We talk about a year-long commitment where they gathered four times for close to a week. It was a time to pour into others and have others pour into them in a small group setting. The first gathering was particularly anointed and blessed, creating a comfortable space for vulnerability. The friendship and bond of brotherhood that developed among the group members still remains to this day.
Balancing Church Finances: Investing Talents vs. Cautious Spending
We talk about the balance needed in church finances. There was a time when the church had met its savings goals, but the leadership was still hesitant to spend money. The parable of the talents reminds us that those found faithful invested their resources, while the one who was afraid to spend anything went to hell. We need to strike a balance between being faithful with what we have, being smart and setting aside savings, and not being afraid to invest the talents entrusted to us. Overly cautious spending can be detrimental.
Maintaining Financial Reserves for Stability and Growth
We discuss the importance of having 25-50% of yearly operating costs as a reserve for churches, especially as they grow. This ensures transparency, stability, and the ability to make sound decisions without being forced into poor choices due to emergencies or lack of capital.
Encouraging Giving as Part of Worship
We talk about the different ways people can give to the local church, and how giving is an extension of our worship. This is mentioned during the weekly announcements, and sometimes discussed further when relevant to the sermon passage. In addition, the church holds quarterly town hall meetings where the pastor can be candid with the congregation.
Navigating the Sensitive Topic of Money in the Church
Balancing Financial Transparency and Communication in a New Church Plant
We discuss the importance of financial transparency in a new church plant. Sharing details about how donations are used to further the gospel can build trust with donors and encourage them to give more. The speaker suggests providing financial reports from the very beginning to communicate the church’s operational needs. Nick notes that while some churches may overdo communication about money, it is an area where many could improve their approach.
Balancing Faith and Financial Responsibility
We talk about the importance of living by faith, but also the need for proactive, daily obedience and a healthy relationship with financial management, whether personal finance or otherwise.
We discuss the challenges of pastors being able to fulfill all the needs of church members. We explain that the expectation needs to be set that pastors cannot be everything to everyone, and that church members should look to the broader church community to have their needs met.
We discuss the importance of having someone, such as an assistant pastor or servant elder, to handle the day-to-day operations and issues that arise in the children’s ministry, nursery, and coffee team on Sundays. This allows the pastor to focus on their primary responsibilities, such as preparing the message and speaking to those God has placed on their heart.
We talk about the importance of finding someone who is secure in their own calling and is willing to support and raise up others in the church. The lead pastor and the assistant pastor both have distinct roles, but they work together to serve the congregation. Josiah feels valued and not threatened by Brian’s position, and the congregation sees Josiah as a relatable pastor for certain matters.
We talk about the challenges of starting a new church, the uncertainty of whether people will show up, and the excitement when the first few cars arrive on that first Sunday. Josiah shares his ongoing sense of anticipation and wonder every Sunday, knowing that many pastors worry if anyone will come to their services.
In this video, we discuss the roles of an assistant pastor. Josiah talks about how he stepped into this position in two churches in Germany, where his responsibilities included more teaching, supporting the lead pastor in their calling, and taking on church administrative tasks to relieve some of the stress on the senior pastor. This allowed the lead pastor to focus on their teaching and the work God had called them to do.
