Tired of Church Fundraisers?
Talbot Davis is a friend and colleague I’ve only met through his writings, but I think we’d enjoy sitting down for coffee together. Maybe we’d hop up after about 2 minutes because we were both in Zoom Mode that day. More probably we’d be there at least the rest of the afternoon because we couldn’t shut up and both of us have a lot to say.
Here’s a recent example from him of why I think our coffee would take us up to dinner and into the evening —
WHEN A DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENT IN THE #UMC AGREES WITH OUR POLICY ON FUNDRAISERS
Several years ago, a District Superintendent in the United Methodist Church (if you are unfamiliar with that position, it is sort of an Executive Vice President who supervises the pastors and reports to the Bishop) shared these words:
“If churches would advertise the worship of God half as much as they advertise their barbeques and chicken pie suppers, a lot more people would know about Jesus. I have been amazed at how many churches don’t have signs up about when worship services are, but, when it is time for a fundraiser, they advertise to beat the band.”
Yet another reason why we don’t have Consignment Sales, Craft Fairs, or Spaghetti Suppers to raise money at Good Shepherd.
We don’t need fund raisers in church because God already gave us one that works just fine, thank you: giggling generosity when it comes to the giving basket & Sunday morning offering.
Teach that, live that, celebrate that, and your church can have freedom from the tyranny of next month’s effort to raise the money that people should be giving.
— And that, my friends, is why I practice and preach tithing.
Side Note: I’ve been amazed that some of the same people who are in favor of a simple Flat Tax with the government come to church and strain at the gnat of “should I tithe on my net or my gross?”
As you might have heard me say, it’s a credit card commercial that asks what’s in your wallet….God asks what’s in your heart.
See you back here tomorrow.
