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Reasons People Do Not Give
Some Reasons People Are Not Giving Horizons Stewardship shared some of the following information written by Dustin Cooper. He suggests that there are four reasons why active church families fail to give. The first is personal debt. People just cannot give...
Looking at Your Church as an Outsider
Looking at Your Church as an Outsider My work at the Foundation takes me to many different churches of various sizes across the Annual Conference. Few churches make it easy to find the right door to the office, the sanctuary or to restrooms in the building....
Simplicity
Simplicity Richard Foster, author of Celebration of Discipline writes, “Christian simplicity is an inward reality that results in an outward life-style.” He goes on to say that without an inward reality simplicity will lead only to legalism. Foster pens,...
The Second Half
The Second Half Yes, it really is the second half of 2017. Six months have come and gone. Now is the time to look at the numbers for the first six months of this year. Is giving trending up, down or about the same? What are the underlying reasons for the trend?...
Do We Believe in Abundance?
Do We Believe in Abundance? Richard Rohr in one of his daily meditations states that we often live within a worldview of scarcity. We are worried that there is never enough to go around. He writes, “The problem is exacerbated by the fact that the human mind is...
Financial Reality
Financial Reality A recent article by Maurie Backman of The Motley Fool appeared on MSN. The article stated that almost half of Americans die nearly broke. A recent study by GoBankingRates discovered that 59% of American adults admitted to having less than...
Time to Let Go
Time to Let Go A recent article in the Journal of Accountancy was titled, “The Importance of Killing Projects.” The article insisted that all organizations must be willing to look at their initiatives with as critical eye. This means that ownership and ego needs must...
Financial Literacy Resources
Resource Materials for Churches Providing Financial Literacy Last week I wrote about counties struggling with high poverty rates and the downward financial earnings pressure on children in those settings. I began to research materials that might help churches begin to...
Hard Economic News for Mississippi Counties
Hard Economic News for Mississippi Counties The Wall Street Journal published an electronic story on counties in this country where the American Dream is dead. It began by stating that the percentage of children who grow up to earn more than their parents is down from...
Do It Now!
Do It Now! Now is the time to begin to address the issue of generosity in your church. Tomorrow will be too late. One-third of 2017 has come and gone. If you have all the resources you will ever need for effective ministry, you need not pay attention to my...
Guard Your Heart
“Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life”- Proverbs 4:23 NLT This Proverb has always stood out to me and is a powerful reminder to us during these times that we are vulnerable. This vulnerability is a real danger to our peace, joy,...
Peace
“Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”- Philippians 4:7 NLT I came across this story and wanted to share on peace and wanted to share it. Once upon a...
Being a Steward of Our Gifts
“Now, dear brothers and sisters, regarding your question about the special abilities the Spirit gives us. I don’t want you to misunderstand this. You know that when you were still pagans, you were led astray and swept along in worshiping speechless idols. So, I want...