Our Weekly "The Church: Surviving the Recession" - Commentary

Our Weekly "The Church: Surviving the Recession"

WALTER'S INTERVIEW DETAIL FOR ("What I said, verbatim..")

"The Church" in general tends to be the "first responders" when it comes to crises in society, normally right in step with municipal services when it concerns emergency or disaster relief efforts. 

The current economic climate worsens things for the black church, only because "the growing needs and dwindling resources" have multiple affects and impacts in cyclic waves, upon all disadvantaged and poor economic (urban) community environments.

- Politically (shifting budgetary focuses and regulatory changes diminishes the voice of the poor - politicians tend to follow the $).

- Socially (greater burdens of responsibility and outreach efforts by faith-based institutions occurring during the "tough times", leads to greater tension between those opposed to religion in the public square).

- Economically (churches have 99% of their budgets solely based upon the free will giving of its members. Any financial burdens of its parishioners directly impacts the church. Amongst black churches, the disproportionate unemployment rate has an even greater burden.)

- Spiritually (though churches should not be totally dependent upon the world system and its mode of operating as its only source of provision) theological differences on prosperity doctrines, and "stewardship", from the standpoint of the Kingdom of God - or God's Economy, must be priority in the thinking of black church leaders.

Our Mandate:

#1. The Great Commission - GO! - Because many churches no longer walk in authority or have dominion (righteous influence and reach) into the heart of our communities through strategic prayer and evangelistic outreach, Satan is able to maintain a dominating influence in the hearts of the masses. The next "great revival won't be in our church-buildings, but in our families, homes and surrounding communities that sing the praises of the impact and influence of the "engaged church" (which is real, relevant and relational) upon their lives; whether their active "church goers" or not. 

#2.  The Great Commandment - LOVE! - The "one commandment" to obey (in our New Testament reality) is LOVE, and we're sorely lacking in our love for one another, as we permit "the accuser" to use us to create dissidence and division amongst ourselves?!? And, until we have a genuine love that challenges the world to truly see us as "HIS disciples", we'll partially impact the world that defines love as a tolerant approval of whatever we want - whenever we want it! While our hatefulness and judgment towards one another - shouldn't even exist, accountability, correction and church discipline is just as much "God's love"; as forgiveness, prayerfulness, and watchfulness is! 

#3.  The Great Exchange - RECONCILE! - We're called to reach beyond every societal line of difference or distinction, no matter how uncomfortable it may be. God delivered "you", so you'd become a "deliverer" - to go right back into the "gutters from wince you've come"; victoriously without fear! 

#4.  The Great Community - BUILD! (The Kingdom of God) -The corporate "shield of faith" has "gaps", because of disunity, denominationalism, and spiritual deadness (unwilling to leave the "four walls mentality") that rarely seeks the greater good of the community of faith; but singularly focused on their particular church, ministry and membership! Jesus provides the basis for what "true prophetic engagement" should look like, and if we are failing to act in accordance with God's Word, as a "counter-cultural force" - full of light, love and truth; we're NOT truly fulfilling the mandate of Jesus Christ at all! 

Our Methods:

Outdated Approaches - our change management cycle is much too slow

Proliferation of technology - Improper expectations of the performance boost of emerging technologies, and wrong cost-to-benefit strategics (I.e. - TV, Radio, On Demand, etc)

Real-time information exchange - reaching people requires thought and commitment to invest in proven tools with consistency

Globalization - the marketplace has expanding possibilities (I-Church, House Church, Marketplace ministry, etc), that we must "act upon" due to the "mobile society" that we live

Influence of Int'l Laws Upon U.S. Based Businesses - major regulatory shifts and changes in U.S. laws (like FASB affected by IAFSB) are often occurring with many in the small business community, faith communities and amongst the civic and social service organizations, "left behind".

Competitive Landscape - churches are competing, instead of partnering with one another

Our Means:

Build "sustainable programs" - Create programs when the needs in your church demands it; not as a form of money-jumping for grants

Develop Fee-Based Service Models - people appreciate and value what they pay for, and are ill-prepared for transitioning from a socio-economic perspective if we give "hand-outs", instead of "help up".

Financial Accountability and Proper Board Governance - pulpit vs parishioner divides are increasing ("the preacher prospers, but the people suffer"?)

Social Enterprise Development and Unrelated Business Income (UBIC) - The Dream Center/Angelus Temple's - The Jean's Project Model, is an example of how churches can build legitimate businesses, and use their community-development programs, vocational programs and leveraging of public-private resource development, to employ the populations that have been transformed and changed by God's power.

Our Mission:

Cultural competency is lacking - "the black church's" organizational and operational diversity, is as broad as our community makeup is, but traditions and clergy/laity political structures - keep leaders focused on popularity, instead of real impact

Metrics for success challenge leader's visions - television ministry, planes and "long titles" can't be the metric for success. New metrics based upon the scripture are necessary.

Biblical relevancy vs cultural relevancy - Does the world gage what relevance is, or does our alignment to Christ's Mandate for the church?

Addressing the real "felt needs" of its own community - Like the HIV crisis in black communities, a proper response to the Homosexual issue, Homosexual Marriage, Unemployment, Financial Recirculation, Recidivism, Abortion, Health Disparities, etc., must be consistently addressed, and NOT for "sound bite" purposes or for political correctness. We are to "prophetically engage" and tackle the problems of society "by grace through faith - in HIS 'finished work'"!

NOTE:

***The National Black Church Initiative is the closest thing to an organized approach to strategically addressing these most important issues concerning "The Church in Recession"; but the proper infrastructure for this particular initiative, does not appear to be in place.

END OF STATEMENTS.

LINK BELOW:
http://ourweekly.com/news/2013/jun/06/church-surviving-recession/#.UdGLwsu9KSM

Walter L. Smith III (WS-3), Apostolic Founder/Lead Facilitator
Pure In Heart Int'l Ministries, Inc. -
The Center For Kingdom Advancement (Hollywood & Ontario)
6767 Sunset Blvd., Ste. 8-407
Hollywood, CA 90028
(323) 524-0654 Ministry Office
www.PIHIM.org
http://AskPastorWalter-WS3.Blogspot.com

"An Apostolic and Prophetic Ministry Bridging Faith & Culture"

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