Why Try?
One of the tests of leadership is to recognize a problem before it becomes an emergency.
Arnold Glasow
The pain of seeing people who need help refuse to accept it is an affliction most pastors have experienced. But this must-help/can't-help dilemma is a struggle few others in the congregation sense — at least to the degree pastors do.
One pastor was concerned about several families in his church that always seemed to have financial problems. The problem was not unemployment; the families' incomes were adequate. They simply could not manage the money they made. They were harassed by collection agencies. They were facing foreclosure on their homes and personal bankruptcy. What could the pastor do?
About that time, two accountants in the church stopped in to see the pastor and offer their services to anyone in the church who would benefit from financial counsel in budgeting, spending, investing — all free, no strings attached. Since the pastor knew both men well, he knew their offer was free of ulterior motives to sell insurance or mutual funds or their accounting services. They simply wanted to offer their skills "as unto the Lord."
It seemed a perfect solution. Soon the pastor had arranged a series of meetings with the financially strapped families and the two accountants. The men helped them identify their expenses, set budgets, and work out a timetable for paying bills. They even contacted some of the creditors to forestall the foreclosures and said, "We've been asked to help manage the Smith family's finances, and we understand they are delinquent in their account with you. We've worked out a schedule for them to pay off their debt.…" Most creditors were glad to cooperate.
Things appeared to be going well. "I'm encouraged," ...
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