Should Churches Help??? Topic of the Week 07-09-2006

[4hisglory]

Here is the topic of the week.  Remember this is a "serious" discussion.  Any sarcastic comments will be deleted.



Recently, two people I know fell on hard times.  They were dedicated that attended Church and Bible Study and they also paid there tithes.

Both of them went to there churches for help and both were told by there home church that the church couldn't help them out.

My question is:  Should today's church help out there members in financial need??

[Val215]

Wow, this is a good question. At our church, we do help those who are in financial need. With that said, we don't just hand out money. There is a verification process to go through. We have had several people come to the church asking for help with light bills, rent, food and college. We are a small church so we do what we can to assist those in need. All financial transactions are done by check. The check is not made out directly to the person who is asking, it goes directly to the company they have to pay. Sometimes we don't pay all of it, but we do help with at least half of it.

As far as money for college, we do have a scholarship fund in place. They have to be a member of our church to receive it and they have to fill out an application form for it. It's only disbursed twice a year. This past Sunday, we took up a love offering for a family whose house burned down. As far as food, we have a food bank for that. We have can goods stocked up and as far as other things like meat, milk, eggs...etc, the person who is over the food bank gets a check from the treasurer to buy the extra food.

In some cases, we have had the same people ask for help over and over again...but the line had to be drawn somewhere

[bishopcole]

Wow, this is a good question. At our church, we do help those who are in financial need. With that said, we don't just hand out money. There is a verification process to go through. We have had several people come to the church asking for help with light bills, rent, food and college. We are a small church so we do what we can to assist those in need. All financial transactions are done by check. The check is not made out directly to the person who is asking, it goes directly to the company they have to pay. Sometimes we don't pay all of it, but we do help with at least half of it.

As far as money for college, we do have a scholarship fund in place. They have to be a member of our church to receive it and they have to fill out an application form for it. It's only disbursed twice a year. This past Sunday, we took up a love offering for a family whose house burned down. As far as food, we have a food bank for that. We have can goods stocked up and as far as other things like meat, milk, eggs...etc, the person who is over the food bank gets a check from the treasurer to buy the extra food.

In some cases, we have had the same people ask for help over and over again...but the line had to be drawn somewhere

Val, this is same process that my church takes as well. I strongly believe that it is our job as the church to make sure that we take care of our brothers and sisters that have fallen on bad times that are in good standings or status with their respectable church.  Bishop Cole 

[sjonathan02]

Wow, this is a good question. At our church, we do help those who are in financial need. With that said, we don't just hand out money. There is a verification process to go through. We have had several people come to the church asking for help with light bills, rent, food and college. We are a small church so we do what we can to assist those in need. All financial transactions are done by check. The check is not made out directly to the person who is asking, it goes directly to the company they have to pay. Sometimes we don't pay all of it, but we do help with at least half of it.

As far as money for college, we do have a scholarship fund in place. They have to be a member of our church to receive it and they have to fill out an application form for it. It's only disbursed twice a year. This past Sunday, we took up a love offering for a family whose house burned down. As far as food, we have a food bank for that. We have can goods stocked up and as far as other things like meat, milk, eggs...etc, the person who is over the food bank gets a check from the treasurer to buy the extra food.

In some cases, we have had the same people ask for help over and over again...but the line had to be drawn somewhere

The process is the same at my church. And, to answer the question, yes we (as the church) should help our brothers and sisters in Christ whenever we have the resources to do so.


Proverbs 3:27, 28

²⁷Do not withhold good from those who deserve it, when it is in your power to act.

²⁸Do not say to your neighbor, "Come back later; I'll give it tomorrow" when you now have it with you.

[Dredakyst]

I'm with Val.. it is our responsiblity to help others... and i believe that churches should be the staple of the community...but times have changes...

I believe most churches can't help those in need because they live beyond their means... trying to keep up with da joneses...

[vtguy84]

This is a very good question.  At my church, in order to be looked upon for financial assitance at my church, you must do the following:

* Be a tither with records of showing on the books
* Have completed the financial budgeting class
* Make a copy of the planned budget, your actual budget, and any extenuating circumstances

You must have all of that in order to be a candidate.  Then you are passed on to the trustee board where they make the final decision.  I don't think this is a rigorous method due to the fact that tithing is constantly preached in service as well as your new members class and they offer the budgeting seminar several times a month.  If you are really on hard times, you will do you part...so that it doesn't look like a free handout

[4hisglory]

I believe most churches can't help those in need because they live beyond their means... trying to keep up with da joneses...

I also agree with this.......

[nessalynn77]

Yes, I think the church should help.  I know my church has been there for me on a couple of occasions.  But there are a few occasions when I know the church was not able to help, for a lot of different reasons.

For instance, if the same person is having very expensive needs for assistance continuously, and the church is not very big, the church is limited as to how many times they can help that one person. 

[churchyreal]

Y'all hit me with the perfect question. This is what I have been talking about for the last 2 years. I believe that it is the responsibility of the church to help those who have fallen into difficult times, especially the saints. That's what the early church was about. The early church was about helping those who had fallen into hard times. Now for the reasons of the 21st century and the increase of cons, going through a verification system is ok. I have been studying lately on the early church and how it was the church that made a difference. In Chapter 4 of Acts, we find a place where the saints shared with one another. I believe that God has called the church to make a difference in people's lives.

This to me is one area of the modern church that is failing and continues to fail, helping those who fall into difficult times. The attitude of the church should be, "Jesus shared with me in my time of struggle, why can't I share with my brother or sister in their time of struggle." Remember what the book of Matthew, Chapter 25 says, that the least you do to one of the children of God, you have also done for Jesus. I believe that this is one area of the church that needs great improvement in the 21st century.

[ReddGirl]

This is a very sensitive issue for me. Being a CPA and at one time being approached by a church to work for them full time, I was apalled at how badly some church finances are handled. I strongly believe the church MUST help their members and budget the finances to include such help. I think a lot of churches spend the majority of their budgets on Salaries, and Building expenses. It would be so much wiser to have a smaller facility that could help people than a  larger one that can't.

[vtguy84]

This is a very sensitive issue for me. Being a CPA and at one time being approached by a church to work for them full time, I was apalled at how badly some church finances are handled. I strongly believe the church MUST help their members and budget the finances to include such help. I think a lot of churches spend the majority of their budgets on Salaries, and Building expenses. It would be so much wiser to have a smaller facility that could help people than a  larger one that can't.

That's very interesting that you are a CPA because our executive administrator (1st Lady) is a CPA who decided that the children of God needed to be taught correctly how to budget, which is why the stipulations at our church are so strong when it comes to asking for money

[sjonathan02]

That's very interesting that you are a CPA because our executive administrator (1st Lady) is a CPA who decided that the children of God needed to be taught correctly how to budget, which is why the stipulations at our church are so strong when it comes to asking for money

I can understand where your First Lady is coming from; at the same time, I don't see how some folks, in dire financial straits, could provide your church with a budget plan. If they had one, then they wouldn't necessarily be in dire financial straits, would they?



Just a thought.

[vtguy84]

I can understand where your First Lady is coming from; at the same time, I don't see how some folks, in dire financial straits, could provide your church with a budget plan. If they had one, then they wouldn't necessarily be in dire financial straits, would they?



Just a thought.

The class that is taught on budgeting is a 2 hour class where people sit down and write out a budget (this is one of the classes you must complete in order to be in leadership and encouraged if you are a new member).  When you ask for the money, you must provide that budget that you made and then show what happened to where you have fallen short.  Hope that's clarification

[preachaman16]

At our church, we have a benevolence account (i think thats how u spell it) where we have a substantial amount of money.



In order to be eligible, i believe, u have to have ur financial records, be a tither, and of course have a valid reason as to why u need the assistance.

Our church is able to have a large facility, pay salaries, and help the congregation out! I believe that is nothing but God.

[lumbebear1]

I believe the church should help anyone in need, not just the members. My old church refused to help anyone that wasnt a member, if they decided to help a member it had to go to the Deacons, then to COnference to get approval and then only a small amount was given.

I realize there should be guidleines as to helping people, when they are continously come for the church to bail them out, I agree with Vt's chruch, teach them budgeting and financial responsiblity. Its the lack of teaching financial responsibility that gets church/non church folk in trouble.

We normally will take up an offering when there is a request for a need, the individual asking (remains annon) recieves the total offering in the form of a check, I have yet to see the offering under $500.00 dollars, and we also are a small congregation. (100)

If an individual cant come to the church......................then where are they to go

[churchyreal]

If an individual cant come to the church......................then where are they to go

Where can they go? Somebody tell me

.[/b]

[preachaman16]

I believe the church should help anyone in need, not just the members. My old church refused to help anyone that wasnt a member, if they decided to help a member it had to go to the Deacons, then to COnference to get approval and then only a small amount was given.

I realize there should be guidleines as to helping people, when they are continously come for the church to bail them out, I agree with Vt's chruch, teach them budgeting and financial responsiblity. Its the lack of teaching financial responsibility that gets church/non church folk in trouble.

We normally will take up an offering when there is a request for a need, the individual asking (remains annon) recieves the total offering in the form of a check, I have yet to see the offering under $500.00 dollars, and we also are a small congregation. (100)

If an individual cant come to the church......................then where are they to go

I believe  that if someone comes from the outside they can get help BUT i believe they should b taught the basic fundamentals of giving and recieving (i.e. tithing) so they will be able to go on there own. No sense in helping a unbeliever without at least attempting to bring them into the kingdom and give them kingdom principles..

[lumbebear1]

I believe  that if someone comes from the outside they can get help BUT i believe they should b taught the basic fundamentals of giving and recieving (i.e. tithing) so they will be able to go on there own. No sense in helping a unbeliever without at least attempting to bring them into the kingdom and give them kingdom principles..

How are we to teach them Kingdom principles (tithing) if we cant shoe enough love to help them when they are in need.

Love is the basic principle...............if we fail to show that as a church, we can forget about bringing them into the kingdom much less teaching them about tithing

[Val215]

How are we to teach them Kingdom principles (tithing) if we cant shoe enough love to help them when they are in need.

Love is the basic principle...............if we fail to show that as a church, we can forget about bringing them into the kingdom much less teaching them about tithing

You're right Bear. We generally help anybody who comes to us member/non-member. Believer/non-believer. The only stipulation we have on the membership is for the college scholarship fund.

[B_XALTED]

I will apply this directly to a situation that i was in a few years back.

About four years ago, when I lived in California, I had lost my job of two years over not showing up for work to be baptized. I had asked my manager, whom raved on being an associate minister in his church, if I could have that day off, and he told me NO... But I went to church and got baptized anyway. I figured that God blessed me with the job, and He would be satisfied with me calling in sick in wanting to be baptized rather than calling in from a hangover....

Anyway, I went to my church, and the church did not help me. I had people telling me that I needed to go on unemployment, people telling me that KFC was hiring, people saying, oh, I will pray for you... I couldn't believe it. Especially since the Sunday after I was baptized, I broke down in church something horrible, and the entire congregation was made aware of my situation.

Do I think the church should help, yes. But I do believe that there are some stipulations that should follow. No I was not living above my means, no I was not like the prodical son.. I was plain old Leslie, living a simple life, but I lost my job...

Carnally, I could have said, I lost my job because of the church, and now they have the nerve to NOT HELP ME?!?!?! But instead, since I saw that my church would not help, I prayed and went on with my life. I listened to people who told me, to work at KFC, but $7.50 an hour wasn't going to pay my $1500 a month rent. I went on unemployment, but, $780 a month still didn't cut it...

But four years later, I will tell you this... I didn't miss not one meal, my car got repossessed, but I got everywhere I needed to go, and then some, My lights stayed on, I didn't lose my apartment, I didn't lose my mind... Jesus provided for me. I even moved to Virginia, where I am doing better than ever. The question here is whether the church should help... what does that mean exactly??? What I was looking for was money, but instead, God gave me help from other people spiritually and mentally. It wasn't until I was at rock bottom when I did what I had to do to survive...I believe now that God put those people there in my path so He could speak to me through them... And when my hands were tied, I thought about their words, and realized that unemployment, the part time job and prayers got me through.

Stipulations.... Thats a $50 word for a $10 problem... I think that a person in need should be given the help he/she/ they need(s). If the church has the means to help it's MEMBERS, then why would they let a person live hungry and in the dark? in my church, my pastor will take up a collection in a minute for a person to get a bill taken care of. We are not the final judges, God is. So if it's a lie, or fake request, God will take care of that QUICK.

I know that we are to demonstrate stewardship, and take care of the things in the church, but if you know a persons habits, and they are living above their means, then they should be counseled. They need to be taught a FINANCIAL lesson, and make it known to that type of person that you can't stroll up in herr and ask for money everytime you need it. And for the person who is just having rough times, money isn't always the answer, as I just learned... I learned that a lot of people in the church either have a real good job, or know soeone who can help you get a job to help you out. That could be an answer to an issue as well...

Just my opinion...