“This is Los Angeles, I work here. I carry a badge.” So begins another episode of Dragnet, a detective show from my childhood. My family tuned in to watch. (I think for reruns) Every week Joe Friday, (Jack Webb) and Bill Gannon, (Harry Morgan) were detectives, out solving crimes. When the person Seargent Friday was interviewing went off on a tangent, he would utter some version of his famous catch-phrase. “Just the facts.” In this Newsletter article, We have a problem here at the Church and I’m going to try to address that problem with Seargent Friday’s idea in mind. “Just the facts.”
Fact #1: As anyone reading this knows, the cost of living has gone up. Whether it’s water, gasoline, electricity, food, vehicles, insurance or a myriad of other things, it simply costs more to live in Havasu than it did just a year or two ago. As costs increase, it makes it harder to “stay ahead.”
Fact #2: We’ve had some people move or die who were faithful givers. This has really affected the financial “bottom line” for the Church.
Fact #3: We as a Church are having a hard time paying the bills. Our biggest bill, Payroll, hasn’t significantly increased for several years, but it’s gone up a little, due to state mandated increases in minimum wage. Other things however, have gone up dramatically.
Fact #4: Part of the money we raised for the parking lot has been spent, just to keep our bills current. I know that’s not good, but there weren’t a lot of options.
The Obvious Question is, “What do we do about it?”
#1: Pray! I know, “that’s what we always say at church.” But that’s what we say because that’s what we need to do! If we truly believe that we are a family of believers who serve the Living God, we need to act like it! So we pray.
- We should pray for God to send us faithful brothers and sisters to become a part of our Church family. They are out there, and some of them are undoubtedly moving to Havasu! Pray for them to find us, and for us to find them!
- We should pray for God to help us use the money that is given to the Church wisely. We do a pretty good job of that, but we can always do better.
- We should pray a prayer of thanks to God for giving us what we have so that we can give. I have no idea who gives how much and how often. I don’t want to know. But I am thankful that people give “as the Lord has prospered them.” I’m also so thankful that 10% of the offering goes immediately to our Missions budget. There is no selfishness or stinginess!
#2: Examine! Whenever we are planning a purchase, planning a trip, or even going out for
dinner, our first thought is most likely, “can I afford to do this?” We should do the same thing with our giving. Giving is something we should plan to do. In 1 Corinthians 16:2 Paul writes about the offering being taken for the Christians in Jerusalem who are suffering in a famine. Here’s what Paul told them to do. “On the first day of every week each one of you is to put aside and save, as he may prosper, so that no collections be made when I come.” Paul tells them to plan in advance to give. This doesn’t mean they shouldn’t spontaneously give, but the idea is to make a habit of it. I can’t tell you how much you should give… that’s between you and God. But if you plan to give, God tends to honor that. I’m not saying God is a “blessing vending machine,” but when you plan to give, God plans to take care of you! It’s about trust!
#3: Match! We’ve have been offered a “challenge.” If you can give a special gift, it will be
matched, dollar for dollar, up to $5,000 to boost our bank balance. If you want to “piggyback” a gift onto the $5,000 to make the amount to be matched even larger, contact the church office.
#4: DO! Do whatever it is that the Holy Spirit puts on your heart to do!
Giving right alongside of you,
John
