I am writing about this because I sense that there are several adjustments taking place. I believe in full time Christian ministry being financed by partners and businesses. I have worked with and have worked as one so vocationally mandated as such.
This is a controversial issue particularly now considering the power of the Internet and the reach across international boundaries.
There is no cut and dried solution concerning the financing of ministry. However there is real ignorance about some absolutes and ethics regarding this area.
The first pillar that needs to be established is that God must be our source. It is easy and we have all grown away from crisis to crisis management where we cannot pay bills and keep fulfilling our call in any given ministry. There are still those who still live this way and I have also been there. I have grown to believe that God uses lack to take us on a journey where we will trust Him only. Therefore, if we hit a lack, our “brook” dries up, our first thing to do is stop and ask God if His direction for us has changed.
We can insist on a particular form of financing when God may take us either geographically or methodically away from where we have been.
God puts relationships in our midst and can enable a mutual help group to share financial burdens within an agreed mode.
There also needs to be a shift between what we regard as being ministry. Traditionally and erroneously we regard ministry as being Church based and preaching, teaching etc. I think God can enable a business idea to be a form of ministry. We must be flexible in a time of transition.
In this site we do invite people to partner with us, but also I see finance and support as being a covenant. As such we have a Store where books are available to buy, because in a covenant there must be an exchange of some kind. I do not charge from teaching the Word but I have to trust God to touch people to recognise the work that goes into the depth of the series I do here. This does not mean I am here now asking for partnerships or donations, I have to trust God to bless in that.
Where finance is given without covenant then I am not sure if the full blessing is being experienced in that context.
The readership of this site is of tremendous blessing.
So there are evil forces at work to destroy giving and givers. To destroy righteous and Kingdom financing. And false prophets and teachers are being used to stop this free flow.
Therefore, this site offers for free the series. My time is given TO God. There are times when I get so many requests for funds.
I go to God with these requests but many times if He does not respond, or funds are not available then I cannot send. One thing I look for is covenant and relationship.
I am not saying I have arrived. Even though right now there is worldwide financial instability, frauds, scams, all manner of malignant situations at work that it makes it imperative to ask God for community and relationships.
These will bring a collective hearing of God and a flow of provision between all. If we find we are isolated and being impoverished maybe we need to look at relocation and seeking out relationship.
Times are difficult so we need to keep clear our principles and pray for the flow of God’s provision for His people.
I write not to offend but clarify.
Maranatha!
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