tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10512467.post113164321550310165..comments2023-07-15T02:18:38.947-07:00Comments on Contrarian Views: IndividualsDavid M. Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15720778073616293157noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10512467.post-1132090393880516912005-11-15T13:33:00.000-08:002005-11-15T13:33:00.000-08:00"What is required to change this?"Hi Hammer,I’ve s...<I>"What is required to change this?"</I><BR/><BR/>Hi Hammer,<BR/><BR/>I’ve spent about nine months writing about my observations and ideas for change. Obviously my views are in the minority, but I just don’t see very many positive trends in the Church universal at this time. I do trust that God has a plan and I hope I am part of his plan.David M. Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15720778073616293157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10512467.post-1132084157887501842005-11-15T11:49:00.000-08:002005-11-15T11:49:00.000-08:00OK. I understand and agree with your giver/getter...OK. I understand and agree with your giver/getter stance.<BR/><BR/>Now the real question - how do we go about with the necessary reformation? Even churches with lots of volunteers still pull under 50%. I'd say it is really more like under 20% for churches that we would consider high in giving. The majority of all churches are more like under 10%. <BR/><BR/>What is required to change this?Hammertimehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15497914450803388853noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10512467.post-1131986821177252682005-11-14T08:47:00.000-08:002005-11-14T08:47:00.000-08:00Hi Hammer,The givers are the members who contribut...Hi Hammer,<BR/><BR/>The givers are the members who contribute financially, those who organize, those who maintain, and those who serve. The getters are those who participate in activities and those who sit in church. Some functions allow a person to both give and get at the same time, but giving is mostly a discipline that does not come with an immediate personal equivalent reward. The reward is the growth of the Church and the “well done good and faithful servant” at the end.<BR/><BR/>A Church could not survive long term without some sort of balance between giving and getting. However, short term, people get discouraged and burnt out from constantly giving without seeing results. It’s a little creepy to me how some people just continue to do what they have always done regardless of the results. I guess they are exhibiting a disciplined commitment, but it sure seems to me like there are a whole lot of dead Sunday Schools that have no real purpose other than to meet after the main service.<BR/><BR/>It’s very typical for a church to ask for help from volunteers in the bulletin or Sunday morning announcements. This is a sign that the leaders didn’t do a very good job of counting the cost before making plans and the church is short of givers.David M. Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15720778073616293157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10512467.post-1131978250402759722005-11-14T06:24:00.000-08:002005-11-14T06:24:00.000-08:00Thanks for the clarification, David. I have diffic...Thanks for the clarification, David. I have difficulty, however, seeing who is "getting" and who is "giving". Well, perhaps I don't have difficulty seeing those states, but am not aware of the mass of churches who have many getters and few givers. My perspective has been that there are very few of both. Unless you count the blessing of being in a worship service as getting, the mass of churchgoers show up...and that is it.<BR/><BR/>Do you see things differently? You may need to use specific examples of giving and getting for me to grasp it.Hammertimehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15497914450803388853noreply@blogger.com