People have asked before if there isn't a better way to spend money than on sound, sets, signage, marketing and stuff like that for Sunday mornings because it seems like between all the music equipment, projectors and series things, we have spent a lot of money. I agree with that last part at least. We've spent a lot of money. I'd also agree that we could certainly spend it in other endeavors and support other things with it. But there is a method behind the madness.
First, I think it's a sin for church to be boring. I'm not saying it's our job to entertain, but it is our job to engage people and create an environment where they're at least open to hearing what God has to say. Like it or not, that takes money. God's word is still the most powerful thing we have, but if people won't come or can't get past the bore-factor, they'll never even hear what God has to say through His word.
Second, we're not spending as much as we're investing. We're investing in tools to help us capture attention and communicate truth and the best part is, we let anyone use these tools. That's why people are inviting their friends - they're invested and the church has invested in them to give tools people can use to reach out to their friends
Third, I believe that we teach for life-change and if we can connect people visually, verbally, emotionally to something they encounter in places other than church, we've increased their chances of remembering what God's word says and making a connection with their behavior. It's called an object lesson and Jesus used them all the time by pointing to things around Him (fig trees, fields, birds, etc) and then teaching people how they should live. It worked because they could relate to what he was talking about....they understood.
You may not agree and that's perfectly fine. I just thought it'd be a good idea to explain why we're investing thousands of dollars in these first few series this year. The main reason is that people in Pitt county matter to God and if that's all it takes to have an opportunity to present them with Hope and Truth, why wouldn't you make that investment?
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I'd like to add a little perspective to this as well.
We meet in a gym which we don't own so we're not tied to a mortgage which lets us use a ton more money in the community. Even if we had a mortgage, it would be a building that our budget would permit (which wouldn't be a very big one) that we probably would outgrow in a very short time. The money that has been spent so far in the things we use from service to service is minute in comparison to what would have to go out to equip a building that we owned. All that to say, we have saved a ton of money throughout the process so far and Jason is trying to be as wise with the monies entrusted to the church as he can.
Also, a HUGE chunk of the moeny invested by our church has poured directly into the community. Every Second Saturday Service has been 100% by Discovery. 4th of July events at Town Commons, The Church Has Left the Building, other events that we have participated in or have put on have been completely funded by the church. Also, a lot of the stuff we have purchased, sound, stage, lights, curtains, have all been able to be used by other members of the community to bless them (Crisis Pregnancy Center, Girl Scouts, Greenville Trade Show, not to mention the Boy's and Girl's Club). They're not just spending to make Discovery "look cool". They're trying their best to be a blessing with what God has trusted the church with.
I wish everyone could see the amount of prayer and homework and research that goes into most every purchase this church makes. Jason doens't want to spend any money on something that won't help God's message be heard either more effectively or by more people. In fact, for those of you who don't know, none of the "full time paid staff" are actually paid staff. They all raised their own support so they could better use God's money to reach the community. Just thought I'd share a little of what I know. I hope this helps.
Thanks for that input. Just one minor correction. As of February 2008, Claude is now full-time and is paid mostly by Discovery Church rather than solely through support he raised. The rest is right on though.
I don't know whether your post or the anonymous comment are in reaction to discussions that have been going on up there, but it sure sounds like either a nerve has been struck or is going to be.
If there has been debate on the issue of how funds are being spent, I hope it is being done in a respectful, open way. In fact, it can be a sign that healthy relationships are developed. It also shows that people care.
Discovery Church is a church that focuses on and values relationships and bringing Jesus to people where they are in real, tangible ways. I don't think that is incompatible with some of the "big production" stuff that goes on. The Bible is full of examples of God doing "big stuff".
As with other things, if the medium doesn't overshadow the message, things are probably going to be ok.
Three of the reasons that I really enjoy going to Discovery are listed in Jason's blog -
1) it's a sin for church to be boring (been there, done that - and not going back).
2) we're not spending as much as we're investing (and the investment is in people's lives).
3) we teach for life-change (I actually remember and relate the messages days, weeks and months later)
Discovery's and Jason's focus has been on people and not so much on the "stuff" (and yes, we all have to have some "stuff", we just have to keep it in the right perspective). I think most people realize that Discovery is first about people and that is why the Sunday morning service keeps growing.
Keep up the good work Jason, Claude, Davey and all the others that make Discovery a place people want to come and worship!!!!! I can't wait to hear more about "The Price Is Right"!!!
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