You may know where you want to lead people, but are you aware of where you are leading from? The place you lead from is just as important as the place you are leading people. When you are under pressure as a leader, you cannot help but lead from a place of stress and anxiety instead of peace and grace.
We can see this principle in Romans 13:8:
"Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law."
As a ministry leader, you want to be free to serve people well, but what do you do when your financial situation does not allow you to accomplish all your community's vision desires?
According to the Christian Standard, 73% of churches in America are running into debt. Managing your finances can be challenging if you are not an accountant or finance expert. It's still important to stay on top of your budget, spending, and expenses. The ministry you give to your community is dependent upon the resources you receive.
As a church leader, you need to have a debt management plan and build a financial reserve to avoid debt. When there is added stress, you will naturally start putting more pressure on those around you. A sound financial plan frees you up to be led by God and not the tyranny of the urgent. Remember, where you lead from is just as important as where you are leading people to.
Be Proactive
Review and identify current debts or substantial upcoming costs. In most cases, cutting back does more to help your overall financial health than trying to increase income. Taking one step at a time to attack current debt and save for future expenses is more important than trying to cover those financial gaps in one sweeping move.
Be Patient
Pay off your current debt before starting new projects. It can be tempting to rush ahead financially, but doing so may get what you think you need now at the expense of future peace.
Be Prepared
Use tools that help you distribute, fund, and manage team spending so you can see your daily, weekly, and monthly expenses on any device. When you can see your spending clearly, you can adjust quickly and stay on plan.
A healthy financial plan can free you up to lead where your vision is directing you instead of where financial stress is limiting you. For more free resources to help you steward your church's finances, visit buildthe.church.
