Latest from Northland: "there is no revenue stream "
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…going to Northland over the winter for a long cross country skiing weekend. I bet a shiny new nickel that you might get some takers on such things if it were mentioned at supporting churches.
(subtle hint?)
Aspiring to be a stick in the mud.
The people behind a ministry (churches, schools, mission organizations, camps) sometimes feel that their ministry is a must and that it is essential for Christianity that the ministry survive. I don’t know that this is the thinking with the people trying to keep Northland Camp going, but if so, sometimes you need to let go, trusting in the sovereignty of God.
They want $150,000 just for this coming Winter! How many churches could be planted for that amount of money? Let it go, folks, let it go. It’s dead.
Tyler is a pastor in Olympia, WA and works in State government.
Seriously, I’m guessing that even at fundamental pastor wages, getting even one church started for this price would be tricky. But that said, I sent a note there with my suggestion for building a revenue stream. Dunno if it’s possible, but there needs to be some good thinking and repositioning to transition Old Northland into a going concern that will honor God. Hopefully they get it.
Aspiring to be a stick in the mud.
Who asked:
Please pray and consider giving an end-of-the-year gift in any amount to satisfy our current $150,000 need so we can make it through the winter. Any gifts of any size will be appreciated. In addition, we are praying that God would have someone step forward to potentially secure a matching fund opportunity for special gifts that our alumni and friends could participate in before year’s end. Since a lot of snow will be hitting us, our hope is that something happens soon. Why is money still needed?
Advice: Put together a simple budget and explain.
Northland (in its current state) appears to be the proverbial spiralling financial black hole
[Bert Perry]Seriously, I’m guessing that even at fundamental pastor wages, getting even one church started for this price would be tricky. But that said, I sent a note there with my suggestion for building a revenue stream. Dunno if it’s possible, but there needs to be some good thinking and repositioning to transition Old Northland into a going concern that will honor God. Hopefully they get it.
For $150,000 I could see 150 churches started in Cuba in one year’s time and that would include the Pastor’s annual wage and ministry funds.
But how about Home\State side church planting?
[DLCreed]Bert Perry wrote:
Seriously, I’m guessing that even at fundamental pastor wages, getting even one church started for this price would be tricky. But that said, I sent a note there with my suggestion for building a revenue stream. Dunno if it’s possible, but there needs to be some good thinking and repositioning to transition Old Northland into a going concern that will honor God. Hopefully they get it.
For $150,000 I could see 150 churches started in Cuba in one year’s time and that would include the Pastor’s annual wage and ministry funds.
Hoping to shed more light than heat..
[Rob Fall]But how about Home\State side church planting?
DLCreed wrote:
I live in a city of just over 1,000,000 that has over 1,000 churches. I simply don’t get excited about most church planting in this country like I do in countries that are largely closed to the gospel which is where I spend my energy and invest my missions dollars primarily. While I understand that the coastal regions (particularly the Northeast) have a dearth of Gospel-preaching churches, “bang for the buck” partnering with national church planters in 3rd world countries is an investment in which I strongly believe at this point in my own ministry. No criticism to my dear friends who are planting churches in the US or those who support them. It’s just my personal point of focus.
Bert Perry wrote:
Seriously, I’m guessing that even at fundamental pastor wages, getting even one church started for this price would be tricky. But that said, I sent a note there with my suggestion for building a revenue stream. Dunno if it’s possible, but there needs to be some good thinking and repositioning to transition Old Northland into a going concern that will honor God. Hopefully they get it.
For $150,000 I could see 150 churches started in Cuba in one year’s time and that would include the Pastor’s annual wage and ministry funds.
I am looking at the question for a San Franciscan’s perspective. California is massively under-churched. San Francisco alone is +-750,000 and has less than 2 dozen gospel preaching churches. The same could be said of much of the region west of El Paso and Omaha.
[DLCreed]Rob Fall wrote:
But how about Home\State side church planting?
DLCreed wrote:
I live in a city of just over 1,000,000 that has over 1,000 churches. I simply don’t get excited about most church planting in this country like I do in countries that are largely closed to the gospel which is where I spend my energy and invest my missions dollars primarily. While I understand that the coastal regions (particularly the Northeast) have a dearth of Gospel-preaching churches, “bang for the buck” partnering with national church planters in 3rd world countries is an investment in which I strongly believe at this point in my own ministry. No criticism to my dear friends who are planting churches in the US or those who support them. It’s just my personal point of focus.
Bert Perry wrote:
Seriously, I’m guessing that even at fundamental pastor wages, getting even one church started for this price would be tricky. But that said, I sent a note there with my suggestion for building a revenue stream. Dunno if it’s possible, but there needs to be some good thinking and repositioning to transition Old Northland into a going concern that will honor God. Hopefully they get it.
For $150,000 I could see 150 churches started in Cuba in one year’s time and that would include the Pastor’s annual wage and ministry funds.
Hoping to shed more light than heat..
[Rob Fall]House churches. They’re cheap, efficient, and contextualize well to the West Coast culture.I am looking at the question for a San Franciscan’s perspective. California is massively under-churched. San Francisco alone is +-750,000 and has less than 2 dozen gospel preaching churches. The same could be said of much of the region west of El Paso and Omaha.
DLCreed wrote:
Rob Fall wrote:
But how about Home\State side church planting?
DLCreed wrote:
I live in a city of just over 1,000,000 that has over 1,000 churches. I simply don’t get excited about most church planting in this country like I do in countries that are largely closed to the gospel which is where I spend my energy and invest my missions dollars primarily. While I understand that the coastal regions (particularly the Northeast) have a dearth of Gospel-preaching churches, “bang for the buck” partnering with national church planters in 3rd world countries is an investment in which I strongly believe at this point in my own ministry. No criticism to my dear friends who are planting churches in the US or those who support them. It’s just my personal point of focus.
Bert Perry wrote:
Seriously, I’m guessing that even at fundamental pastor wages, getting even one church started for this price would be tricky. But that said, I sent a note there with my suggestion for building a revenue stream. Dunno if it’s possible, but there needs to be some good thinking and repositioning to transition Old Northland into a going concern that will honor God. Hopefully they get it.
For $150,000 I could see 150 churches started in Cuba in one year’s time and that would include the Pastor’s annual wage and ministry funds.
It sounds like you speaking as an outsider. Having worked with Russian Evangelical Christian-Baptists in California, I am familiar with successful church plants which do not conform to the usual IFB pattern.
House churches are a good idea. But first, you need church planters. Any volunteers?
[Andrew K]Rob Fall wrote:
I am looking at the question for a San Franciscan’s perspective. California is massively under-churched. San Francisco alone is +-750,000 and has less than 2 dozen gospel preaching churches. The same could be said of much of the region west of El Paso and Omaha.
House churches. They’re cheap, efficient, and contextualize well to the West Coast culture.
Hoping to shed more light than heat..
[Rob Fall]Indonesia, but I lived in China for 6+ years where I attended a number of house churches.It sounds like you speaking as an outsider. Having worked with Russian Evangelical Christian-Baptists in California, I am familiar with successful church plants which do not conform to the usual IFB pattern.
House churches are a good idea. But first, you need church planters. Any volunteers?
Andrew K wrote:
Rob Fall wrote:
I am looking at the question for a San Franciscan’s perspective. California is massively under-churched. San Francisco alone is +-750,000 and has less than 2 dozen gospel preaching churches. The same could be said of much of the region west of El Paso and Omaha.
House churches. They’re cheap, efficient, and contextualize well to the West Coast culture.
Ha, I’d be willing to plant churches in CA, but I have no plans to move there in the immediate future; CA scares me more than China. ;)
On the other hand, I’m a native Californian. Why should you be afraid of California? It’s fearful people like you that’s hindered church planting in California. Parents would rather their offspring become missionaries in deepest darkest Lower Slobovia than move to California either as church planters or to support the same.
[Andrew K]Indonesia, but I lived in China for 6+ years where I attended a number of house churches.
Ha, I’d be willing to plant churches in CA, but I have no plans to move there in the immediate future; CA scares me more than China. [Wink]
Rob Fall wrote:
It sounds like you speaking as an outsider. Having worked with Russian Evangelical Christian-Baptists in California, I am familiar with successful church plants which do not conform to the usual IFB pattern.
House churches are a good idea. But first, you need church planters. Any volunteers?
Hoping to shed more light than heat..
[Rob Fall]Sorry, that was just a joke. I didn’t realize there was a serious problem as you describe it. I honestly thought a lot of people wanted to move to California. After all, we have huge brain-drain from the Midwest to the coasts.On the other hand, I’m a native Californian. Why should you be afraid of California? It’s fearful people like you that’s hindered church planting in California. Parents would rather their offspring become missionaries in deepest darkest Lower Slobovia than move to California either as church planters or to support the same.
Andrew K wrote:
Indonesia, but I lived in China for 6+ years where I attended a number of house churches.
Ha, I’d be willing to plant churches in CA, but I have no plans to move there in the immediate future; CA scares me more than China. [Wink]
Rob Fall wrote:
It sounds like you speaking as an outsider. Having worked with Russian Evangelical Christian-Baptists in California, I am familiar with successful church plants which do not conform to the usual IFB pattern.
House churches are a good idea. But first, you need church planters. Any volunteers?
Discussion