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Essentials 1. Calling 2. Commitment 3. Holy Spirit 4. Faithfulness 5. Genuine Love 6. Healthy Communication Regarding Budgeting 1. Emphasize the Holy Spirit's leadership in giving 2. Do not get into debt 3. In our case, I have always been a bivocational pastor receiving 1/3 of the offerings as my housing allowance. That way when offerings are up I receive an amount consistent with my house payment. When they are down, it does not drain the church budget. My wife has a consistent income as a teacher and I supplement my income with my work as a house painter. This has worked for 30 plus years and the church is debt free. We also built a 3200 sf building on a cash basis with a middle to lower income congregation. 4. Emphasize Missions. When a congregation sees what those in the mission field have (don't have) they are more willing to sacrifice some of the frills or nicer things they may desire. 5. Trust in the Lord to show the way when the way seems impossible. Only leave the church if there is confirmation from the Holy Spirit and not just because of outward circumstances or contrary people. Just a few gleanings from 30+ years as pastor of a small church planted when we graduated seminary in '79.

By Rick Hoelzer on February 24th, 2011

I believe this should be added as sin #4. 4. Lack of prayer (particularly corporate prayer)

By Bob Kilpatrick on February 9th, 2011

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