Disappointed About Nonexistent Involvement In The STP
The Seattle to Portland Bicycle Classic is going on as planned this weekend. In fact, right now, a bunch of riders are stopped in at Centralia College in Centralia, WA to enjoy some beer, music, etc. and get some shut eye before heading out early tomorrow morning.
And I’m sitting at home typing this to you.
Not two months ago, we rallied up a team of riders from New Horizons Church to ride the STP and raise money for the building fund and multimedia ministry. We planned to drum up support from the local church members and some businesses, and raise over $2,000.
Today, I am no longer a part of New Horizons Church, the STP is half over and a bunch of us guys that were originally going to ride are enjoying the comforts of home or doing whatever else we may be doing. My point is, we’re anywhere BUT the STP.
I’m really disappointed about it too. We only tallied $60 in total donations. None of it came from the local church, and we didn’t get the business support we desired. We had all the riders and volunteers we could want and then some, but we didn’t have any money.
This is a prime example of a problem that plagues the COGOP from what I’ve seen. A lot of people are willing and ready to commit and help in different projects and undertakings with their hands, but they literally won’t put their money where their mouth is.
Another shining example of this is how in the recent past I had asked for reimbursement for travel and equipment expenses to cover the costs of video projects I created for the church. Guess what their reply was?
“You’re doing it for the Lord and He will bless you for it.”
I was too shocked to come up with a good response. The mentality that has plagued the COGOP in our region for years reared its ugly head at me, and I had enough of it.
Can someone please tell me why the church wants people to donate their time to create quality video projects with no financial benefit to the artist, when the standard freelance fee (even under the table) is $40 or more per hour? At the very least, reimburse them for time and materials used. Same with building projects. Or something as simple as driving kids to and from church.
Same thing applies with the STP. Why could the church send kids to camp left and right but not donate $.01 to an event that even though planned on short notice, would have been fun, beneficial to the church financially and physically rewarding to everyone who participated? Needless to say it would have provided a great community outreach for NHC.
The world revolves around money, and as long as churches use resources this world provides (i.e. buildings, cars, etc.), we’re not exempt from that. COGOP can only get away with spending as little money as possible, and maximizing internal resources, as much as possible.
Let’s be honest with ourselves. The COGOP in our region lacks money and it shows. We have fifteen churches in Washington State. Many of them can barely afford to keep the lights on. Need I talk about websites? Only a handful of us have them, and only one or two of those look barely professional and relevant at best.
Let’s be even more honest with ourselves. 98% of the work done in the church could be done better by someone outside it, who would charge a fee for their services and in turn make a better product than anyone inside the church ever could (myself definitely included). There are better video editors outside the church. There are better construction workers outside the church. There are better web designers outside the church.
Get the picture? Why not start bidding for outside services to get a quality product and make the COGOP more marketable. Marketable, as in attractive to Joe Schmo off the street who has never been there or seen what you’re about.
I’m not anti-COGOP and I certainly don’t dislike anyone in the church. I’m simply posting this to make you think.
But I bet we would all agree it’s high time COGOP literally started putting their money where their mouths — and hands — are. The people in our region are the best at volunteering and getting stuff done physically. But if we want the COGOP to grow numerically, we’re going to have to start investing some hard-earned money into it.
A good monetary investment into quality work, large-scale events and the people of the church overall will benefit everyone greatly in the years to come. Don’t be afraid to go into the red financially. If you believe God will bless those who do work for the church, believe it for yourself when it comes time to make a large-scale investment and you have to dip into the reserves a little bit.
What say ye?
6 Comments, Comment or Ping
Sybil
Well I have read what you wrote and I am seeing both sides of this issue. Yes it takes money to do things, but I know personally a lot of people give what they can and even what they can’t financially. But I believe being a member of a church is a ministry and although it costs to have various ministries, most people give freely of their time and talents. We give it to God, and don’t expect to be reimbursed, and if they aren’t able to do it without reimbursement they give their time to help the various ministries.
I know that in every church you have the givers and the takers, but we are to be good stewards of the monies the Lord has blessed us with both personally and within the church, so to say go ahead and go in the red is not good stewardship. Yes, the STP would have been fun and all the things you mentioned above, but it would not have been wise to go in debt over it. Events like that must be well planned in advanced, taking into consideration all aspects of financial responsibilites.
A great example of good stewardship is the camping ministry in Wa. state. Individuals either personally or through other means get resourses such as firewood, food, staples, recreation supplies, etc donated. Local churches help donate kitchen supplies and food. People drive kids to camp free each year knowing this will be a gift that can never be tallied in monetary amount. People take time off from work, many using their allotted vacation time (many without vacation pay) so they can minister. Hours of preperation and personal expense that is never reimbursed is put in by the directors, co-ordinators, and kitchen staff. Behind the scene expense is a personal mandate not known but by those who are in leadership position. And for what purpose, to minister to the kids, youth and young adults, for God’s glory. Perhaps this may be more efficiently done by pros outside of our church, but would the passion, love and heart for Christ be in it? I doubt it.
Give freely and give as unto the Lord. He will bless you and your giving in ways that will blow your mind.
Jul 15th, 2007
Chris
Those are all great points. Once again it shows what I mentioned above, that we are more than willing to help with our hands, donate our time, etc. Most of the time we do it at a financial loss. I know myself and others worked camp and took a week off without getting paid. It’s all a part of personal sacrifice.
What I don’t understand is why can’t we expand on one really good thing we do (i.e. camps) and apply the principles to our local churches. Why can’t we get better financial support for events on a smaller scale?
I have to disagree with the viewpoint that “God will bless you for the work you do.” God’s way of blessing us should be the church giving back, when we help them out. Especially with something that is such a high cost (money and time) as shooting and video editing.
Jul 15th, 2007
Sybil
God’s way of blessing us is anyway He chooses to. He has blessed me at times with a greater sense of peace, a great awareness of Him, a closer walk with Him and yes at times financial blessings. The scripture says praise be to God from whom all blessings flow. He is the provider, not the church. The scripture also says to give and not to let your one hand know what the other is doing. Why? So we won’t expect glory, or praise or a reward or return on our giving. We should give and never expect it in return. When we give to the church to further God’s kingdom I don’t keep a running tally and expect a good return on my services. If the church desires to give back for whatever reason then that’s up to them, but if not then maybe you want to ask first and upfront if they will reimburse you for your services. And if they say no, then it’s up to you to do it or not.
Jul 16th, 2007
Sybil
One more thing, if you expect to be paid back for your services, then it’s not giving at all. If I give you a gift I don’t expect you to give me one for giving you one in the first place.
Jul 16th, 2007
Chris
So then how come church pastors get paid tithe money and they can beg, cajole and whine to their congregations about the fact “Oh the Bible says you need to tithe, the Bible says the laborer is worthy of his hire,” yet the normal people of the congregation like you and me should just expect “a blessing” for the work that we do that is just as important as the pastors?
It’s not asking to get paid, it’s asking to offset the expenses for travel and time.
Jul 16th, 2007
Sybil
Bud, do you really want to go there? The Lord set that system in order so the priests(pastors) would be taken care of while they take care of the house of the Lord. There is no way to compare what we the laity do as teachers, ushers, musicians, leaders, etc. as to what a pastor does. In fact most pastors can’t be supported by the tithes because differing members won’t tithe, yet they wonder where all the money is going. That is why a lot of pastors have to work outside the church, they don’t make enough to support their families, there sure isn’t a retirement package for them, no insurance for most and I could go on and on. But you know what, no-one calls me like they do my pastor, expectations aren’t put on me like him and his family, sacrifices aren’t as great as he is. Again I could go on and on. You are on the outside looking in, talk to a PK and see if they have a diiferent scope on things. The sacrifice is great. I know pastors who continually give and give to their congregation and I am speaking financially here.
Another think not all pastors whine, beg or cajole. Ours simply says here is the basket give unto the Lord that which is His and give as He speaks to you. That’s it, sometimes ( a lot of times) it is just set down and say while we have our closing song give your offering to the Lord.
Jul 16th, 2007
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