One factor in western church culture is that we tend to measure potential leaders first in business terms and then in biblical terms. We evaluate our deacons, elders, and even pastors from a leadership standpoint from the get-go, which often creates an elder board composed of Christian businessmen instead of men who think biblically first and business second. There is always a tension between business strategies and biblical principles, and finances are a huge part of that. So how do we teach faith, as a church run by budget?

If a ministry opportunity comes forward, the budget is often our first port of call—and this is fine up to a point. But if you have a ministry need and a material lack at the same time, this is an opportunity to step out in faith rather than pulling inward in the name of responsibility. Our God is a God who answers prayer. How would our churches and our communities change if we started acting on that truth?

It’s the difference between considering yourself an employee and a disciple. Starting with a mindset of thinking biblically rather than financially shifts the whole equation. Finances are only a means to an end. If there’s a lack of means, that doesn’t mean we forget about reaching the end. It just means we take a step of faith and ask God for resource. He’s the one who owns the cattle on a thousand hills, and He’s the one who sovereignly orchestrates and provides for every good work His people do.

Church ministry is not necessarily rational. Oftentimes, our greatest need is not more money, but time in prayer. We pray because we believe the Spirit of God is leading the church, and we want to be obedient. We want to be able to celebrate what God is doing, because we see Him doing things that only He can do. If Abraham had never taken the first step to leave his homeland, he would never have seen God lead him the way He did. If Moses had not put his foot and his staff in the Red Sea, the Red Sea would never have opened. So many times, God wants us to take the first step of faith before He ultimately puts ground under it. Our challenge as western Christians is to look less to our own ability, and more to the God who provides.

To learn how you can be praying with us for the ministry in Haiti, visit Prayer Requests.