And here's a thought: if you think the ministries shown on the video are worthwhile, do NOT give to FBC Jax, but rather give DIRECTLY TO THE MINISTRIES! Mac has said that anything in excess of the goal will go into the general fund!! This means if they take in $200,000, then only about 3/4 of your money will go to those ministries. Give directly to Trinity Rescue Mission or the First Coast Women's Ministry, click on the links and GIVE!! Don't funnel it through FBC Jax where some of it might end up in their general fund for salaries and buildings." FBC Jax Watchdog-------------------------
This Sunday FBC Jax is taking up ANOTHER special offering on Mother's Day.
It seems they STILL don't have enough of your money coming in to do basic ministry.
Mac and Trey Brunson announced in video form Sunday 4/24 that they need to raise an additional 1% of their budget by members giving 1% more of their income to FBC Jax, so that they can help Duval County Schools, give money to the the crisis pregnancy center, and help out at Trinity Rescue mission, and to help fund a church plant in Columbus, Ohio.
They are already giving $500k to the Cooperative Program, but they need more of your money for the Columbus, Ohio church plant.
They are already giving $500k to the Cooperative Program, but they need more of your money for the Columbus, Ohio church plant.
So the dollar amount they are shooting to collect from you this Sunday is $130,000 for these ministry needs.
They take in $13 to $14 million a year, and they can't budget these items in, so guess what: they need YOU to give more money. And as Mac said, if you're really generous and they raise more than the $130,000, it will go into the general budget.
I blogged about this back in 2008 when Mac asked for $1 million to pay for "emergency repairs". I told the FBC Jax faithful that you already gave it, and THEY need to budget better. That year they took a special offering to put Mac's sermons back on INSP network, then later that year Mac coldly demanded $1 million in two weeks for their emergency repairs. They didn't get it, and the Monday after the special offering was taken, the church administrator filed his complaint with the JSO detective/church member/church security guard/deacon/discipline committee member (yes, he was all five), and that opened the investigation into this blog resulting in subpoenas for this blog, Tiffany Croft's blog, and the Bellevue Baptist blog.But, I will say the same thing here: you already gave it and are giving it. The good people of FBC Jax are giving generously in tough times already, so why doesn't FBC Jax and Mac Brunson find the $130,000 in the budget? They just spent millions in putting in a new stage and new carpet and new pews, and now they need $130,000 MORE, else they can't do basic, essential ministry in our city? Do they think people are THAT gullible and can't see through this?
And here's a thought: if you think the ministries shown on the video are worthwhile, do NOT give to FBC Jax, but rather give DIRECTLY TO THE MINISTRIES! Mac has said that anything in excess of the goal will go into the general fund!! This means if they take in $200,000, then only about 3/4 of your money will go to those ministries. Give directly to Trinity Rescue Mission or the First Coast Women's Ministry, click on the links and GIVE!! Don't funnel it through FBC Jax where some of it might end up in their general fund for salaries and buildings.
God Bless Florida Baptist Convention Director John Sullivan. He made a cameo appearance on the video with Mac and Trey, saying he and his wife are giving 1% more of their income to FBC Jax so they can do more ministry.
So follow John Sullivan's lead, FBC Jax. Give 1% MORE.
Let's hope that our soon-to-be-elected mayor Mike Hogan, long-time FBC Jax member, doesn't follow his pastor's lead and try to get 1% more from us to fix the city's financial ills.
Or better yet...maybe Mike Hogan can teach Mac a few things about fiscal responsibility and cutting expenses, rather than always coming to the people holding out his monogrammed-cuffed hands asking for more money.
And here's a thought: if you think the ministries shown on the video are worthwhile, do NOT give to FBC Jax, but rather give DIRECTLY TO THE MINISTRIES! Mac has said that anything in excess of the goal will go into the general fund!! This means if they take in $200,000, then only about 3/4 of your money will go to those ministries. Give directly to Trinity Rescue Mission or the First Coast Women's Ministry, click on the links and GIVE!! Don't funnel it through FBC Jax where some of it might end up in their general fund for salaries and buildings.
God Bless Florida Baptist Convention Director John Sullivan. He made a cameo appearance on the video with Mac and Trey, saying he and his wife are giving 1% more of their income to FBC Jax so they can do more ministry.
So follow John Sullivan's lead, FBC Jax. Give 1% MORE.
Let's hope that our soon-to-be-elected mayor Mike Hogan, long-time FBC Jax member, doesn't follow his pastor's lead and try to get 1% more from us to fix the city's financial ills.
Or better yet...maybe Mike Hogan can teach Mac a few things about fiscal responsibility and cutting expenses, rather than always coming to the people holding out his monogrammed-cuffed hands asking for more money.
16 comments:
Just 1% more. That's on top of the mandatory 10% that must go to the local church, undesignated, of course. Looks like we are going to make it up to the OT standard of 23% after all - in small increments.
Perhaps if FBCJAX hadn't just declared that 98% of their membership are thieves, they would be more willing to help out.
From Barna:
Origins of Tithing
Strangely, tithing is a Jewish practice, not a Christian principle espoused in the New Testament. The idea of a tithe - which literally means one-tenth or the tenth part - originated as the tax that Israelites paid from the produce of the land to support the priestly tribe (the Levites), to fund Jewish religious festivals, and to help the poor. The ministry of Jesus Christ, however, brought an end to adherence to many of the ceremonial codes that were fundamental to the Jewish faith. Tithing was such a casualty. Since the first-century, Christians have believed in generous giving, but have not been under any obligation to contribute a specific percentage of their income.
From the same report:
Whether they believe in the principle of tithing or not, few Americans give away that much money. In 2007, the research revealed that just 5% of adults tithed.
Another interesting fact:
Although one-third of all born again adults claim to tithe their income, only 5% actually do so.
Amen! Give directly to the ministries you respect. Cut out the middleman!
This is a total turn off for me - saying they are going to help the needy under a snapshot of a beach scene. We have scores of homeless sleeping on benches on the downtown riverwalk, underneath the bridges, in Hemming Plaza.
Mac Brunson and his family have not the first clue about the needs of downtown Jacksonville. Indeed a turn off when we received the mass emailing requesting additional money.
Watchdog said:
God Bless Florida Baptist Convention Director John Sullivan. He made a cameo appearance on the video with Mac and Trey, saying he and his wife are giving 1% more of their income to FBC Jax so they can do more ministry.
So follow John Sullivan's lead, FBC Jax. Give 1% MORE.
==============================
Given these fat cat's paycheck's they should take one percent less - not ask for more! 1% more of their income is nothing to them! Every month this church is asking for more money - same old drum beat!
"The leech has two daughters. 'Give! Give!' they cry.
Its sad to see how Mac Brunson has taken this once great church and just run it into the ground. Strange how under Dr. Lindsay we had to build a bigger auditorium to handle the crowds especially during the Pastors Conferance but under Mac Brunson we have had to SHRINK the auditorium down. How come Dr. Lindsay could bring the crowds in but Mac Brunson can't. I wonder how the search committee feels now about its "wise" choice to bring Mac Brunson here. Also wonder why we don't have the quartets come to First Baptist like we use to.
I am a member of FBC and I would like to make a request for some help. I am unemployed and a single mom with 2 small kids. Do you think they would help me?
I am not planting a Church or running a soup kitchen but I can barely keep a roof over our heads.
I called the Church and they told me to fill out some paperwork but I never heard back from them.
I hate to ask but my kids are hurting because we don't have much money to go around.
I love this Church! They do a lot of good things around the world.
I know God is going to take care of me.
I am sure FBC will call me soon about my paperwork.
Amen and amen ! Give as you are able directly to your ministry of choice. And it certainly doesn't have to be a formal 501(c)3.
The Bible mentions widows and orphans specifically...... "The least of these". Perhaps an unemployed parent or a homeless person. Even a cup of cool water !!
In my opinion, let the 6-figured pastors at FBC take the $130,000 out of THEIR salary / benefit package. Or maybe take a few less European / Holy Land vacations.
WD-
I think you are correct in that the church leadership needs to do a better job in their budgeting than they have apparently done.
I would not go so far as to tell folks to give directly to those ministries, instead of through the church (that's another issue). But I do think that if Dr. Brunson and Dr. Sullivan and Trey all believe these ministries to be worthwhile, that they should look at other areas to cut so that these "worthwhile ministries" continue to receive their funding.
I also appreciate anon 5:51p.m. comment's regarding the fact that there never was a financial "crisis" (my words) or a need to go back to the Hobson auditorium, when that "un-cool" preacher was standing and preaching week-in and week-out!
My how the mighty have fallen. And yes at one time FBCJAX was a mighty force for God. There are many of us pastor's from across America and I talk with several of them weekly who once admired FBCJAX and would not miss a pastor's conference, and now we sit and talk about the halcyon days of another era at FBCJAX. It is sad, miss those days!
Kyle
Hi Kyle - thanks for your comment.
I still say that if someone is moved to give a special offering to benefit women and the poor or missions this Sunday, then go online and give directly to the ministries of your choice. Why give it to FBC Jax, so THEY can give it to them, especially when there is a cap on how much is going to these ministries? Mac said that anything given above their established goal will go to the general fund. Why? That is almost bizarre. We're holding a special offering - but if you give TOO much to these worthy causes that we are using to prompt you to give, we'll take it for OURSELVES. Strange. I thought the idea was to hold a special offering and then see what God does in moving people to give. If it is $50,000, praise the Lord. If it is $500,000, then even more praise the Lord! But FBC Jax leadership plays the Lord...THEY know how much will go to these ministries, everything else is ours.
And wait until you hear Mac go off last Sunday on people who are being contentious in the church. He has definite anger issues in the way he talks to his congregation.
These are sad days; not just because of what is coming from the pulpit, but that good people eat it and gobble it all up like good soldiers. Sad.
WD-
You do have a great point- I had overlooked/forgotten about the cap when I commented earlier.
What could be done as a compromise between my point and yours i for the members of FBCJAX to designate that what they ar giving go to the ministries, rather than the "general fund".
By law, if a gift is given and it is designated it cannot be used for anyother cause or fund. For instance money given to the building fund canot be used for payroll. That would get around the cap that was set by Dr and Trey Brunson.
Thanks for reminding me about the imposed cap. It isn't as simple as I initially thought!
But then in church circles it seldom is. :)
Kyle
Hi Kyle - of course Steve Gaines at Belleuve says that a "tithe" must be 10% of one's income, given in an "undesignated fashion" to the local church. To designate where the money goes doesn't count as a tithe.
:)
"I called the Church and they told me to fill out some paperwork but I never heard back from them."
THIS IS A TROLL!
This is not how it works at FBC. I know because I have called benevolence to seek help just like this alleged person. You do not "fill out paperwork" but simply request a meeting and it is set up.
TROLL GO AWAY!!!
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