How to Give Up Control Over Your Church - Stephan Kilgore

Mission Driven Budget Podcast

How to Give Up Control Over Your Church - Stephan Kilgore

Welcome to Episode 4 of the Mission Driven Budget Podcast!

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Notes From This Episode:

1. As a pastor, the vision God gives you isn't just for your personal gain or influence. It's for the next generation. Are you willing to be faithful to serve the people God has called you to serve, even if you don't see that vision come to pass with you as the leader? Are you willing to build a foundation for the leaders coming behind you?
   
2. God's vision for a local church may be communicated through senior leadership, but the vision belongs to the entire church, not just the Sr. Pastor, board, elders, or deacons. Communicate vision as "our" vision. God instructed Habakkuk to "write the vision down and make it plain," so that people could carry that vision with them in their daily lives. A leader who constantly uses language like "my" vision robs people of ownership in the vision and mission of that local church.
   
3. Unity in values and capacity for vision is key when raising up full-time and lay leaders in a local church. Regarding finance managers or treasurers, some questions to ask:
   • Do they have the same financial values as church leadership?
   • Do they manage their personal finances well?
   • Do they have a vision for stewarding the church's finances?
     
4. Money is not ours. It does not belong to us. It does not belong to the church. It belongs to God, and He has entrusted us to manage and invest those resources well. Like the parable of the talents in Matthew 25, God blesses those who produce gain for His kingdom with what He has provided them.
   
5. Ultimately, debt is a burden, shared by everyone - the pastor, the board, the staff and congregants of a church. Everyone is fiscally responsible. A significant amount of freedom accompanies operating a debt-free church or nonprofit. You don't have to worry about raising enough money to meet a monthly payment. Assets are not at risk. Leadership is free to focus solely on fulfilling the mission of the organization.
   
6. Leaders struggling to relinquish control should ask themselves two questions: "Who hurt me?", and "Who am I trying to prove myself to?" Control issues stem from being hurt by someone whose opinion you value and trying to prove them wrong. Instead, shift your thinking to "Jesus healed me.", and "Everything I'm doing is about Jesus." Then, you can begin to let go of that need for control.