Fund raising

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THis statement caught my eye.....

YOU:
Anyone who thinks that by *starting* a church they will create a source of
income would be well advised that they, themselves, had better be prepared
to
be the largest contributor in the congregation for quite some time.
(especially if they intend to preach the truth)

ME:
And May I say, (forgive me moderators)
AMEN, AMEN,AMEN!
If thats not the truth I have never heard it! : )
We  were asked (my husband was rather) if he would like to "take" this
little one room country church....Only problem The pastor and his wife had
split the marital sheets and fought over the division of property (the land
and church building being a part thereof).
Additionally the members which had been around 60 had dispersed and
scatterred throughout the communities those who were devout finding other
apostolic churches to attend.

THough we had heard about the church closing down  and my husband having a
burden for it , we were not given the opportunity to salvage it until it was
too late.
By the time we were asked to step in the church had been closed down for
about 8 months. In addition the IRS had technically seized the property for
supposed delinqunt taxes (wife accusing husband in order to try and have him
jailed) . The result being that the property could go to neither party as
they would not agree to let the other buy them out....
We began having services out there just our family with the permission of
the former pastor.....We bought a gallon of olive oil from Sams and walked
the properties perimeter and annointed it dropping oil every step (Some 20
acres of land). We did not have the cash to make a downpayment on the
property and The IRS demanded all the taxes in full (some 36,000+ dollars
with interest compunding daily)

People told us , Well if its Gods will for you to get it , you'll get it.
But the wife refused to sell, The judge finally telling the pastor to let
her buy him out...
And some said well that is it...Youve lost it..
But no. The next day her attorney called his and said they agreed to let us
(Me & my husband ) buy it.
Now we had a house in Texas, but no cash savings and the house was rented
out.
So my husband placed a fleece before the Lord, that if God wanted us to buy
it that he would send a certain man into our business on a certain day and
not let there be any one else there at the time so that they could talk
about it.

Now this man is a brother in the Lord, wealthy business man , and on the
board of directors at a local bank.
My husband did not ask for any financial favors He simply asked the man if
he would look at the property and see if he thought we should buy it....I
would go into detail but to make a long story less lengthy We eventually
were given a loan for the amount needed to purchase the property.
It being 20 acres with a house and church. (we committed out home in Texas
as collateral in order to purchase this property.)
Believing *  that God has a plan for this church and is not through with it
yet.
Many miracles came to pass to enable us to be able to do what we have done.
And our first revival is scheduled after Thanksgiving, next week.
 It has been a hard long row to hoe as the saying goes , We put our own
money and physical labor into the remodeling and repair of the church....And
then God has moved a man to support our church with a monthly donation even
though He is not Apostolic.
Otherwise It has been just our family, sawing, building, cleaning....By the
way when we got the building it had been stripped of all furnishings save
the pulpit.
No pews or chairs , no air conditioning, etc. But God has provided things a
little at a time.
We have had visitors but no "sticking" members yet.
 The break up of the former Pastors marriage having caused quite a scandel
in the community and accusations (some true and many false) thrown in all
directions.
So here we are doing just what the Lord said when my husband prayed and
asked "What do we do now?" ANd all God told him was "Keep going".
So if you think its an easy way to make money (starting a church).....You
need to pray through!
(Till God gives you some revelation knowledge!)
'Cause that isnt what its all about.
You have to GIVE , GIve , Give, to start a church....Your own money and your
own time ..and Pray God will send some help.
Like the song says "We will work until He comes...."
Forgive me if I rant but you spoke of that I have come to know personally ,
and I have little patience with those who are in "it" for the money.
I believe in the type of evangelists who depend on God, not the pay check,
THose who will preach at any church regardless of the size of the
congregation (or the offerring....)
I do not think it is right for a minister to state how much they need each
night to come hold  a revival.
And I could name amounts that I know are paid that ought to make some people
blush with shame for taking it!
But then *they* have to answer to God for it. Amen.

 BTW ....I am going on a mini-vacation to visit my mother and grand mother
for Thanksgiving...I see them once or twice a year since we came to
Mississippi for The Lords work. This is the First time in three years I will
be with them at Thanksgiving.. Please pray for our family to have a safe
journey there and back.
God Bless.

Lynna Lunsford
ICQ    UIN   5266832
Junia1  (ICQ or AOL Instant Messenger)
http://www.cblink.com/userpages/~lunsford