Skip to main content

What To Do First to Make a Profit

The PF Women Team at our Annual Team Retreat  ~ 2018 Today on Seth Godin's blog, he said: It's tempting to decide to make a profit first, then invest in training, people, facilities, promotion, customer service and most of all, doing important work. In general, though, it goes the other way. Yes, it does. If you are waiting to make a profit before you do these things, in my experience you're  not going to make a profit. So many organizations, ministries and churches are struggling with financial issues. I know your pain. As anyone who follows our story knows, our ministry was in a ton of debt four years ago when I came on as director.  Since that time, we've gotten out of debt and turned a profit every year.  God has done amazing things through out team, for which we give Him the glory! I find that what Seth is saying here is absolutely true, with one disclaimer. For Christian leaders, spiritual disciplines must always be first. Before we started inve

Can you imagine a PASTOR doing THIS?!

The following is a guest post from a great man who walks with God. I'm honored to have my husband, Pastor Larry Shrodes, share with my readers today. He wrote about this topic in his weekly ezine to the men of our church recently and I thought it was a great word. I invited him to share on my blog today about what he believes is one of the greatest inconsistencies in the church at large, today. I hope it is enlightening for you.






The lead pastor of Northeast Assembly of God followed Carl Dallas and his family out the church doors following the service this past Sunday.  Stopping Carl in the parking lot he said, "Carl, I need a minute of your time to talk to you about something.  You've been coming to our church for the past year and and a half and I want you to know that I love you.  You have a great family and I really enjoy you.  We've had some great times of fellowship, however I want you to know that today is your last Sunday here at Northeast.  We feed you way too much with little to nothing in return from you or your family.  I feel called to try some other people out.  If they don't work out, we may invite you back.  I hope this doesn't hurt your feelings Carl, because we love you.  We really do. I really wanted you guys to stay, but I have prayed about it and I have to obey God. I really feel this is what is best for my family.  I am sure we will probably see you around when people in the church have birthdays and picnics and I hope you don't feel awkward or anything, but like I said this is your last Sunday.  Here is the next month's supply of Pentecostal Evangels.  This should help you and encourage you in your transition."


Maybe you think a pastor would be crazy to do this.  How cruel to say something like this to someone!  I agree with you, however know that this conversation happens every week in America.  The only difference is that instead of the pastor saying this to people, it's people who say this to the pastor.  This is the reality that pastors across our nation face all the time.



Honestly, you can't imagine how this stings.  It is one of the greatest frustrations for pastors. They are just expected to take this behavior in stride and not only refuse to get bitter, or angry or frustrated, but they are expected to actually bless these people! This is a topic that few people even open up and talk about because when they do they are labeled as insecure or even worse like some kind of control freak.

I'm in a good season to talk about this.  Just when I would want to write about it before, it seemed we were dealing with someone leaving and it would have looked pointed. I don't desire to single anyone out or cause hurt. Fortunately, this isn't a factor right now. We are in a good growth season at Celebration and we aren't experiencing an exodus.  I don't have an over inflated view of myself, however I know that I have great love and support from our congregation. I am blessed to be a part of what the Lord is doing.  While things are going well, let me say though that when people do leave, the pain of rejection hurts so much, no matter how good things are going at the church.


Pastors are expected to demonstrate total love and loyalty for their church and city.  Often when pastors transition they are chastised for leaving.  They get accused of only caring about the money or chasing a bigger opportunity. If they even spoke of leaving the church for another, they would be characterized as uncaring. On the other hand, when someone in the church moves to a new city because of a promotion they are patted on the back and everyone applauds the new blessing and season in their life.  What an interesting double standard.

On a related note, I have also been at church events sharing around tables with others and heard people bash the city or town that they are living in.  They say, "I can't wait to get out of this town and move east, west, north or south." People complain about the snow, the sunshine, the heat, the rain.  They hate the traffic, the solitude, the smog or the humidity.  If a pastor would say they were moving because they hate the city or the weather, people would be in an uproar and call them unspiritual.  These inconsistencies in the church world are just interesting.

I pour my life into the church I pastor.  I love where God has placed me.  I give my all to the church and the city.  When someone leaves the church or bashes our city, or says they can't wait to get out one day, I can't help but take it personal.  I have learned over the years how to let things roll off my chest better.  That doesn't mean that it doesn't hurt, I have just learned to trust that God still is God even when things happen that I don't think please the Lord. 

It is my prayer that we create a culture at Celebration Church that is different from inconsistency that seems to exist in so many churches and instead have a culture that reflects Jesus and makes an impact for the kingdom! Let's be different.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Relevant Church doing something...

incredibly RELEVANT!

I just heard some news today that really inspired me. A church here in Tampa, Relevant Church is doing a new thing this month called the "30 Days Sex Challenge." (I've never visited the church but Pastor Trinity - our children's pastor - has visited or has met some people from this church and he was very impressed.) Realizing that this is a major element missing from some marriages (the frequency factor) their lead pastor, Paul Wirth, has issued a challenge for all the married couples to have sex for 30 days in a row. At the same time he has issued a challenge for all unmarrieds to completely abstain from sex. Of course we know the Bible says that those who are unmarried should not have sex in the first place but the point is, a lot of unmarried's aren't obeying the Lord's command to abstain and this is just one pastor's way of trying to get them to see that indeed, there is a better way! (God's way!) At the same time, many married couples are not

What Verbal Abuse is Really Like, and Why We Must Care
Guest Post: Terri von Wood

In my speaking travels, I meet the most amazing people. Some are connections that go beyond just a night or a weekend of preac hing. One day on my journey, I met Terri von Wood, and we immediately clicked and have been friends ever since.  Just a reminder that all of our guest bloggers this week are available to chat with you in the comment section here on the blog or on my facebook page where the blog is also published.   *** People who have never suffered through or witnessed abuse (including pastors) often don't know how to help women in abusive situations. Knowledge is power and it is my belief that if the church understood the prevalence of abuse, help would be made available.  First, we must acknowledge that the divorce rate is the same  in the church as in the world.  Second, we must understand that the 50% divorce rate does not include all the women who are abused but stay because they do not know what else to do or do not have anyone to turn to.  If those women we

Stuff I Adore That Costs Little to Nothing...

Okay...taking a break today from writing about heavy things...like grief, loss, and bawling. Time to write about random stuff today that nobody may be interested in reading. Nevertheless here it is... Stuff I adore that costs little to nothing... Listening to playlists I make on (free) Spotify Drinking out of canning jars Reading books again that I already have on my shelf. Walking and riding my bike. Admiring crepe myrtle trees. Taking a bath in the daytime with the lights off in the room. (Natural light.) Naps. Snuggling with my husband or one of the kids and watching a movie at home. Having all noise turned off when no one is home. (No TV, no music, just silence.) Prayer.