Posted 6/1/2009

GETTING RID OF THE MIDDLEMAN HELPS CHURCH

Consumers and business know that when you get rid of the middleman, prices go down and sales go up. Two good things.

Churches, however, have never learned that lesson.

They solicit funds which go to the Church treasury to be dispensed by various boards, committees and the ministers – middlemen all.

In these times of financial stress, when collections are down in the face of increasing financial demands on churches, the middleman is an untenable burden to bear.

But one minister saw the light and got rid of the middleman – with incredible results.

One Sunday two months ago, Pastor Toby Slough of Cross Timbers Community Church in Argyle, Texas, came up with a brilliant way to take the middleman out of church money matters.

As he was presenting the usual collection plate talk, Slough made a startling announcement: "Take money out of the collection plate if you are suffering financially."

Although startled, some reluctantly did. Others contributed more than planned.

It was the largest one-day collection in the church's history.

Since that fateful Sunday, the church has dispensed over a half million dollars to attendees in need – all via the collection plate.

On the Fox News Channel, Slough said, "As this generosity concept began to gather momentum in our church, we were able to bless single moms and people who are unemployed by paying their utility bill. And some of the things we were able to do, I'm really excited to watch people in need beginning to feel released to receive because I know as they get blessed, they're going to become givers."

While this is just one church, we should remember the wealth and power eBay's auctions generated by putting people together with people, without the intrusion of a middleman. And it all started with something as trivial as Pez dispensers – pretty insignificant compared with the power of church and God.

You might think about trying Pastor Slough's approach at your church.

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