Читать книгу Removing the Mysteries about Church Finance - Jerry L. Johnson - Страница 6

Matthew 24:6 - And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.

2020 will be remembered as a tumulus year beginning with the COVID-19 travel ban announced on February 2 for all non-Americans traveling from China. These are the days that call for strong leadership, especially from our churches. To serve, churches need to survive, yet many don't. Churches need to be ready for critical situations, yet many are not. Depending on their location, they need to have a survival plan for a range of natural disasters, tornados in the mid-west, hurricanes on the Gulf Coast and East Coast. Survival is the critical need for all of us; churches that don't survive are forgotten, left in the dust of the past, along with their deeds, plans, hopes, and benefit to anyone.

Churches in a range of sizes will over time close their doors for reasons unconnected with any type of natural disaster. Does your church survival plan expand for unexpected exogenous conditions? How big is your plan? Are you ready for a worldwide pandemic? Probably not, but good for you if you were. Now you can help others.

God will be with you, with your church, and all who worship Him. Know this to be true. If God is with us, do we still have troubles, trials and tribulations? Yes. A pandemic is all that, and it is extremely costly. Can your church support itself during the Pandemic, perhaps during a prolonged curfew or lockdown? Does your church have a plan for all your essential expenses, what to do when your income is limited?

Because of the Pandemic, there will be periods when church members are out of work and contributions to church funds are not coming. Could your church anticipate such an event? Probably not a specific event like a pandemic. But that should not relieve you of the need to prepare, as though no relief in sight.

Throughout the following pages is repeated the admonition to be frugal with church money, to set money aside, plan ahead, and to be ready for the unexpected. If your church was strong before, you have a good chance of a good recovery after COVID-19. If you were struggling before, barely skimping by, then recovery will be sketchy, slow at best. If your church is existing month-to-month depending on contributions coming in, this will be an especially hard period. This is not like "ordinary" disasters which, after it passed, is back to life as it was. We will get through this, but it will not be without new scars, and losses in many cases.

Is the survival of your church based only on money, or how it handles money? Of course not, because the foundation of all Christian Churches is Jesus Christ.

Review now how and where your church can tighten its belt, what can be put on hold, what is not essential. Your members will have gone through trauma, with family members struggling weeks or months with the virus, perhaps with deaths of family members and friends. This virus has no friends, it is enemy of us all. Identify electives that were nice to have but were not essential to the fulfilment of the commandment Jesus gave us. People (just about all of us) make decisions one way when resources are plentiful, but when resources are scarce, decisions are approached differently. (More about this later when you consider the OMR Model.)

During this time, it is more important than ever to stay in communication with your congregation. Regular phone calls, with the leaders at the top of the call chain reassuring each person that the church network is working for them. Churches with a large senior population needs to take additional steps to keep them safe. Many will be more vulnerable to the virus. They may need medicine or other supplies, and food items.

This is also an excellent time for churches to reach out to people who have visited your church in the past but did not join; this demonstrates that the heart of your church is bigger than merely increasing membership numbers.

This is a time when the pastor must show superior leadership; the life of the church and many members will depend on it. Even with a worldwide Pandemic hovering over each house and community, it is important that no one falls through the communication gaps. This is a good time for church auxiliaries to step up.

Temperature testing is of importance. The church should ensure that every member household has a thermometer. Other items such as hand sanitizer, trash bags and toilet paper can be scarce items. Include face masks as well. It is also an ideal time to talk (on the phone of course, skype or facetime) with other members you haven't spoken with in a while. ("Enthusiasm is a force multiplier." General Colon Powell, United States Secretary of State)

Churches that work together, create collations with other churches, will come through this and become a beacon in the virus fog. Be concerned about all, especially the weakest.

Be kind. Help each other. Jesus is with you. Church leaders need to exchange ideas how their congregation is coping. Is your church prepared to offer help to other churches? That says a lot about your church.

The Emergency Preparedness Plan (EPP) for your church, to keep your congregation safe, is an important step in being a leader. The reason you have a plan is because you can develop the plan without the urgency or stress of the actual emergency. When you are up to your earlobes in a crisis is not the best time to formulate a plan. The following link has abundant information about preparedness, as does most other cities. The City of Titusville, Florida / Emergency Management / Emergency Preparedness