As I've shared at our interest meeting, our call from God here is not so much to plant a new church but rather to resurrect an old church. The Way is intended to be a 21st century expression of the fellowship described in Acts chapters 2 and 4. Part of understanding this vision from God has been to spend a great deal of time in prayer over how the church positions itself financially to do ministry both inside and outside of its own congregation.
While the large majority of 21st century American churches tie up significant finances and other resources in the construction and maintenance of buildings, the Acts fellowship used the majority of its funds to give to those who had need. In the same spirit of the church of the book of Acts, I'm pleased to share with you a financial covenant that The Way has decided upon.
Beginning in September we will have weekly giving opportunities in the form of tithes and offerings. And in the spirit of the Acts church, we will maintain a firm commitment to giving fifty cents of every dollar collected to our missions budget. In other words, we will take half of every tithe and offering to fund our internal ministries and use the other half to, as Acts chapter 2 writes, "give to those as they have need".
This decision is made as an effort to make sure that the mission of The Way is kept sacred on all matters of budgeting.
May we at The Way have a great commitment to our services of worship, and may it forever be greater than building an ivory tower at which we may host a bunch of worship services.
Grace and Peace be with you.
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