This recent Orlando Sentinel's article, Churches feel recession's crunch, describes how some churches are putting building projects on hold, while others are rethinking how to gathering as the church:
About $1.4 million into building its new church on Forest City Road, New Life Community Church ran out of money. A bank loan to finish the construction fell through, and now the 13,000-square-foot church sits with plywood windows and unpainted walls while the congregation meets in a rented space.
... Christian Financial Resources in Lake Mary, which has been financing church construction and capital improvements since 1980, has seen its loans decline from $26 million to $8 million in the past year. The company, which provides financing to independent, nondenominational churches, said its funding has fallen 25 percent in the past six months.
... Weible said he is seeing more churches these days starting with no money, no paid staff and no overhead. These "organic" churches, with small memberships and part-time pastors, began popping up before the recession, but the bad economy has contributed to their growing popularity.
... Just as hard economic times are forcing Americans to think about what they need — instead of what they want — the recession has Christians rethinking the meaning of church. And in bad times, that's not a bad thing, Weible said.
... Christian Financial Resources in Lake Mary, which has been financing church construction and capital improvements since 1980, has seen its loans decline from $26 million to $8 million in the past year. The company, which provides financing to independent, nondenominational churches, said its funding has fallen 25 percent in the past six months.
... Weible said he is seeing more churches these days starting with no money, no paid staff and no overhead. These "organic" churches, with small memberships and part-time pastors, began popping up before the recession, but the bad economy has contributed to their growing popularity.
... Just as hard economic times are forcing Americans to think about what they need — instead of what they want — the recession has Christians rethinking the meaning of church. And in bad times, that's not a bad thing, Weible said.
Read the full article for the entire story.
How are your churches in your community making the most of this opportunity caused by the recession, and making adjustments to do effective ministry while cutting expenses and costs?
// DJ Chuang, Director at Leadership Network
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