OURPURSUITOFFAITHFULSTEWARDSHIP
Aswepray,plan,andprepareforeachyearsfinances,itisimportanttoreviewsomeofFBC’sbeliefsand
convictionssurroundingfinances,giving,andstewardship.Theyarelistedbelowinnoparticularorderofpriority
becauseallofthemarevitallyimportanttous:
1.
WebelieveourministrybelongstoGodfullyandcompletely,whichincludeseverysingleassetand
resource.Webelievewearemerelyfellow-servantsandfellow-stewardsinHisKingdom,heretofulfillthe
purposeHehascalledustopursue-tolive,love,andleadlikeJesustogether.
2. WebelievewecangiveonlybecauseGodhasfirstgiventous.Webelievegivingisn’tjustimportantfor
thefinancialhealthofourchurch,it’scriticalforthespiritualhealthofourchurchfamily.
3. Webelievewemustearnestlyseektoclearlyandhonestlycommunicateourpositiononfinancesandthe
stewardshipofthosefinanceswhichGodentruststous.Webelievewemustnotbeafraidtomakeour
needsandobligationsknowntoourpeople;however,wealsobelievewemustneverresorttowhatwe
considertobedisrespectfulanddishonorablepractices,evenifourneedsareserious.
4. WebelievewemustteachwhattheBibleteachesaboutthejoyofgivinginordertohelppeoplebecome
matureinChrist,allowingthemtodiscovertruefreedomfromthegripofmaterialismintheirlives.We
believewemuststrivetohelppeoplelearnhowtoinvestineternitybyusingtheirGod-givenresources
forGod-givenpurposesatthisGod-giventime.
5. Webelievethemoneyentrustedtousishard-earnedandsacrificiallygivenbyGod’speoplefortheLord’s
work;therefore,itisourresponsibilitytohandlethatmoneywiththeutmostofintegritybeforetheLord.
WebelieveweareaccountablebeforeGodtospendanymoneyreceivedcarefullyandwiselytoward
continuingtheministry.Webelievethateverypennyistobestretchedasfaraspossible.Fourquestions
helpguideusinthispursuit:
a. Isthisexpensecontributingtothefulfillmentofthechurch’spurpose?
b. Isthisexpensebeingputtogooduse?
c. Istherealessexpensivealternativethatcanproduceequalresults?
d. Istheresomethingmoreimportantthatthemoneycanbeusedforwithinthecontextofour
purposeandcircumstances?
6. Webelievewemustreceiptalldonationsinordertohelpthosewhogivedeterminetheirtax-deductible
portionoftheirgifts.
7. Webelievewemustpayallourbillsontime,foritmustneverbeourintenttouseourvendor’smoney
forthesakeofourministry.Webelieveourministryistobeasmuchtoourvendorsastoanyoneelse.
8. Webelievewemustnotoperatetheministryinadeficit.Andalthoughitmaybenecessaryattimesto
borrowfundsforlargecapitalexpenditures,suchasanewbuilding,webelievewemustseektorepaythe
loansassoonaspossible.
9. Webelievewemustnevercompromiseourchurchfamilybyselling,renting,orintentionallygivingaccess
toourname,address,and/orfinancialdatabases.
10. Webelievewemustearnestlyseektoconformtothestandardsoffinancialintegrityandexcellenceset
forthbytheEvangelicalCouncilforFinancialAccountability(ECFA)–anorganizationcreatedtoensure
ethicalfund-raisingandadministrationpractices.
11. Webelievewemustalwaystakegreatpainstodothingsright-toestablishproperchecksandbalances–
tohonortheLordinallwesayanddo,includinghowwemanageourfinances.
12. WebelievewemustseektorememberalwaysthatJesusChrististheOnewhoraisedupthisministry,
whohassustainedthisministry,andwhocontinuestosustainit.Allthatwehaveeverhad,nowhave,and
willhave,belongsentirelytoHimforHisglory.
BelievingGodisatworkinandthroughusforgreatthingsinthedaysahead,
OnBehalfoftheentireFBCEldersandStaff