Thank God for Church Finances

Yesterday my wife and I spent the day working on church finances. Not my favorite part of the job. Sorting through receipts, reconciling bank statements, organizing contribution records, and creating budgets… it can all be a bit stressful for me. This is partially due to my complete lack of analytical thinking ability. But, if I’m honest with myself, it is also because sitting down and crunching the numbers is a strenuous exercise in faith.

Don’t get me wrong, starting a church from scratch requires a lot of faith, but I think that a part of me wanted to believe that once we got started the finances would just be there. I wouldn’t have to worry about it anymore. I wouldn’t need so much faith.

But just as I felt a massive headache coming on Jessica handed me a list of all the people, churches and organizations that have partnered with us over the past year to help launch The Gateway Church.

Sometimes looking in the rear-view mirror is the best way to propel your faith into the future. Even in the midst of uncertainty and fear, it is better to stop and thank God for his enduring faithfulness before inundating him with prayer requests for the future.

So I wanted to take a minute and thank a few people publicly.

• GOD - I am more aware then ever that this is your mission, this is your dream, and you’ve simply asked us to go along for the ride. Thank you so much for the invitation!

• My Wife - The only person who works harder than a church-planter is the spouse of a church-planter. Thank you for opening up our home for 5 months of launch team meetings, making everything run so smoothly behind-the-scenes, raising three amazing kids, and most of all putting up with me! You are the simply the best. 

• Dave Beroth and the people of Des Moines First Assembly - Thank you for your incredible vision and generosity. We wouldn’t be here without you!

• Tom Jacobs and the Iowa Ministry Network - Thank you for encouraging, inspiring and resourcing the local church.

• Steve Pike and the Church Multiplication Network - I love your vision to multiply churches across the nation. We are honored to be a part of this network!

• Rod Carlson and the people of Oak Hills Church - The Gateway has OHC in its DNA. Thank you for investing in a kid right out of Bible College and giving him the chance to grow, even when it meant leaving the nest.

• Mark Batterson - Its hard to describe the influence you have had on my life through your books and blog and I am so incredibly thankful for your support.

• Tory Farina and the people of High Point Church - for being a church-plant that invests in church-planters.

• John Caswell, Dick Hardy, Justin Mack, Jeff Wendt, Steve Goold, Eric Sheldahl, Gary Meyer, Dave Russell, Jeff Ostrander, Dave Kutcher, Mark Mather, Dan Moeckl, Ed Ashby and all of my friends and family for your prayers and support.

• To all of the pastors and churches in Iowa and Minnesota who contributed - Josh Singleton, Josh Potter, Todd Jones, Russell Kinney, Mark Olson, Eldon Assembly of God… thank you!

• To all my blogging friends: Ben Arment, Scott Hodge, Brad Leach, Chilly Chilton, Jeff Leake, Justin Wise, Steven Brewster  - You have all been such an inspiration to me. Thank you for all of your encouragement and support!

• Our Family - we are SO blessed to have both my parents and Jessica’s parents in our church. We could not have done this without you!

• Our Staff - to the Kretzu’s for moving half-way across the country to take such a huge step of faith with us and to Chelsea for helping to make The Gateway Kids a reality. We are so glad to be on this journey with you!

• The Launch Team - I can’t imagine a better group of people in the world to start a church with. Thanks for your flexibility, your faith, and your incredible passion to reach this city.

Finally I’d like to thank all of the readers of this blog. Thanks for taking this journey with me, for praying for me, and for all your comments, emails and letters of encouragement. I am so grateful.

Comments

[@B_rewster]

Paul,

So kind. Thanks man. It is fun to cheer for people who are so clearly following Gods plan. Can not wait to see what happens next!

[Chilly]

Man, I love what you're doing and more importantly, WHO you are! You're journey, thus far, has been a joy to follow and honor to invest in...

Press on!

[Casey Graham]

hey bro! Congrats on working with the finances. That is what we LOVE doing. Would love to chat soon? @caseygraham or cgraham@thechangegroup.tv Hope all is well...