Many of the scriptures we employ to legitimize our modern asks for financial support were in their original context purely missional, not self-serving. Instead of being concerned with the welfare of their own congregations, much of the Early Church’s financial offerings were to partner and assist other churches outside of their own geographic or demographic context.
The examples are more than conclusive. The Colossian church was commended by Paul for their deep love and concern for all the saints (Colossians. 1:4). Though from Colossae, Epaphras was commended for his deep concern for believ ers in Laodicea and Hierapolis (Colossians 4:13). Paul’s letters were not just read in one church but circulated among a collaborative group of other congregations in the area (Colossians 4:15-16). Despite facing economic recession and being in need themselves, the Macedonian church sent financial and logistical support to Paul and other churches (2 Corinthians 8:1-7). Paul called this selfless generosity “the grace of giving” (2 Corinthians 8:7). The Philippian church sent financial support to Paul and the churches in Thessalonica (Phil. 4:16). Church plants in Macedonia and Achaia sent financial support back to the church that originally planted them (Rom. 15:26). As a matter of fact, the longest and most detailed Biblical account of how and why the Early Church should take offerings is about the Corinthian church receiving donations to help other churches, not their own (2 Corinthians 8-9). Those Bible verses from 1 Corinthians 16:1-2 that is printed on just about every tithing envelope I’ve ever seen was not in its original context referring to supporting one’s own church. No. The tradition and intentionality of taking a weekly offering was originally done to send support to other churches.
So how can your church help a rural church? Let me suggest nine ways to bless a rural church.
1. Outreach gift. A one-time gift of $500-$1,000 for an outreach to the rural community. This might include things like VBS, cowboy camp, sports camp, BBQ, community picnic, food pantry, advertising or other outreaches that have a focused plan to invite nonchurched people to attend. It may also be used to invite youth groups from other Network churches to help as a home missions venture.
2. Community event gift. A one-time gift to sponsor a creative local event that is meaningful to the community. Examples of this could be a “Fair Week,” “Rodeo week,” music event, water sports week, Mega Sports Camp or even an existing community event that the church would like to sponsor. It may also be used to invite youth groups from other churches in the Network to assist.
3. Beatification gift. A one-time gift to help rural churches with a modest beatification update to help improve curb appeal, guest experience, and visibility in the community. Examples of this may be a new sign, painting the church, repairing steps, updating a bathroom, or other visual improvements.
4. Technology gift. A one-time gift to help rural churches replace church-owned computers, improve online ministry, website, live streaming or purchase video, sound and media equipment.
5. Vacation gift. A one-time gift of $250 for the pastor to get away for rest or for the church to pay an honorarium for a guest speaker so the pastor can get away without having to prepare a sermon while on vacation.
6. Collaborative gift. A one-time gift to organize a coalition of evangelical ministries in a city or town to engage in community problem solving. Examples of this might be a community food pantry, mental health initiative, veteran care, family welfare, or other collaborative efforts.
7. Live worship gift. A one-time gift to help provide a small honorarium to pay worship leaders or musicians. This would be as simple as $50 a month or more.
8. Sabbatical gift. Sabbaticals can refresh a rural pastor, provide hope, and sustain longevity. Rural pastors serving as the lead pastor at the same church for at least seven years and who have not taken a sabbatical in the past could be reemdously blessed by a sabbatical subsidy.
9. Microgroup gift. A one-time gift to help finance the start-up (curriculum, promotion, and launch) of a microgroup meeting in a home in a neighboring community that does not have a gospel or Spirit-filled ministry.
It makes one wonder what might happen if each and every one of our RMMN churches, whether young or old, contemporary or traditional, urban or rural would once a month ask the question, “What church can we bless this month?”
NOTES
1. To create this collaborative list of grant categories, I invited rural pastors from Colorado and Utah to submit suggestions. This list is the collaborative work of the following rural leaders who submitted suggestions: Joe Archuleta, Justin Atchley, Todd Bellamy, Joe Berry, Lonnie Campbell, Rick Carlson, Michael Dominguez, Tim and Cindy Dudley, Steve Ferrante, Dan Gilboy, Deb and Lane Gooden, Don Henderson, Darryl, Johnson, Larry Kettle, Albert Lopez, Travis Lowell, Dan Matney, Gary Meadows, James Naron, Jason Neely, Shane Prentice, Kay Robinson, Chris Russell, Stan Rutkowski, Terry Skov, Paul Speicher, Nathanael Ward and Bill Woods.