tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8384632623933772727.post7588156965947169993..comments2024-03-23T22:54:58.661-04:00Comments on FBC Jax Watchdogs: FBC Jax Beware: The Major Fleecing is About to Begin...FBC Jax Watchdoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10740366031265491559noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8384632623933772727.post-18739303146087592842007-11-27T12:29:00.000-05:002007-11-27T12:29:00.000-05:00Ghost - thanks for your input. Just a few comments...Ghost - thanks for your input. Just a few comments:<BR/><BR/>- My point about the budget is this: Mac Brunson has uttered different and seemingly incongruent explanations about our budget situation at different times, and if he is going to ask us to make up budget shortfalls he needs to explain clearly: are we behind in our giving and we the congregation need to make up what we've committed but haven't given, OR did our church overspend in the area of missions...or is it both.<BR/><BR/>He very clearly told the Mud Creek Baptist Church on October 8th that "giving is up" in our church, but that we are "behind in our budget" by $500,000, and that "Jesus Christ cut that number in half on one Sunday." This does not square with what he told us Sunday night. Therefore, I don't trust any information that he gives us regarding any financial matters. None. He's lost my total trust in these matters. This man is paid hundreds of thousands of dollars per year to be the leader of one of the most prominent churches in the SBC, yet he can't get his story straight on what the budget situation is. This is sad, its amateurish, and its a disgrace. To quote Rush Limbaugh: WORDS MEAN THINGS. So let's get the story straight: did we overspend on missions, or are we behind in our giving, or both...and by how much on each. And why did we overspend by 1/2 million on missions as he told Mud Creek...and let's get a break down on where this 1/2 million went.<BR/><BR/>- I don't agree with you on the assessment of the value of Christian education. I'm sorry you had a bad experience at your Christian school, but the data doesn't support your assertion that private Christian education is inferior to public school education, as measured by a number of parameters including college placement and SAT scores. <BR/><BR/>I'm not even suggesting that a school for FBC is out of the question. But you raise the right questions in your post:<BR/><BR/>1. Is there or will there be a need for another Christian school in this metro area, given the capacties at the current schools and projected growth, and is there a need for a school DOWNTOWN;<BR/><BR/>and <BR/><BR/>2. Is now the time to do this given all things considered - our current budget, needs of other projects, etc. In other words, how will the expenses of the school impact our other areas of ministry?<BR/><BR/>Those are the relevant questions in my mind. For him to tell us that a school is a way to reach more people with the gospel because other methods are not working, makes no sense. He says "people aren't home anymore" so door to door evangelism doesn't work...give me a break. Maybe he thinks everyone lives in a gated community like he does...in which case it is hard to get in to see those folks. But the average family IS home and CAN be visited - ask the hundreds who go on visitation every week from our church.FBC Jax Watchdoghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10740366031265491559noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8384632623933772727.post-44768009071950531812007-11-27T10:35:00.000-05:002007-11-27T10:35:00.000-05:00It's been a while since I have posted anything, bu...It's been a while since I have posted anything, but I read this blog quite frequently. I just want to say God bless you for what you do in exposing Brunson and the blatant lies that he is telling our church. I encourage you to keep sharing with us the truth about this man and what he is trying to do. <BR/><BR/>Having a school at our church is a ridiculous idea. There are already several private schools in our city, and I don't really feel there is a demand for another one. How are we going to come up with this money to finance this school when we are already behind budget? Why is it the resonsibility of the church to give more money because Brunson has mismanaged it? I have an idea for Brunson-if you have mismanaged our money that we have faithfully given by 300,000 dollars, then why don't you fix the problem yourself by taking it out of your salary? I for one will not give another dime to First Baptist Church until we start seeing some accountability from this Pastor. <BR/><BR/>Even if we had the money I would still be opposed to the idea of this school. For years I have been moved by the testimony of students from our church who attend public schools and have used them as a mission field to share Christ with others. Are we going to give up on this mission, because we could potentially make more money if we had a school? I am a graduate from a local private school that has been established in this city for years. When I graduated I was ill prepared for college because of the lack of education I received at this school. By the way, I graduated with honors, and I mention that not as any means of bragging, but to point out that even the most advanced students in private schools struggle when they get out of them once they are exposed to the real world in college. Having these Christian schools are not good for children. Many of them attend church already every Sunday, so we are bringing them into our Christian schools taking them away from a possible mission field in the public schools, giving them a poor education, all so they can hear the same thing that they already hear on Sunday and Wednesday's at church. If they aren't getting anything out of hearing the gospel on Sunday and Wednesday's, then forcefeeding them with it every day will not do anything either. I pray that the church will truly pray and seek God's will on the matter, and not follow Dr. Brunson blindly as he desires to make more money. <BR/><BR/>God bless you FBCJax watchdog, and I pray that what you are doing will help bring about change for the better in our church.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8384632623933772727.post-36359049941784362332007-11-27T08:51:00.000-05:002007-11-27T08:51:00.000-05:00I picked up your blog from my Google search on blo...I picked up your blog from my Google search on blogs. I hope you find something to be thankful for this season. Have you ever thought of sharing the positive attributes about FBC? Do you beleive God in control?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8384632623933772727.post-3597905219887640052007-11-26T16:52:00.000-05:002007-11-26T16:52:00.000-05:00I am with you Watchdog. I don't trust Dr. Brunson ...I am with you Watchdog. I don't trust Dr. Brunson when I hear him speak out of both sides of his mouth about finances.<BR/><BR/>I did listen to the clip when he preached at the NC church, where he said that our "giving was up", but that we were "behind in our budget" because we had "given so much to missions".<BR/><BR/>Yet he turns around to us last night to proclaim that we are not overspent, but that we are behind in giving what we committed.<BR/><BR/>There may be a way to tie those seemingly incongruent explanations together. But I just simply don't trust him at this point. It seems he twists facts to his advantage at any particular moment. That is a scary thought to have about a pastor in charge of FBC Jax.<BR/><BR/>He says we should pray about the decision to start a school. Why? The decision has been made. Will he put it to a vote before the church? I don't think he will even though he alluded that we would be voting on it in the near future. I hope that he does hold a vote, and that its a written ballot form. Otherwise those who truly do oppose our church at this time, behind this man starting a Christian school, will not have the freedom to voice "No".Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8384632623933772727.post-65786253693113276932007-11-26T15:18:00.000-05:002007-11-26T15:18:00.000-05:00I hate to say "I told you so..."But "I TOLD YOU SO...I hate to say "I told you so..."<BR/><BR/>But "I TOLD YOU SO!"<BR/><BR/>FBC Jax members - your commitment to (1) God's man/the pastor and (2)the Lord Jesus will be measured by one thing and one thing only: How much cash will you give to the FBC Jax budget.<BR/><BR/>Good luck and pay attention to the sermons - 90% of them will now be heading toward this goal. Every illustration will now be pointing out how you are not giving enough, or haven't kept your financial commitment, or are afraid of change (giving more money for the school) and on and on. <BR/><BR/>Enjoy the coming months...and pay special attention to guest speakers. They are paid thousands to come in and "help and support the pastor." How can they do this before picking up their checks? By challenging you to give even more!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com