During these tough financial times, I am wondering if the black church and its congregates are stepping up to help the black community like Jesus has summons them (the Christians and other Believers) to help the needed/downtrodden?I only ask because several WHITE churches have contacted my agency asking us to assist them in planning and implementing ongoing ‘gaining employment’ seminars e.g. resume writing, interviewing skills, dress for success, job fairs, networking, you know all those elements associated with job readiness/preparation.
Also, is the black church offering 'feed the folk' nights? Basic FREE and HEALTHY meals to the financially strapped?
All the loot flowing through the black church via tithes, donations, and other money making offerings (schemes) there has to be at least 10 black mega churches across the nation coming to the people’s need during this horrible recession.
And, I can’t end without asking:
Or, is the black church still up to its madness:
Capitalizing off a crisis to cripple the minds (bring them to the alter to save a broken soul) of the insecure? Assuming that they are saving souls when souls CANNOT be repaired/healed while the handicap of no food, shelter, no health insurance, etc. is present?
Just wondering??????????????????????????????????
Written by Brian E. Payne. Inspired by the churches doing God's work.
8 comments:
Reader Response:
Great Question. And What are the Prosperity Pimps of the church up to in the midst of this crisis?
-MS
Reader Response:
They are but in a selfish, commercialized way. For instance, at some churches, if you are homeless they will refer you to a shelter. If you can't pay your bills they really can't help you. There is one church that I know of called Riverside Church in Harlem that when people can't pay their bills or rent they assist you. They feed people. They have free courses for men if they want to learn how to become a barber, English classes, & other courses. Sometimes, when I don't make it to church, I drop my tithes off at a Catholic Church in the vacinity of my job. They have movies, dinner, computer courses, clothes, and outreach. It is bad when you see people who are helping the poor, orphans, widows, and homeless who are unaffiliated with the church. I am very disgusted by this, but yet, obligated to do what I'm suppose to do. I am responsible for paying my tithes and the church is responsible for putting it back into the community.
-TM
Reader Response:
It's ironic, today I was actually calculating how much money my church could be making on average from people tithing.
Let's say the average income is $40,000
With 3000 members
Tithes = 10%
The mega churches could be making around $12,000,000/yr not including offerings, building fund, men's day, women's day donations.
-TM
Reader Response:
TM-
With all the money the black church receives on an annual basis there is no reason why their surrounding communities are in bad shape. I certainly understand that some black churches are contributing/giving back - but there needs to be more. And, their services should be for anyone in need. Real sincere need. Not just a church member or a member's friend/family.
When Pastor says, 'The Door's of the Church are Open' he/she should be referring to the services/assistance that they can provide, and not some unstable/weak plea to get people to "turn over their souls to Christ". Why is there a condition and/or prerequisite attached to God's help, anyway? I say do the Lord's work, damn it!!
This comes from a seminarian!
-Muata
Reader Response:
What exactly is "The Black Church" and where is all of this money that is supposedly flowing through it? Being that I was raised in the church around preachers, I know that people aren't giving like you think....
If you think that in an ordinary BLACK church, that you have a whole lot of people tithing 10% of their PRE TAX income, income that is probably minimal anyway, then you're simply wrong...
The church still has to keep their lights and heat on and water running just like any other business or household.....If you're going to feed "financially strapped" people, where is the money to buy the chicken and potato salad supposed to come from?....And on top of this, you're supposed to spread the wealth to people who not only DON'T tithe, but aren't even a member of the church in the first place?
How much money have YOU given to your local church?...Are YOU tithing your 10% PRE TAX income? When was the last time you've even attended a church service?...I know that I'm definitely not giving out any money or attending church and I can afford it.....Therefore I don't have the right to tell others what they should be doing with their money and time unless the bills can be sent to that person's address and have them promptly paid....
My mother still gives 10% of her income to the church, yet I still send her money to cover her rent increase every month...So basically, she can't even afford to do it.....Her church of course LOOKS beautiful but since I'm privy to the business side of it, it is DEFINITELY not all gravy like you may think.
-NR
Muata responds to NR:
NR-
There are mega churches in the United States (black and white ones) that have well over 10,000 members and budgets up in the millions. After the bills are paid there is an annual profit...still well into the millions. That is fact!
The Black Church is the church with 95% plus black membership/attendance. Come on, you know what I am talking about. The same church that had a purpose in the 60's. The same church today that is more concerned about membership, testimonies, and converting people (not all but too many).
I suggest you read the missions and creeds of a few churches. They actually have mission statements that charges them to help the poor and destitute. If this is in their charter then they must adhere or add liar to their church name.
And, if it is not all gravy for the mega churches, Why in the H do the pastors live like KINGS? Just ride by a pastors home. A pastor of a HUGE church. Just note the car he/she drives.
I live in the land of mega black churches (Atlanta area). The loot is all over the place.
It would be interesting to see Dollar, Jakes, and Love's financials.
All the financial scandal surrounding churches over the past 10 years, and you fail to understand that their is a problem with the money and how it is used.
Be for real!
Do I tithe: Hell no! I contribute my time to doing the Lord's work every day. Have been doing this ALL my life.
Do I go to church? What for? I can get entertain at the strip club. There is no difference. Pastor exposes him/herself with a sermon. The attendees get excited with the the Holy Ghost. Then the attendees throw money in basket or on a stage. And, then the attendees thank the exposer (pastor) for the tingling feelings he/she was able to stimulate.
-Muata
they out their being another c word - corperation lol
I must agree with NR. If the black church that you refer to is only the "mega churches" that make up a small percentage of the black church overall, you should not refer to them as the black church. I am a member of the finance committee of our church and have a firsthand view of the money that comes in and goes out of our church. We have a small congregation with only about 15% of the members paying tithes. Since we don't ask for financial documentation from our members, I couldn't tell you what the average income is, but I doubt if it is $40,000. We still manage to support community programs, feed the hungry on a regular basis, provide financial help for people who can't pay their bills as well as for disaster victims on a local, statewide and national level, provide training classes for adults and children who are interested in improving themselves, and much, much more. So when you say that the "black church" is not doing anything for their communities, I think you ought to check your facts. There may be some that don't help, but there are some that are doing the best that they can to make life better for a lot of people.
Get it right.
-JP
Post a Comment