Planting Churches among the City's Poor - Volume 1

70 • P LANTING C HURCHES AMONG THE C ITY ’ S P OOR : V OLUME 1

Identify the Financial Resources The churches planted in the inner city will have two primary sources of income during the beginning stages of church planting: the congrega tion and World Impact. World Impact will support the core church planters throughout the church-planting cycle. It will also contribute toward initial facilities and program costs. This support will gradually diminish according to an agreed-upon schedule, so that every six months the church will shoulder more of the financial responsibilities. For example, the church may begin paying 20% of its budget costs, increasing its share 20% every six months to become financially self sustaining in two years. Such a schedule is important to give the church financial goals and to insure that a spirit of dependency does not develop. Redford says, “The phaseout is designed to foster healthy growth of the mission congregation and aims at building independence rather than fostering dependence.” 137 The church planters should focus on developing the financial resources within the congregation. We recognize at the start that most of our church members will be poor. A problem that many missionaries face is the extreme poverty of urban Christians. Coupled with this problem are (1) the danger of establishing a relationship of continuous dependency, and (2) the high cost of urban property and buildings, which often precludes a permanent edifice for the church. 138 The poverty of church members does not negate their obligation to contribute according to their means. From the beginning of Celebration, biblical stewardship should be taught and members encouraged to tithe. Such giving will not only support the needs and programs of the church, but also will build the members’ commitment to and vision for the church. Hesselgrave affirms, “If, for example, a person invests energy, money, and time in something, its perceived value goes up accordingly even though the intrinsic value does not change.” 139 This “psychology of value” is an additional reason we should encourage members to invest in the church to the best of their ability. The more they give the more they will value the church.

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137 Redford, p. 86

138 Greenway and Monsma, p. 150

139 Hesselgrave (1980), p. 339