These are tough times for many of us financially these days. Reports are indicating that this reality is beginning to even trickle down to non-profits, charity organizations and even local churches. I really wonder how these conditions are ultimately going to effect local churches?
Many churches located in larger metro areas pull from a wide geographical range and distance. However, with the pinch most of us have experienced in our pocket books, especially the gasoline budget, I can’t help but think that must be effecting people’s driving and giving habits, whether you are part of a church farther away from your home, or a small local community church.
For instance, our monthly gasoline budget has essentially doubled in one year. I spent over $800.00 last month for fuel, the previous year’s average was about $400.00 per month. With slowing work, increasing costs on all fronts, this reality is really beginning to effect not only practical budgetary considerations, but spiritual priorities as well.
How about you? How have the present economic conditions affected your life practically and spiritually, if at all? I welcome your input.
What prompted me to write on this subject was a search engine link my good friend Karin sent to me. By using this search engine link, in lieu of Google or Yahoo for instance, you are helping to raise a few extra dollars for your favorite charity (if they listed) just by using the search engine. Pretty simple yet innovative concept. Here’s the link connected to her particular local church:
I’d recommend that if you don’t already have a search engine bookmark set up, go ahead and use the one I listed, I’m sure they’d greatly appreciate it!
Scott…as a pastor of a smaller rural church I understand exactly what you’re saying.
Rural towns get hit the hardest in economic downturns.
There are many people in our fellowship who are struggling; many like you depend upon the construction industry in one way or the other.
However…the Lord has provided for us beyond anything we could ever ask or think.
We just finished a building project in the middle of this recession…a seemingly bad move, but we paid for that completely and still have money in the bank.
Praise Jesus!
Thanks for sharing Ryan. Wow! That’s a great testimony.
Thank you, Scott for posting that.
I could use some spiritual insight and prayer. Here’s my situation:
My gas bill has tripled and my health benefits are up by 50 percent since I started a new job in January. I commute 70 miles round trip (nearly 2 hours of driving) five days a week. We also commute around 70 miles round-trip to church each Sunday, where I’m the worship leader. My wife homeschools and is a freelance writer. But her main publisher just went under. While work and church are only about 10 miles apart, we can’t sell our house at this time because of the sour market and the cost to get it ready is too much right now. While I have felt called to minister where we attend church, the drawbacks are that we are left isolated from any fellowship because of the distance, and it’s expensive to get there. I could use prayer for wisdom on whether to press on or make a change. Thank you all.
ssh, I will be praying for you today. My heart goes out to you, and believe me, I can fully identify with what you are going through.
I suspect that your present circumstances are being repeated in thousands of people’s lives throughout the nation.
May we never forget that our God is not limited in meeting any need we my have. May we also not forget that He is in sovereign control of all of these things and will ultimately use them to prove His faithful and extravagant grace towards His children!
Hey Scott,
So blessed to hear of your recent praise report!
Our church is definitely being affected, financially speaking. The Lord can greatly use these times to sift our hearts and help us focus on what is important. I believe a lot of American Christians do things simply because they can. They can afford “stuff”, vacations, etc. That might be changing more than we think in the not too distant future.
The economic freedom that a good economy brings also brings the peril of unchecked and un-prayed for spending. The Lord can use these times.
The U.S. recession is felt even among the poor migrant workers in South Baja. Some of them are losing work because less of their produce is being purchased in the States.
The Lord is still God, and we are in His hands. Let’s trust Him, as you have done!
Blessings…
Thanks, Bill. Good observations!
We lost everything this last year, and I mean everything….
Yet somehow, I find myself richer in my understanding of Gods character, and deeper in faith than I have ever been.
I would do it all over again for this priceless, eternal reward.
(did I really just type that???)
Nomans, did you just write that? In all seriousness, there is NO price we can attach to the faithful working of God in our lives through the many crucibles He chooses.
He is faithful, and all that we know of the temporal will someday soon fade into the glorious light of our permanent and eternal habitation with him!
http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=John+14%3A1-3
To be honest, it is hard for Peggy and me to identify with the fianancial struggles of family and friends–we are both retired and on a fixed income each month–ever since we married 35 plus years ago, we have successfully spent less each month than we have available–this means that even today with the economy being down, we are in good shape–we daily praise and thank God the Father/Son/Holy Spirit for our financial situation and daily pray for family and friends who are struggling financially and in other ways–this very day we are celebrating a major victory within our family circle–God is still in the business of performing miracles–Dick Brown, Ojai, CA
The economy has caused me to take a look at my personal finances, which in turn caused me to do make some potentially life-altering decisions – such as taking Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University class. Another decision is to take a 2nd job to pay off bills, but I’m stuck because I don’t know what’s out there and don’t know the best way to get off my butt and find it. Maybe the simplest way is the best way and I’m just too dense to see it
Hey Scott!!! Yep, the economy is in the dumper and people are ‘feeling it’ on a general scale. Yet, we know when times are good people can still have their own economic crisis, i.e., loss of job, car breakdown, medical issue, etc.
I can’t help but be reminded that in all these things we are still conquerors. No, I don’t mean that in the hyper-faith / positive spiritual thinking sense. Is what I mean is that God is always at work (My Father is working until now, and I am working – Jn. 5:17). He did not forget to anticipate the housing market collapse or that blown engine in someone’s old Fiat. He not only projected these things in His grand analysis but has already, from time eternity worked them into His master production schedule of ‘working all things together for those who love Him, ‘to them who are called according to his purpose’ Rom 8:28.
So, we can be comforted and even assured, during the deepest storms and valleys, that the Father works and so does the Son and the most comforting thing is that this Almighty One, who holds all economies and other storms in His talons is working on behalf of those He loves, those who are found in the Beloved. Wow, we are truly conquerors.
* for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure (Phil 2:13).
* .. according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of his will (Eph 1:11).
Good reminder, JP.