Response from a Pastor of a church. Name is withheld!

Hi Terry,
> I just wanted to touch base with you about your project overseas.....
> if you want to contact people personally to see if they would like to
> help with that project that would be ok, but for us to put it in the
> bulletin, we would have to send it to the finance committee and get
> approval.   That is how they work it here.   They don't like us going
> around them when it comes to money.   But what people do personally is
> between you and them.   It wouldn't be tax deductible unless they put it
> into the church channels though.   Hopefully this will be helpful.    We
> are going to go to Campmeeting next week, and then I will be out of town
> for a week.   So if you have any questions, call me before the
> weekend....
> Pastor XXXXXXXX

My response to the Pastor

Thank You Pastor for all of your hard work on this
project of getting a roof put on a sister SDA church in the Philippines
before the rains set in, in June. I'd say this is the same problem that the
Philippine Church has had going through the General Conference in the
Philippines. The conference there however stated to them that they did not
have any funds available to help them with that particular project.

It would seem that the "finance committee" needs to read the Bible, to find
out what we, as "Christians" should do if someone comes to us as a church
"in need." I understand that we at our church are not the "cares giver"
of the world and we should be somewhat responsible to God for what we do
with our money, but what would Jesus do in this situation?

I am new at this church; I do not know anyone there, other than our brief
acquaintance with each other at the door of the Sanctuary on Sabbath. We
have been coming to this church since the last two weeks in December and
not one person has even introduce themselves to me and my family, except for
those that had been prompted to do so by the church staff. I do not know of
any of the people at our church that would even consider such a proposal of
helping financially to put a roof on a church in the Philippines. I made
mention of it in our Sabbath School class and no one, paid much attention to
the announcement. I'd say they would not support anything that did not come
from out of the pulpit of our church.

I may sound a little harsh but this is the way that it appears to me.
"Laodician", by nature. There are many other churches that act the same way.
Competing for the same dollar in the pew pocket instead of trusting God with
our faithfulness. Maybe our church finance problems can be brought to focus
with this verse of scripture.

Rev 3:17-22 "Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and
have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable,
and poor, and blind, and naked: I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in
the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be
clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine
eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. As many as I love, I rebuke and
chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. Behold, I stand at the door, and
knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him,
and will sup with him, and he with me. To him that overcometh will I grant
to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with
my Father in his throne. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit
saith unto the churches."

I thought, since the pulpit had been speaking to the church about their
finances, the church at large may want the blessing of God upon them by
supporting such a noble project as putting a roof on a sister church in the
Philippines. You know, "Do unto others as you would have them to do to you."
I thought that you were the Pastors, the Shepard of the flock; I thought you
directed the church in the direction that they should go. I am beginning to
understand the politics of "Church".

Again I must apologize for the harsh wording of this email, but I am too
focused on the need of this Philippine church in light of the response of
"my church".

I am wondering, if our church or your house had a sever water leek from the
roof of your comfortable church / home. Would you give the same attention to
the situation as you have with this issue? I'd say that we would be doing
everything in our power to "get the roof fixed before the rains came!"

I am awaiting a response from the other churches. Thank you for your
response.

Thank you both for your time and effort that you have put forth on this
project.

Terry Hinchey