The Trouble With Patience

[Nahum]

Originally Posted by Truly Blessed

One thing I mentioned in my message this morning and which I feel must be done without delay is that pastors must reclaim their pulpits for God. They must hear from God and preach the Word without fear or favor instead of what they think the congregation wants to hear.

Sounds good!

The problem is that it has become very hard to build a church that way. We pastors are forced to tiptoe through the tulips so as not to offend anyone. The church has become the most pc place in America.

That's why people say if you're ultra-conservative your church won't be large. People don't want to give up any personal liberties. I personally don't believe being conservative will kill church growth. I just think it adds all sorts of issues mainline denominations don't deal with.

Some choose social acceptance and larger crowds over pulpit freedom. I guess they feel the need to protect their pocketbooks?!

[Nahum]

1. I would like to see us effect real reform within our missions structure.

With the modernization of the world, our missions focus needs to be consolidated and streamlined. Home Missions and Foriegn Missions should become "World Missions".

Combine the resources and budget for each area. Let home missionaries raise
funds just like foreign missionaries do. This alone would increase our success rate stateside dramatically.

[Ferd]

Originally Posted by Pastor Poster

1. I would like to see us effect real reform within our missions structure.

With the modernization of the world, our missions focus needs to be consolidated and streamlined. Home Missions and Foriegn Missions should become "World Missions".

Combine the resources and budget for each area. Let home missionaries raise
funds just like foreign missionaries do. This alone would increase our success rate stateside dramatically.

I hate the way we have missionaries raise money. They have to run around begging for money, then they get on the missions field, and about the time they really get things established, we make them come back statside to do it all over again. I dont know what would be better but there has to be a better way.

[Ferd]

I would like to see the UPCI change some things about its structure. It was formed as a minsterial fellowship. we are becoming more and more a stratified denomination.

I for one would like to see the UPCI move back to its roots to some degree. The individual church should be tops and the UPCI more a fellowship of ministers with a lot less hand wringing about what the guy across the continent is doing.

[Nahum]

Originally Posted by Ferd

I would like to see the UPCI change some things about its structure. It was formed as a minsterial fellowship. we are becoming more and more a stratified denomination.

I for one would like to see the UPCI move back to its roots to some degree. The individual church should be tops and the UPCI more a fellowship of ministers with a lot less hand wringing about what the guy across the continent is doing.

I totally agree. I have heard often that the UPC is just a fellowship of ministers. Try telling that to any of the nationally elected officials.

They view the organization as all-encompassing: churches, pastors, evangelists - the whole enchilada.

[rrford]

Originally Posted by Pastor Poster

1. I would like to see us effect real reform within our missions structure.

With the modernization of the world, our missions focus needs to be consolidated and streamlined. Home Missions and Foriegn Missions should become "World Missions".

Combine the resources and budget for each area. Let home missionaries raise
funds just like foreign missionaries do. This alone would increase our success rate stateside dramatically.

On a District level, in some Districts, the Home Missionary can solicit funds. But I have always advocated a PIM approach for Home Missionaries.

[Nahum]

Originally Posted by Ferd

I hate the way we have missionaries raise money. They have to run around begging for money, then they get on the missions field, and about the time they really get things established, we make them come back statside to do it all over again. I dont know what would be better but there has to be a better way.

I agree that our present process for fund-raising isn't the greatest, but what to do? If people aren't burdened enough to give without all of the running around, presentation of a burden becomes necessary.

I have a friend (missionary to Mexico) whose kids hate the running around part. It embarasses them. They would hate to hear it called begging.

[Nahum]

Originally Posted by rrford

On a District level, in some Districts, the Home Missionary can solicit funds. But I have always advocated a PIM approach for Home Missionaries.

Metro-missionaries only?

[Ferd]

I think we should rethink the whole thing. I dont like PIM at all. I think we need to move toward setting up endowments that generate money.

I know this would be massive and I dont think there is a chance in the world of it happening but thats my 2 cents worth.

[Ferd]

Originally Posted by Pastor Poster

I agree that our present process for fund-raising isn't the greatest, but what to do? If people aren't burdened enough to give without all of the running around, presentation of a burden becomes necessary.

I have a friend (missionary to Mexico) whose kids hate the running around part. It embarasses them. They would hate to hear it called begging.

Well, endowment is my prefered method. second would be to have missionary evangelists working for the ORG that is full time traveling rasing money for Missions dept.

Then set up budgets for each country, let the budget for that country be the rule, then place missionaries where they are fit the budget/fill the need.

this is SUPER simplistic, but it is far better than the current methodology.