| Does your church need an additional pastor, but you | | | | returns in the stock market. |
| can't afford to hire one--what can you do? | | | | 4. They appreciated the Internet as an outstanding tool |
| Perhaps, like others, your church is experiencing | | | | for communication and networking. |
| financial difficulties because of the economic downturn. | | | | Behold, an idea was born. They decided to... |
| I know of one such church. They were an active | | | | - Invest endowment funds in a new condominium and |
| congregation serving the needs of the elderly with a | | | | diversify their endowment's portfolio |
| respite program and the needs of the young with a | | | | - Invite pastors to serve for a month at a time, on a |
| preschool. They were a small congregation (average | | | | limited part-time basis, in exchange for "free housing" in |
| worship attendance of 125). This church, located in | | | | a resort-like setting |
| Florida, was serving a community where people had | | | | - Contact retired pastors looking for an affordable |
| lost their jobs, homes were being foreclosed, and | | | | vacation destination and active pastors looking for an |
| fewer "snow birds" were flocking to Florida for winter. | | | | affordable sabbatical opportunity |
| They were feeling the financial "pinch." | | | | - Limit their monthly expenses to a bare |
| This church had increasing needs and opportunities for | | | | minimum--utilities, association fees, maintenance and |
| ministry, but seemingly shrinking financial resources. | | | | insurance (less than the cost of a part-time secretary) |
| I say, "seemingly shrinking financial resources," for a | | | | - Use the Internet to tell others about this exciting |
| reason. As people of faith, they decided to ask, "What | | | | opportunity |
| resources and opportunities has God placed within our | | | | So often, creative ideas emerge from problem-solving |
| reach?" | | | | approaches that begin by taking an inventory of |
| They identified four such "opportunities": | | | | available resources, rather than lamenting obvious |
| | | | shortages or limitations. |
| 1. They were located in Florida. | | | | Remember the old adage: "It's better to light a candle |
| 2. Severely depressed real estate values made | | | | than to curse the darkness." Stay excited about your |
| desirable residential property affordable. | | | | mission and your vision and you will stir up excitement |
| 3. They were in the process of moving around money | | | | and energy for ministry--even when the financial |
| in their endowment fund because of poor investment | | | | climate takes a turn for the worse. |