By now a majority of churches have waded through annual meetings. Months of planning, budget meetings, and securing pledges often turns a Nov.-Dec. season of joy and thankfulness into a season of anxiety, strained relations, and sometimes concern over the church's future. The recent economic downturn these past years added to an already stressful time for church leaders. How strange that while celebrating outwardly the amazing things that God does in and through Christ's birth, we approach budgets and annual meetings nervous over what we can't do.

Thanksgiving and Christmas remind us of so many wondrous and practical ways God is God rejoicing with words of trust and commitment towards a God who promises and has proven to provide. Yet we sit in meetings discussing finances as if funding ministry depends on what we do. Have we forgotten, God does not need our financial support to continue His ministry, yet offers us the privilege of participation in what He is already and will continue doing?

The trusting in ALL THINGS Jesus calls disciples to "Put your trust in the light." I believe He is speaking of finances as well as budgeting processes. We are not called to be like an ostrich in the face of difficulty and ignore financial realities. Nor are we to be fiscal irresponsible, sitting idle, almost daring God to provide ministry funds that seem impossible. But if God owns it all and we are stewards, not owners, and if we believe God provides for His work that we also believe we are endeavoring to do, why so much nail biting over budgets and annual meetings? Does our budgeting and annual meeting process reveal a responsible trust that God will provide, or do we constantly struggle to balance a budget believing that if we cannot project adequate funds then cutting expenses is the only way to survive? In whom do we trust, God's ability or our committed wisdom?

God taught me some valuable lessons about trust in one church I served. Years of church conflict had left balancing a budget out of reach even through years of interim pastors. Leaders budgeted expenses but gave up requesting pledges or budgeting income. Through a variety of awesome experiences God moved our financial theme from a fatalistic "why try; we can't" budgeting deficit to a faith-filled "What is God calling us to do; He will enable us to do it" budgeting deficit - at least as the year began. Annual meetings became filled with anticipation, as we wondered how God balanced the previous year as a means of building trust for the coming year. After all, it was HIS budget! Over six years passing deficit budgets was difficult to swallow for one with business training and education, but confidence in God grew each year as the congregation's faithfulness was celebrated with year-end surprises of God's provision.  

Deacon Bob, a faithful Christian who could be classified as a "name-it-claim-it" believer would respond in meetings to those pushing for a realistic and balanced budget by saying, "Where's your faith? We merely need to pray and God will provide." Though not often easy or unanimous, that small church of 50 passed faith budgets of $30,000 after most were prayerfully convinced expenses were God's calling.

One year Bob's trust was tested upon being elected Treasurer. Average expenses of $6,000 (the 1970's) were barely met by month's end, God provided just enough. Heading into the end of September Bob asked, "Can we talk?" "I am not sure we will make it. Summer giving has been down as usual, and we enter the last week of September with over $5,000 unpaid bills. We seldom see weekly offering over $1,500! The very one who boasted, "Trust God's for His provision" at budget meetings was having a crisis of faith. "Even our reserves are gone," he added. Bob's tune had changed. Human limitations had become stronger than trust in the Provider when Bob had the responsibility.

We prayed for our worship, I reminded Bob of the trust God asked of us (despite being a little nervous myself since my paycheck was one of those expenses). God's surprise this time - a check for $5,500 arrived in the mail on Saturday. A former member who moved earlier in the year felt compelled to complete the year's pledge. God had provided just a little more than we needed. Bob, and all of us, learned again to trust God to use His resources to build faithful servants, and we rejoiced yet again.

Craig Groeschel recently wrote in The Christian Atheist: "We Christian Atheists (see his definition - it will challenge you as it did me) often give lip service to God, but in our everyday lives, we are tempted to trust, serve, and worship the very money on which (In God We Trust) is printed...When we learn to trust in God alone, He is the one who provides us with what matters and lasts."

How are you and your church approaching annual meetings, budgets, finances? Are you trusting God for His provision or fearful ministry needs are too large? Do you trust that God can and will provide for what He calls you to do in His name? Or do you continually try to fit/trim mission projects to fit funds on which seem likely? Are we limiting what God wants to do through us?

Cutting budgets may at times be in responsible measures and needed, but never if it is because we are not sure our Master is also our Provider. I am amazed at how many secular nonprofit agencies operate with more faith than churches. Barna polls have found non-Christians often out-give Christians. The Empty Tomb shows statistics that indicate Christians if fully tithing can eliminate hunger in the world.

A recent Christianity Today discussion topic asked, "Are American Evangelicals stingy with their giving?" Christian Smith provides his insight, "Evangelicals are among the most financially generous Americans, but are still not as generous as their churches teach or as they can be given their resources." Besides, have we forgotten, God doesn't need our resources, our giving, or even us to accomplish his mission. What a privilege to see how He provides! We are even seeing it as we move through the process of Sharing His Vision, for he is doing More Than We Can Imagine.  

To God be the glory!

Loring Carpenter

Book mentioned above: "The Christian Atheist: Believing in God but Living as If He Doesn't Exist"

          Craig Groeschel, Zondervan, 2010.