It is no surprise that God calls His people to steward their resources faithfully. 1 Corinthians 4:2 states, “Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found trustworthy.” The Church is no exception here; in fact, a church’s financial behavior should serve as a positive example to the community.
Taking on a church-wide loan can be a daunting experience, especially if it is the first time for your church. As your congregation grows, however, it may be a necessary step in maintaining building capacity and further reaching the community. Here are a few helpful tips to consider.
When paired with healthy budgeting practices and a humble leadership team, church loans can be extremely helpful in facilitating necessary expansions or improvements to church buildings. However, it is important for church leaders to be aware of these various dynamics in institutional lending before taking on a church loan.
In the early church, the message of Christ was delivered primarily through face-to-face communication from Christians to unbelievers. Paul the Apostle, who was responsible for the growth and spiritual maturity of the early church, provided wisdom, insight and encouragement through personal visits and letters. Thankfully, many of Paul’s letters were preserved for us in the Bible. Today we call such person-to-person communication “grassroots efforts.”
Habitat for Humanity (known as “Habitat”) is a well known, international, non-profit Christian ministry that provides quality, affordable housing to the less fortunate. Everyone who receives a home from Habitat is expected to make a down payment and monthly payments to help cover costs. On their website, Habitat describes their ministry as one that uses the “theology of a hammer” and the “economics of Jesus”.