{"id":32999,"date":"2022-09-10T16:31:31","date_gmt":"2022-09-10T21:31:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/sluggish-economy-no-match-for-vision-connection\/"},"modified":"2022-09-10T16:31:31","modified_gmt":"2022-09-10T21:31:31","slug":"sluggish-economy-no-match-for-vision-connection","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/sluggish-economy-no-match-for-vision-connection\/","title":{"rendered":"Sluggish Economy No Match for Vision, Connection"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

\n

NASHVILLE, Tenn. \u2014<\/strong> Some churches are not only weathering the sluggish economy, they\u2019re flourishing.<\/p>\n

According to a study by Lifeway Research, the lethargic economy has continued to negatively impact the financial situation of many congregations in the United States. However, some congregations are finding that the gloomy forecast hasn\u2019t necessarily translated into slashed budgets and financial damage control.<\/p>\n

A May 2012 Lifeway Research survey of 1,000 Protestant pastors found a large percentage of pastors serving in large cities and the suburbs (72 percent in both areas) cite a negative impact on their church from the economy in 2012.<\/p>\n

Steve Collins, senior pastor of The Harvest Church in North Dallas, does not count himself among that statistic.<\/p>\n

When the economic downturn began to take a toll on ministries and churches in 2009, The Harvest was still getting used to being in an actual church facility on a plot of land after spending a decade in a storefront location in Plano, Texas.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

The congregation moved north in 2006 from Plano to the city of Allen, a fast-growing community in North Dallas, with the intent of reaching a largely unchurched and multiethnic population, explained Collins.<\/p>\n

The Harvest purchased an older church building in Allen with sufficient space to accommodate their congregation with the intention to purchase adjacent land for expansion. When other churches began feeling the economic pinch in 2009, The Harvest found itself already outgrowing its space.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe had about 250 people in 2009, and now we\u2019re close to 500 in four Sunday morning services,\u201d Collins said, adding that nearly doubling attendance in three years has naturally led to higher giving.
\u201cI\u2019m exhausted, but God is so good,\u201d he said with a laugh.<\/p>\n

Lifeway Research found the trend indicates a stabilization of giving rather than widespread increases. Through May 2011, 36 percent of churches saw giving the same as 2010. And through May 2012, 40 percent of churches saw giving the same as 2011.<\/p>\n

Collins said giving at The Harvest rose 40 percent in 2011 and is up 50 percent in 2012.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe key for us has been about communicating with our folks how God honors faithful financial stewardship,\u201d Collins said.<\/p>\n

As a church, The Harvest also prays intentionally for members to be used in the marketplace for Kingdom impact.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe fact is, when you reach the hearts of the people, you reach their pocketbooks,\u201d Collins said. \u201cWe pray our people generate creative business ideas that would lead them to make an impact in the business world and through their finances.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve always been very open with where we are financially,\u201d Collins said. \u201cWe make quarterly financial reports a part of our regular church communications and anyone can see the breakdown on what we\u2019re doing financially.\u201d<\/p>\n

Even in the midst of recession, \u201cwe\u2019ve been able to buy that adjacent land which will double our footprint,\u201d Collins said. \u201cWe\u2019ll be breaking ground in the next couple of months on a new sanctuary, which will greatly help our seating capacity.\u201d<\/p>\n

As churches have adjusted to the depressed economy, the Lifeway Research survey found fewer churches are failing to meet budget expectations. Through May 2011, giving for 27 percent of churches was below budget. At the same time in 2012, only 22 percent of churches reported giving below budget \u2013 a 5 percent decrease from the year before.<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n
See also  Young Adults, Including Christians, Have Complicated Relationship with Money<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Willow Pointe Church in Hattiesburg, Miss., has weathered the economy, and like The Harvest Church, has continued to grow.<\/p>\n

\u201cGod has blessed us so much these last few years, even at a time when other churches around us are dying,\u201d said Jim Burnett, senior pastor of Willow Pointe.<\/p>\n

Planted 10 years ago, Burnett said he believes Willow Pointe has thrived in part because of its outward focus.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere are a lot of churches that are suffering and even shutting down because of a lack of vision,\u201d Burnett said. \u201cFrom the onset, Willow Pointe has been about teaching our people to look outward instead of inward \u2013 how are we going to meet the needs of our community and share the gospel? A lack of vision turns a church inward.\u201d<\/p>\n

In spite of the economic challenges faced by other churches, Willow Pointe\u2019s 2013 budget is 25 percent larger than the previous year.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a God thing,\u201d Burnett said. \u201cWe ask God specifically for clear vision on where to step next.\u201d<\/p>\n

Burnett described the budget process at Willow Pointe as being driven by vision. He said it is something they evaluate constantly even if it means stopping a particular ministry project in midstream or infusing a new ministry or process.<\/p>\n

\u201cVision is the fuel,\u201d he said. \u201cWe have a big, bold budget because we have a big, bold God.\u201d<\/p>\n

Burnett said the church does not budget according to what they can afford, but rather what God is leading them to do. \u201cOne of our elders made the statement \u2018Where God guides, He provides.\u2019 The church has really bought into that.\u201d<\/p>\n

With a vision to impact their city, Willow Pointe piloted a mentoring program in the local school district that has now been replicated in every school district in the county. The church also facilitates Celebrate Recovery and hosts block parties and community leader luncheons.<\/p>\n

The church does maintain a frugal \u201cif we don\u2019t have it, we don\u2019t spend it\u201d approach, Burnett said, but when \u201cour folks see God in something, they go for it.\u201d As a church, Willow Pointe committed to make four extra payments in 2012 toward reducing debt.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe wanted to attack the debt so we could move on to the next phase,\u201d Burnett said. \u201cOur people are all behind it. We actually made two extra payments one quarter.\u201d<\/p>\n

According to Burnett, Willow Pointe is not feeling the stress of the current economic situation because they have been called to be available.<\/p>\n

\u201cGod has called us to be obedient and available, and He will do the rest,\u201d Burnett said. \u201cWe believe we\u2019re to get ready to be used in an even greater way for a greater impact upon our community.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n

Related posts:<\/h3>\n
Churches Endure Financial Hardships in Pandemic Years, Optimistic for Future Most Churches Find Financial Stability in 2021 4 Hidden Realities Behind a Lack of Vision in Your Church 3 Ways to Reach Non-Religious People in Your Community <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

NASHVILLE, Tenn. \u2014 Some churches are not only weathering the sluggish economy, they\u2019re flourishing. According to a study by Lifeway Research, the lethargic economy has continued to negatively impact the financial situation of many congregations in the United States. However, some congregations are finding that the gloomy forecast hasn\u2019t necessarily translated into slashed budgets and … Continue reading “Sluggish Economy No Match for Vision, Connection”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-32999","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-sermons"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32999","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=32999"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32999\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=32999"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=32999"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=32999"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}