407 - Raising of Funds

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Rejected

Comments

[Curtis Turner]

If our youth were to rely on storehouse giving for support, it is doubtful that many of them would be able to participate in such things as VISA trips, IYC, etc. Therefore, we use baked potatoe luncheons, car washes, etc., to raise money for these youth activities and the entire youth enterprise. We must be aware of the fact that we are building in them a memory for their future association with the denomination not simply funding a special trip or two. These activities are not overly priced nor are they commercial in nature so every one who can afford to go to McDonalds can afford a potatoe dinner. It is also a way to draw the church together in support by getting acquainted with the youth on a more personal basis and encouraging them.

[Ron]

Our Church uses bbq's to establish contact with a community that has been colored by a previous split at the church.

The minor profits realized from these very inexpensive bbq's (in some cases free), fund utility costs which have skyrocketed in recent years. Any modest surplus above that, funds other outreach activities, and have been an incredibly successful tool in reaching and introducing us to the community. We have no other funding available for outreach ministries...

In conjunction with this - we have also created a bbq sauce and had it professionally produced. Our community is known for its apple production, and we have been intentional about including this component in the sauce, providing us a local community tie in and secular identifier. It is offered for a suggested donation and it is also distributed (free) to others as a ministry outreach / introduction tool

If we are going to call this type of activity into question, we must also address "in church" coffee shops and book stores, both of which allow churched and non churched the opportunity to interface in a non threatening environment.

In a larger sense, if our call is to seek the poor, lost and downtrodden - many of whom are unemployed, our ability to properly fund our outreach activities is hamstrung - even if they were tithing at 10%.

Give us the opportunity to augment our modest budgets, making it clear that this hospitality ministry is not a substitute or excuse for tithing

Psalm 34:8
O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.

[Rev. Fred N. Singer]

We are ardent tithers havebeen for years. We do ot object to the sometime car wash or silent auction or the like to help in a project not in our church budget to benefit the youth orother worthy projects. We are told where toput our tithes the other 90% should be left up to our own good christian judgement.God help us we have enough dictates as it is,