Time to Speak Up

Yesterday I sat at the back of a long table attended by 12 of our leaders with three absentees. But yet I spoke the most even from the back, and for the first time I spoke frankly according to what I think they could bear to hear. I told them it was ironic and paradoxical that in my prime according to my experience that I am still in good health, this is the first church that is experiencing decline in our finances after completing 10 months as pastor.

The first church I pastored when I was only 38 years old straight after completing my PhD in Jan 2003 grew four times in church income over 5 years. My church in Ranau (2015-2016) that I pastored only for 15 months grew by 30 percent covering my pay whole year with more to spare for the church. The third church in KK grew more than double in church income in troublous times during the pandemic. 

So I am perplexed as to why the church’s finances are turning south and there is no respite in sight. I told my leaders if I am going to stay my whole 3-year contract, the church’s coffers might be empty and it will be a blemish on my impeccable record of church pastoring thus far. 

Although I know the answers to our predicament, but I know a majority of my leaders might not be ready to hear what I have to say so I refrained last night from speaking too forwardly. 

But it already caused considerable discomfort. Some people think a church can run on autopilot or decisions could be signed off by autopen. Leadership counts for every thing and the fact that I had to speak from the backbenches spoke volumes. Soon a breaking point might come and then there will be no turning back.