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NEWSLETTER Wednesday Edition June 22, 2011
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Religious Communities: Selfish or Reaching Out?
Greetings!
How has the current financial crisis affected the benevolence of congregations and faith-based institutions? We will share some insights coming from recent research available to us from the Center of Philanthropy at Indiana University, some of which may be totally surprising to you.
Our God is the owner of every resource there is on this earth! Lest we forget, He also promises to be our Provider for all our needs. Despite all the difficulties and obstacles we encounter, we can look back and, more importantly, look forward, assured that God is good all the time!
The Church Staff
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WHAT RESEARCH TELLS US
Historically, the impact of the economy on charitable giving "might not be as dire as popular opinion might indicate." There have been twelve periods of recession (defined as two successive quarters with a decline in gross domestic product (GDP) and seven :slowdown years" (defined as slower than average growth in both personal income and GDP) since 1967. The research indicated that recessions have little effect on religious giving, and that religious organizations remain the number one recipient of all household dollars given to charity. Over 50% of all household charitable giving goes to faith-based organizations.
The decline in giving during times of recession, when adjusted for inflation, has been -0.1% compared to an average growth in non-recession years of 2.8%. No decline in giving was noted for any year that was not a recession year. In the four recessions that lasted 8 months or longer religious giving fell by 1.4% when adjusted for inflation.
It does seem to show that a slow down in the economy only minimally affects the way people give to their religious organizations.
Of note is that congregations with large constituencies of retired or unemployed people are likely to be more seriously affected by the uncertain economic climate.
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GOD'S PROSPERITY PLAN
Review your Gospel Life pamphlet distributed during the Family Finance Seminar that Pastor John conducted in March, entitled "Christian Principles of Resource Management and Investment." Further biblical proof on "God's Prosperity Plan for Christians" is detailed in this pamphlet. It is a helpful guide and resource as we plan our giving to maintain and sustain our church's programs and projects.
Do we dare to get discouraged? How soon do we forget all the miracles we've seen in our journey to Miracle Hill? We need to hold on to God's promise and to believe that "he will show them the path they should choose. They will live in prosperity, and their children will inherit the Promised Land. (Psalm 25: 12-13 NLT)
The research showed that for a majority of members, giving to their church remains the top priority in all charitable giving. And we say "thank you" to all our donors.
We know that no one is exempt from experiencing tough times. Rather than tell you that we must "meet the budget" we'd rather "share the vision" that emphasizes the needs that are met by your giving rather than the need to raise the funds.
The kind of mission stories that we recently heard from the Philippines tells the difference that each one of you makes in meeting the needs of hurting people.
When we give, we want our focus to be to address human needs, be they material, physical or spiritual. This is not the time for religious communities to be selfish and self-centered. This is a time to reach out and address the hurting and needy in our community, both here and abroad. |
 EARTHQUAKE AND EMERGENCY KITS
The Emergency and Earthquake Kits that you ordered a couple of weeks ago have been delivered. We will get them ready so you can take what you ordered. There were a lot of variations in what was ordered, so we have to be careful that your order doesn't get mixed up with someone else's.
Next Sunday will be a good time to get them.
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CHRIST-CENTERED LIFESTYLE
The fourth component of a Christ-centered lifestyle is Sharing the Good News (Mark 16: 15-18) by sharing my faith story with others, developing skills in sharing the gospel with others on a one-to-one basis, praying for and cultivating relationships with unchurched friends and family members, and performing miracles to foster the opportunity to discuss the source of their power.
(Reprinted from Gospel Life Pamphlet "Strategy for Kingdom Culture Formation".)
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DEVOTIONGiving Him the Key
Revelation 3:20 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with Me. A friend of mine tells the story of an encounter he had with a very important government official - the head of state for a country. In the course of some meetings with my friend, the official came up to him and said, "I perceive that there is a difference between you and me. Is it because I come from a different denomination?" My friend began to explain why there was a difference. "If you were to come to my home, I would invite you in as an honored guest. As my guest, you would enjoy everything I had in my home. However, you would still be a guest. You would not have the keys to the home, and your authority in that home would be merely as a guest. However, if I said to you that I am turning over my home to you and you now have the keys to my home, I would be your servant." My friend continued, "This is the difference between you and me. You have merely invited Jesus into your home as a guest. I have given Jesus the keys to my home [heart] and I am his servant." "How can I do this too?" the man replied. "All you have to do is invite Him in as the new owner." The man did this and is now allowing Jesus to rule and reign in every detail of his life. So often many of us enter a relationship with God that brings us salvation. This is the gospel of salvation. But what God really desires for us is to experience the gospel of the Kingdom. He wants us to experience His power and presence every day of our lives and to see His hand at work in us. This only happens when we give Him the key to our life; He must be more than an honored guest. Where are you today? Has your life with God been more like an honored-guest relationship, or does He have the key to your life? (Today God Is First (TGIF) devotional message, Copyright by Os Hillman, Marketplace Ministries)
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CHURCH GREETERS' SCHEDULE
June 26 - Lelit & Tony Luciano
July 3 - Ruby & Ding Dijamco
July 10 - Linda & Danny Santos
July 17 - Vonnie & Tito Cabrera
July 24 - Penny & Conrad Miranda
July 31 - Eunice Alinsod
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COMING UP
Wednesday, June 22, 7:30 p.m. - Intercessors' Meeting - Fellowship Hall
Thursday, Friday, June 24, 25 : 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. - The Lion's Den School
Friday, June 25: Youth Activity - Beach Ministry - Contact Pastor LJ Dijamco
(No LOL this Friday)
Saturday, June 26: 9:00 a.m.- 12 noon - The Lion's Den School
Sunday, June 27, 10:00 a.m. - Praise & Worship
11:00 a.m. - The Good News Hour - Pastor John Tulio, "Kingdom Resources"
Sunday, June 27 - Pick Up Your Earthquake/Emergency Kits
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MEDITATION
"Dear God, I worship you and lift up my praise to you, my Creator and Sustainer. Thank you for showing me and loosing me from the things that bind me on things of this earth. Keep my eyes open that I may always be mindful of what could hold me in bondage.
"Give me strength to resist the things I should. Make me steer clear of hazards and let me draw strength from the Holy Spirit who lives within me. You have broken me free from bondage so allow me to experience total freedom in you.
"Thank you, my gracious God. In the name of my Savior I pray. Amen."
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