Interview with the Christian Post

I was recently interviewed by the Christian Post on the financial challenges a church planter faces when planting a church. Read Interview with Christian post here. I share a couple stories from my past and you’ll see a pic of what a planter is willing to do to tell his city about the gospel.

Out of necessity a planter has to be a great steward of their finances so they can also be a great steward of the church finances. Jesus was poor on this earth when it came to worldly treasure but he certainly beat out Warren Buffet comparing Kingdom Treasure to even a Billionaire’s wealth. Paul was bi-vocational sustaining his living and ministry by gifts and primarily through tent making. You can be wealthy or poor to plant a church. You can bee full time or part time. What I’ve learned is you can’t say I can’t. I’ve found that REAL church planters can be bi-vocational if they have to be. I’ve heard some say I can’t do that. When God puts you in that place you can do that just as a planter can do anything through Jesus Christ who gives him strength, paraphrasing Philippians 4;13.

There are seasons, however, where a planter goes with far less than you would imagine, but we do that because the vision and calling is so much greater. Store houses for treasure are not what planters are accustomed to. I’ve heard it said that if God has lifted you up to be a servant don’t stoop so low to be a king. To accomplish this great work there are great fiends, church families, sponsors and churches who help to support us and care for us to be servants. I am grateful and blessed to have and have had circles of such incredible people at all of the plants I’ve been a part of. They help us to know incredible blessings as servants so we aren’t tempted at being kings.

I think too often planters and pastors can develop a king and kingdom mentality when we really need to find ways to maintain the humble calling as a servant. I’ve seen men refuse the call because they want ministry handed to them on a silver platter with a pay check. I’ve seen church leadership fire staff to give raises and increase salaries of other staff who want a king, no different than when the Hebrews called for a king and did everything they could to have a king. It still happens today. Now, that doesn’t mean you have to be poor to be a planter and it doesn’t mean you have to or can’t have a generous salary as a planter.

The apostle Paul wrote to Timothy, “The elders who rule well are to be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching. For the Scripture says, ‘You shall not muzzle the ox while he is threshing,’ and ‘The laborer is worthy of his wages’” (1 Timothy 5:17-18).

What it does mean is a worthy planter is not only worth his wages but it is worth him being  content in all He has as he recognizes God honoring his faithfulness. The Apostle Paul put it this way “I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances” (Philippians 4:11). I’ve simply learned to be content.

Our family has learned debt is bad. bankruptcy is not only bad it is a sin. to live within your means. Everyone is watching you and making judgments on the way you live. We choose to manage our finances so it reflects god’s redemption. We teach and instruct that God blesses us so that we can bless his church. for us to withhold our tithes and offerings would be a sin. We give sacrificially, humbly and joyfully and we pray our church, its leaders and families will do the same to reflect the great love we share for our Lord and King.