If you're attending Joby Martin's Church of Eleven22 here in Jacksonville, Florida and getting ready to make your big two-year financial commitment to his "Neighbors to Nations" campaign, DO NOT fill out that commitment card until you've watched this video. Seriously. Before you pledge a dime of your family's hard-earned money, you need to see something.
WATCH: Joby Martin and Josh Howerton's Nearly Identical Fundraising Presentations
It turns out Joby has a fundraising twin out in Texas! His name is Josh Howerton, pastor of Lakepointe Church, and he's conducting his own two-year fundraising initiative called "Into the Breach."
Although after watching these presentations, I'm thinking "Into the Britches" might have been a more appropriate name, considering how deep they're encouraging church members to reach into their pockets!
But seriously, the similarities are jaw-dropping. Nearly identical language, commitment cards, giving calculations, and appeals to consider donating from savings, investments, and other accumulated assets.
Which raises a very important question: Who actually wrote these fundraising pitches? Did Joby and Josh collaborate? Did one copy the other? Or did both purchase the same professionally developed fundraising presentation from a church consultant? The video raises questions about Generis, a church fundraising consulting company, although its involvement with either church has not been established.
And there's something else that troubles me.
One of Joby's favorite sayings is that "obedience doesn't always make sense." He frequently emphasizes the competing voices people hear when making decisions about obedience generally, and generosity specifically in this campaign. One encourages giving; the other causes hesitation and second-guessing.
But why should hesitation automatically be treated as spiritual opposition?
Suppose a father is considering committing a substantial portion of his family's savings to Eleven22. Maybe that nagging voice telling him to reconsider isn't Satan. Maybe it's good judgment. Maybe it's his responsibility to provide for his family. And maybe God doesn't want him making that commitment at all!
Here's another possibility: What if the truly destructive decision would be giving away money his family desperately needs, leaving them financially vulnerable?
Since when did exercising financial judgment become a sign of spiritual disobedience?
I'm not suggesting Joby is deliberately trying to deceive anyone. I've long admired his authenticity and ability to connect with people. But that's precisely why I find these apparently scripted fundraising presentations so troubling. Is this Joby's heartfelt-plea that God laid on his heart, or is it a fund raising consultant script designed to get money into the coffers of 1122 to finance their continued growth?
Church members should never feel that questioning a major financial commitment means they're listening to the devil rather than God.
Before you commit two years of your family's income or savings, watch the video, ask questions, and think carefully. You don't owe anyone an explanation for making a responsible financial decision.
And Joby, I think your congregation deserves an answer to one very simple question:
Who wrote your fundraising script?