Some opinions wanted

[Ferd]

Originally Posted by Neck

So go the parents so go the children.

Bro, as I pointed out that wasnt the experience at my church.

pastors thing things thru. sometimes those needing to do business dont think things thru.


and remember Rhoni said this pastor was worthy of his hire.

[Neck]

Originally Posted by Ferd

Bro, as I pointed out that wasnt the experience at my church.

pastors thing things thru. sometimes those needing to do business dont think things thru.


and remember Rhoni said this pastor was worthy of his hire.

I do not understand the idea of faith.

As many men preach it but then do not practice it.

The constant asking for money.

If they believed in the faith they ask you to have with giving in 4 offerings in one service.

They should exercise that faith that the saints will give what is needed.

Otherwise post the weekly budget on the screen.

Count up the attendance and find out how much each person should give.

Send me an email Saturday night with my amount needed to access the pew.

[A_PoMo]

Originally Posted by Sam

I was there representing the Vineyard Church. We were going to do a multi-church outreach the following weekend and I was there to explain how we were going to do it.

Sam, do you attend the Vineyard church? I'm moving to the Mason area next summer and my sis tells me there is a good Vineyard church in that area. Yours?

[A_PoMo]

I like the idea of having boxes in the back for members to give as part of their weekly worship. I don't like the taking of offerings every week. Occasional 'special' offerings are ok, as long as they're for worthy endeavors like missions or giving to the poor. I especially like the kind of offerings where people bring food and clothing and give it as an offering for the poor instead of just writing a check.

I also like the idea of having ALL the church finances on the internet for anybody to peruse, including the staff salaries and incidental income like health insurance, retirement etc... I think that for many churches this would eliminate the whole 'the preacher is getting rich off the poor saints' whiney refrain. In others it may lead to a revolt. In still others it may lead to the pastor and pastoral staff getting a raise in pay and benefits.

I also like the idea of having a reputable, independent firm auditing the church finances every year and post their findings on the internet. I've seen too much funny business go on w/church finances to trust pastors and their staff's w/total control over the money. Regular auditing would remove that temptation to abuse power.

I like the idea of the church board minutes being posted on the internet too. What do those guys talk about in those closed door meetings anyway?

I am starting a non-profit charitable org in the next few months and plan to do all the above.

[Sam]

Originally Posted by A_PoMo

Sam, do you attend the Vineyard church? I'm moving to the Mason area next summer and my sis tells me there is a good Vineyard church in that area. Yours?

I attended the Springdale Vineyard from November 1992 until the spring of 2006. While there I was on celebration prayer teams (prayed for folks after the service); I was on the prayer team for the Monday Night Growth and Healing (small groups and support groups that met on Monday and some times people wanted prayer afterward); I was on the Home and Hospital Visitation team from about 2000 until I resigned effective 1/1/2008 (but I still do calls as part of this team. Yesterday we prayed for about 15 different people while visiting an area nursing home); I was a POC (Pastor on Call) from 1998 until 2003. (I carried a beeper and was responsible to solve whatever problem came in for one 24 hour period per week and one 48 hour weekend per month); I also did outreach on Saturdays; And, I did some teaching in weekend seminars; I've also done a few funerals for them.

The Springdale Vineyard was the original one and was planted back in 1985. It is the largest one around here as far as I know. I think there are about 25 different Vineyards in this area now as a result of the Springdale Vineyard. Each local congregation is autonomous and unique. There is a Vineyard just south of Mason on Rte. 42. The only time I've been there was before they moved in the building. There were some folks doing outreach in the parking lot outside the building. They were giving away cold drinks (soft drinks and bottled water) and washing cars. As per Vineyard policy, this was all offered free "to show God's love in a practical manner." A couple of us went there and prayed for them then went through the empty building and prayed for the "church" which would meet there. I don't have any idea how large that congregation is now or how well they are doing. They have a web site at:
http://www.masonvineyard.org/index.htm

Each local Vineyard is different. And not everyone will care for the Vineyard. So, I would suggest that people visit around to local churches and see which one seems to "fit" them.

For years I made it no secret while attending the Vineyard that I would rather be part of something "smaller and more Pentecostal." A couple of years ago we started going to the Hamilton Dream Center in Hamilton, OH. There I do outreach on Saturdays and since May of this year I am teaching the midweek adult Bible Study. This is a small church in a bad part of town with very limited finances that emphasizes helping people. Not everyone would like it as a church.

[A_PoMo]

Originally Posted by Sam

I attended the Springdale Vineyard from November 1992 until the spring of 2006. While there I was on celebration prayer teams (prayed for folks after the service); I was on the prayer team for the Monday Night Growth and Healing (small groups and support groups that met on Monday and some times people wanted prayer afterward); I was on the Home and Hospital Visitation team from about 2000 until I resigned effective 1/1/2008 (but I still do calls as part of this team. Yesterday we prayed for about 15 different people while visiting an area nursing home); I was a POC (Pastor on Call) from 1998 until 2003. (I carried a beeper and was responsible to solve whatever problem came in for one 24 hour period per week and one 48 hour weekend per month); I also did outreach on Saturdays; And, I did some teaching in weekend seminars; I've also done a few funerals for them.

The Springdale Vineyard was the original one and was planted back in 1985. It is the largest one around here as far as I know. I think there are about 25 different Vineyards in this area now as a result of the Springdale Vineyard. Each local congregation is autonomous and unique. There is a Vineyard just south of Mason on Rte. 42. The only time I've been there was before they moved in the building. There were some folks doing outreach in the parking lot outside the building. They were giving away cold drinks (soft drinks and bottled water) and washing cars. As per Vineyard policy, this was all offered free "to show God's love in a practical manner." A couple of us went there and prayed for them then went through the empty building and prayed for the "church" which would meet there. I don't have any idea how large that congregation is now or how well they are doing. They have a web site at:
http://www.masonvineyard.org/index.htm

Each local Vineyard is different. And not everyone will care for the Vineyard. So, I would suggest that people visit around to local churches and see which one seems to "fit" them.

For years I made it no secret while attending the Vineyard that I would rather be part of something "smaller and more Pentecostal." A couple of years ago we started going to the Hamilton Dream Center in Hamilton, OH. There I do outreach on Saturdays and since May of this year I am teaching the midweek adult Bible Study. This is a small church in a bad part of town with very limited finances that emphasizes helping people. Not everyone would like it as a church.

I'll haveto ask my sis which one she's talking about. She said it was 'big' and 'happening' but I don't remember the location.

I'm def going to look around awhile when I get there. My sis and her husband pastor a church in the area, but I'll prob not attend there regularly. I'll visit though.

[Ferd]

Originally Posted by Neck

I do not understand the idea of faith.

As many men preach it but then do not practice it.

The constant asking for money.

If they believed in the faith they ask you to have with giving in 4 offerings in one service.

They should exercise that faith that the saints will give what is needed.

Otherwise post the weekly budget on the screen.

Count up the attendance and find out how much each person should give.

Send me an email Saturday night with my amount needed to access the pew.

thats fine. if we are talking about theory then there you have it but we are talking about this one church on this one sunday when this one pastor was not at church.

all i am saying is before we string a guy up, at least wait till he is in the building and makes a "mistake".

[Hoovie]

I am not into much nonsense either, but I would probably just let it roll off my back. There is a technique to this . It pays to have tough skin and broad shoulders.

If I went to a church that took up four offerings, I would simply bypass the system and give directly to God (via widows, orphans and others worthy causes)

[2020Vision]

Originally Posted by freeatlast

I walked out of a pennycostul church once over thirty years ago...it was an absolute zoo fof idiots.

Today I am more careful of what church I walk into

As for offerings. We at my church DO NOT take up offering or evne mention it.

Our Congrgation knows that the wooden boxes attached to the back walls on either side of the doors are where the offering goes.

We only pass the plate on the first Sunday of the month for our misionary pledges and that with instruction to our guests that they feel no obligation to give.


You all want to be APOSTOLIC ????? Please then , find where they ever passed offering plates in every gathering

While I think the church was clearly overboard and tasteless, I can't help but feel some have a very sensitive attitude when it comes to money and the church. When we close our hands, He closes his hands. I want to have a giving heart.

Offering plates have never offended me. The Apostolic Church in the First Century gave "all that they had" and "laid it at the Apostle's feet". If we want to be literal about, there you go. Otherwise, the countless scriptures on money and giving should suffice for our current traditions.

[tv1a]

$50,000 is a lot of hush money.

Another reason I would never take a new convert to a campmeeting.

Originally Posted by jaamez

I would have walked out.

I walked out of a camp meeting service at the UPC Buckeye Lake campground a couple years ago (2006, I think). I was really looking forward to hearing some good preaching. Unfortunately, what I got after the choir was about 20 minutes (before I left) of hard-core, shake-down offering. The extortioner got up and said that no one is to leave while "we take up the offering." He then proceeded to say that he wasn't finished until they had $50,000 to pay for some nonsense that I can't recall. He had people stand up who would donate $5,000, then worked his way down from there. One man stood up and offered $250 and was told that he was looking for more right now. "We'll get to your (paltry) gift level later." Not wanting to make a spectacle of myself, I sat there for around 20 minutes. When the man giving $250 was rebuked for interrupting when he was looking for more, I had enough. I stood up, looked at my wife and family, told them we're leaving and walked out. I've never been back and will never go back. It was appalling. Their "thugs" at the doors reminded us that the extortioner said no one was to leave. I advised him that he was to watch us and that he should not try to stop us.