Run to the Brokennessಮಾದರಿ

Day 8: Funding the Mission:

Ministry isn’t free—and these days, it’s rarely even affordable. Many pastors are leaving their posts, not because they’ve lost their calling, but because they can’t financially survive. But what if God has more for your church than just scraping by? What if, even in a financially unstable world, your church could thrive—spiritually and economically?

Today’s church faces new challenges, but they also present new opportunities. The early church in Acts didn’t just preach the gospel—they built communities that provided for one another, shared resources, and changed the world (Acts 2:44, 47). That same Spirit is still moving today.

The call is simple and urgent: Don’t close your heart to the needs around you. First John 3:17 (ESV) asks a convicting question: “If anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him?” The gospel doesn’t just flow through sermons. It flows through action. Through jobs created. Through dignity restored. Through generosity poured out.

But that kind of ministry takes funding.

And here’s the miracle: God isn’t just calling you to resource the mission—He’s giving you the wisdom and power to do it. When our team turned our sanctuary into a storehouse, God didn’t just provide—He multiplied. Obedience opened the door to over $4.1 million in additional revenue through social enterprises, grants, and innovative partnerships. We didn’t dream this up on our own. The strategy didn’t come from a seminar. It came from a whisper.

First Corinthians 2:10-11 (NIV) says, “The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.” God wants to give you supernatural insight—not just spiritual discernment but practical wisdom. He can give your church business ideas, grant opportunities, and community partnerships that bring light into dark places and provision into dry places.

Proverbs 15:22 (NIV) reminds us that “plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.” God may already have placed the right people in your church—those with gifts in hospitality, retail, education, or administration—who are waiting for a vision that matches their passion. When you tap into that passion and invite your congregation to help build something bigger than themselves, it’s no longer about survival. It’s about mission.

Don’t be afraid to start small. Our event center began with a modest goal and now hosts over 150 events a year. Our thrift store began with donated clothes—it became a place of dignity and employment. Each stream of income didn’t just provide finances—it provided purpose. That’s the power of obedience paired with the Spirit’s leading.

Zechariah 4:6 (NIV) says, “Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit.” That includes spreadsheets, leases, city permits, hiring decisions, and every ounce of vision you carry. If you want to fund the mission, let the Spirit be your strategist.

Psalm 112:5 (NIV) says it simply: “Good will come to those who are generous and lend freely, who conduct their affairs with justice.” When you lead with justice, generosity, and Spirit-empowered courage, your church won’t just fund its mission—it will become the mission.

Let your vision be bold. Let your impact be tangible. Let your provision come from heaven—and your obedience be the channel God uses to pour it out.