In the flood of explanations and proposed solutions there is the realization that no single solution is enough to stop the slaughter. As Christians we read the words from Romans 8 in the New Testament about “the sufferings of this present time” and that “we do not know what to pray for as we ought.” …
While our church leaders were going through the Church Generosity course, the church custodian found water damage in the church’s crawlspace. Contractors then found that our church building had structural damage that would need to be fixed as soon as possible. What we hoped would be an easy fix turned into a $100,000 project. For …
A pastor’s week is filled with early morning meetings, office hours, visitations, counseling, sermon preparation and prayer, evening committee meetings and weekend worship services. Yet research shows the majority of pastors make less than $50,000 per year and do not receive health insurance benefits or retirement contributions from their churches. So, here is a list …
What are the most significant tax issues pastors and churches should know about? There are a couple of fundamental tax issues for pastors and churches to understand. First, if a pastor is licensed, commissioned or ordained and performing ministerial duties, he or she must be treated as a minister for Social Security tax purposes. This …
Leith Anderson, president of the National Association of Evangelicals (NAE), said, “A trend towards online giving has led some churches not to take up offerings during their worship services. While online giving is here to stay, most evangelical leaders think something should also be done in church services to encourage a spirit of giving as …
“Pursuing Racial Justice and Reconciliation” warns that “racism is an affront to the value of individuals created in God’s image and to the divinely designed diversity of redeemed humanity” and reminds us that our nation will only flourish “when people of all races and ethnicities are able to contribute equally to society.” Pursuing Racial Justice …
The letter to the president notes that the refugee resettlement program has long been a lifeline for persecuted religious minorities, including Christians from countries such as Iraq, Iran and Syria. The letter concludes, “We urge you to reinvigorate the U.S. refugee resettlement program, not dismantle it. It is a lifeline for those fleeing persecution — …
When determining budgets each year, there are usually competing factors to consider. For instance, how does your church handle a downturn in annual giving while seeking to hire new staff? What about an unseen repair to the leaky church basement versus giving well deserved raises? All of these needs are vital to the ministry of …
Pastors are primary agents of Jesus and the gospel in America’s 350,000 churches. But, what if the pastor runs low on hope? The pastor who is tired, stressed, broke and discouraged may be like the car running on empty that can’t make it all the way home. Pastors need hope to give hope. Shepherding people, …
The financial stress that many pastors face can be greatly alleviated when church leadership teams and families discover there are many creative ways to show and share God’s love for their pastors beyond the paycheck. The Bless Your Pastor initiative is an opportunity for your church to take seriously the call to care for your …
