Whatever happened to walking by faith in ministry? Is something wrong
with the models of faith ministry in Christian history such as George Muller
who raised an orphanage by faith without soliciting funds yet they never
lacked? Are those methods outdated, impracticable in 21st century
Christianity with an explosion of ministries crying out for funds, or have we
lost faith in God and baptised our lack of faith “aggressive fundraising”? Does
God still direct ministers to Zarephath women He has spoken to before time to
cater for welfare? Then this message
came to him from the LORD: "Get up, move to Zarephath in Sidon, and stay
there. Look! I've commanded a widow to sustain you there." 1Kg 17:8, 9(ISV). Or does God expect you to
scatter your needs on several soils praying they land on good soil and grow? I thought it is supposed to be seed i.e. the
word of God: The seed is God's
word Lk 8:11(ISV). Perhaps you will remind me that God spoke to
Moses to ask an offering from His people for the tabernacle. The LORD said to Moses, "Tell the Israelites to
make an offering to me. Receive whatever offerings anyone wishes to give Ex 25:1, 2(GNB).Is that what we do? How can we
explain ten to twelve offerings in a single service?
From a congregation (name withheld) comes this story as told by the
former caretaker: “I was there when the minister in charge, curate and guest
speaker were agreeing that the goal of this meeting was to raise money. The
word of God came alright, but the meeting had a shadow cast on her by the bid
to raise money. At the start of the fundraising the speaker requested all those
who would sow N100, 000 to stand. Thereafter he asked for fifty
thousand, and then twenty thousand. He then said he would stop at ten. Only he didn’t stop. On then until one
thousand; and then whoever had not given was urged to go ahead and bring
something. Thereafter the names of people who pledged were taken. Money was
raised. The way we raise money has given cause for offense. In fact one day
during a fundraising a woman cried out “Stop
deceiving us!” Ministers sometimes go to give Holy Communion to wealthy men
at home (and go back with money in their pockets) whilst sick people who need
communion are left out.
But I also know another speaker in the same church who did not do like
that. At the end of his message he asked people to decide what they would give,
and restrained those who wanted to write down their names. He said that was
what God laid on his heart in the hotel room. I testify we raised more money
this way.”
Even where less money is raised the second way, which of them better
represents the gospel standards? Or can we no longer say with Paul “I would rather die than have anyone deprive
me of my cause for boasting”? (1Cor9:15)
We do not put an obstacle in anyone's way. Otherwise,
fault may be found with our ministry. Instead, in every way we demonstrate that
we are God's servants by tremendous endurance in the midst of difficulties,
hardships, and calamities; 2Cor 6:3, 4(ISV)
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