Toolbox For Faith

Over the last few days, I was participating in a continuing education event and someone asked about their “budget/spending plan”. Dr. Callahan suggested that instead of using either phrase that we instead talk about our ministry investments. It’s not a budget. It’s not spending on ministry. It is a financial investment in the ministry God is calling us to do. This way of describing our finances appealed to me and so for 2011, I am going to suggest that we propose to the congregation our “Investments in Ministry” instead of a “Spending Plan for Ministry.” Given the structure of our finances, the investment document will probably contain these categories.

Investments in Ministry

• Investments in Core Ministries
• Investment in Facilities Expansion
• Investments in Preventative Maintenance and On-going Restoration
• Investments in Ministry Partnerships

I need to determine the specifics of how all our our ministries will fit under these categories, but I hope this will be an effective way to discuss our stewardship of God’s gifts to us.