who want to see what Cornerstone Simi is doing, check out this link:

Church Outside

Here is a small sample:

On a practical level, Cornerstone has been unable to grow numerically for the past five years. This is due to lack of space. While many would be content to keep our church at the current size, our mission statement reads that we seek to reach “every individual” in our community.

The obvious solution would be to buy more property and build a bigger building. However, this would require spending an amount of money that none of the leaders feel peace about spending. This lack of peace primarily springs from a desire to give more to the poor who are suffering around the world.

The idea of building an outdoor amphitheater rather than an auditorium sprung from a desire to save millions of dollars. It came from a belief that God would rather we spend that money in other ways. It comes from a thought that God would receive more glory from seeing His children sacrifice for others- namely, those around the world who lack basic necessities. The idea then evolved into developing the property into more of a park-like setting that could be enjoyed by the community throughout the week. In this way, we would be giving to our community as well as to the needy around the world.

In reality, this is about more than a building. The park/amphitheater is an expression of a mindset. It represents a group of people who are willing to sacrifice their own comforts in order to better care for others. The following are not just reasons to build inexpensively, but they are the reasons why Cornerstone strives to be a “giving” church.

Amen!

]]> By: brian http://www.tillhecomes.org/blog/2007/09/20/money-missions-and-ministry/#comment-4793 brian Mon, 29 Oct 2007 01:33:45 +0000 http://www.tillhecomes.org/blog/?p=53#comment-4793 hay jeremy, good point, check out cornerstone simi valley, you will find a church that loves its neighbor as themselfs. quite simply by giving half of the money they take in, as a starting point. I challeng you to find a church that even comes close to that, there is somthing going on here in so cal that only GOD make happen. This is no small church 4000 members and growing curently giving about $4,000,000 a year. theres no dout in my mind this may become a true mega church, the mega being GOD. brian hay jeremy, good point, check out cornerstone simi valley, you will find a church that loves its neighbor as themselfs. quite simply by giving half of the money they take in, as a starting point. I challeng you to find a church that even comes close to that, there is somthing going on here in so cal that only GOD make happen. This is no small church 4000 members and growing curently giving about $4,000,000 a year. theres no dout in my mind this may become a true mega church, the mega being GOD.

brian

]]> By: Jeremy Myers http://www.tillhecomes.org/blog/2007/09/20/money-missions-and-ministry/#comment-1702 Jeremy Myers Thu, 27 Sep 2007 21:32:56 +0000 http://www.tillhecomes.org/blog/?p=53#comment-1702 Daniel, Thanks again for the encouragement. You are right that no value can be put on saving someone. But we must always be asking ourselves if the cost of building is the best way to spend the money to reach people. And if we do decide to build, we need to decide how nice it should be to make it attractive and usable, but not wasteful. Difficult decisions. Keep me informed how you and your church wade through this issue. Daniel,

Thanks again for the encouragement. You are right that no value can be put on saving someone. But we must always be asking ourselves if the cost of building is the best way to spend the money to reach people. And if we do decide to build, we need to decide how nice it should be to make it attractive and usable, but not wasteful.

Difficult decisions. Keep me informed how you and your church wade through this issue.

]]> By: drotsap http://www.tillhecomes.org/blog/2007/09/20/money-missions-and-ministry/#comment-1675 drotsap Thu, 27 Sep 2007 15:23:37 +0000 http://www.tillhecomes.org/blog/?p=53#comment-1675 I wholeheartedly agree with you on this Jeremy. Well done mate. I think you have given one of the more balanced take on this issue. Our church is in the middle of a building project ourselves. And we keep asking ourselves the same question over and over again: "What is necessary to accomplish God's mission through our church?" Yes, we need to consider our "Judea, Samaria, and the ends of the earth." but I think we need to remember our "Jerusalem" as well. I don't think God mind spending, say, $10,000 to save one soul in Dallas, if that's what it takes. However, many I wonder if that's the real mindset of some of the mega churches. I wonder, as you said, if we could do with $10 million building instead of $15 million. I just wonder if thicker carpets would make any difference in the church's mission to reach the lost. I wholeheartedly agree with you on this Jeremy. Well done mate. I think you have given one of the more balanced take on this issue. Our church is in the middle of a building project ourselves. And we keep asking ourselves the same question over and over again: “What is necessary to accomplish God’s mission through our church?” Yes, we need to consider our “Judea, Samaria, and the ends of the earth.” but I think we need to remember our “Jerusalem” as well. I don’t think God mind spending, say, $10,000 to save one soul in Dallas, if that’s what it takes. However, many I wonder if that’s the real mindset of some of the mega churches. I wonder, as you said, if we could do with $10 million building instead of $15 million. I just wonder if thicker carpets would make any difference in the church’s mission to reach the lost.

]]> By: TILL HE COMES Blog » Liquidating our Property http://www.tillhecomes.org/blog/2007/09/20/money-missions-and-ministry/#comment-1401 TILL HE COMES Blog » Liquidating our Property Mon, 24 Sep 2007 15:37:19 +0000 http://www.tillhecomes.org/blog/?p=53#comment-1401 [...] I attended a LeadNow Conference here in Irving this weekend, and Todd Phillips, shared that according to current studies, and using modern water purifying technology, $10 Billion could solve the world’s water crisis. This got me thinking about my earlier post related to Money, Missions, and Ministry. [...] [...] I attended a LeadNow Conference here in Irving this weekend, and Todd Phillips, shared that according to current studies, and using modern water purifying technology, $10 Billion could solve the world’s water crisis. This got me thinking about my earlier post related to Money, Missions, and Ministry. [...]

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