 Uncertainty has become a common word used by many to describe our current economic condition. Individuals are checking their 401 (k) balances while dealing with falling home values. Corporations are struggling to find credit for cash flow to keep production high. World leaders are baffled at what steps to take to stabilize the global economy.Even churches are caught in this economic downturn as members reduce their giving because of lost wages. Many of the churches in our area are taking the same actions that Denton Baptist Association is taking for 2009. Our associational plan is simple: “keep the 2009 budget the same or less than 2008 but continue to find ways to do better and more effective ministry locally and globally.” When uncertain economic times begin to reduce personal finances, one principle to consider is “watch what the smart investors do!” As prices of stocks fall significantly, fearful investors cash out and keep their |
money under their mattress. Smart investors study the market and then begin to buy. They purchase stocks at the reduced price because they see this as a great investment for the future. While I don’t understand a great deal about stocks and investments, I do understand a few significant things about ministry. Over the last several years, many churches have moved toward their own processes of missions and ministries. At the same time they have dropped, or dramatically curtailed, their involvement and investment in more multi-participatory forms of missions and ministry. I see the advantages of such decisions as being more control over how resources are used and greater involvement by members of the congregation. What happens to some of those ministries and missions when the economy moves from great to not-so-good? Often the ministries and missions can no longer be funded and are dropped by the church. Is there a way that some of those projects or missions might continue even though the local |
church doesn’t have enough money to support any single mission, ministry, or project? I believe that one of the great investments available to a local church today is in the multi-participatory missions and ministries that are being done through Denton Baptist Association. Together, we can start churches locally and some globally. We can minister in times of disaster (such as a hurricane through DBA Disaster Relief) and in times of leisure (such as a NASCAR race through TXARM). Can we do everything that all the churches were doing individually during great economic times? Probably not! Can we do more together during these not-so-good times than churches could do by themselves? Absolutely! Here is the bottom line: “Even if budgets are reduced because of a decrease in giving, let’s not eliminate our missions and ministries arms. By our collective giving through the association, we can continue to strengthen the foundation of missions and expand the Kingdom of Heaven. Associational missions is a good investment in an uncertain economy.” |