Financial faith

By SCOTT NILES Courier staff writer

January 20, 2009 12:55 am

— OTTUMWA — The economy might be leaving some pockets empty, but it’s still leaving enough to fill area collection plates.
Ottumwa Calvary Baptist Church Pastor Mel Kendall said financial contributions to the church were fairly consistent in 2008.
In his opinion, tithing to the church have remained the same because there isn’t much change to the area. He doesn’t know of anyone in his congregation who has lost a job.
“There may be some who have been cut back on their hours, but people are still giving,” Kendall said.
Keosauqua Christian Church Preacher Bill Shewmaker said his church hasn’t seen any sort of negative impact on offerings, either.
Actually, he said, the church may be collecting a little bit more lately.
“I think people are just making charitable contributions a higher priority because they are putting the important things first, and God is important,” he said.
On an average week Shewmaker said it is not uncommon to see people at his church putting in $25 a week in the collection plate. Attendance numbers average only 30 parishioners, but even with a small church crowd, church officials have seen an increase of about $100 on a monthly average for at least the past couple of months.
“People are giving what they can give,” he said. “I’m thankful for the faithfulness of the people. I don’t want people to think the wrong thing ... you’re not turned away if you don’t give.”
Centerville First Baptist Church Pastor Lloyd Johnston said parishioner giving within his congregation remains steady.
“I think, like a lot of the churches, we are expecting the economic decline may hit us sooner or later, but it hasn’t yet ... We are prepared to sit down and redo our budget if we have to,” he said.
Christopher Noll, Bonaparte Baptist Church treasurer, said he doesn’t believe southeast Iowa has yet seen the dramatic impact of the economic slump, but believes it may be on the way.
“At least our parish hasn’t been affected yet,” he said. “This Sunday was probably the first Sunday we noticed any slack, but I think that also had to do with weather.
“When we estimated the 2009 budget, we took the economy into account and didn’t expand any of our programs or expenditures.”
Bonaparte Baptist’s current expenses include missionaries, staff salaries, maintenance and improvements to the church. Noll said they average $1,000-$1,300 in donations a week.
“That is only with a church of around 55-60 families,” he said. “Our church is definitely blessed.”
Noll thinks faith plays a part in church contributions.
“Part of the reason our church donations are up is because of faith,” he said. “God is supplying donations for the church ... He knows if you are faithful to the church and God, you will be rewarded in the end.”
Scott Niles can be reached at (641) 683-5360 or via e-mail at sjniles@mchsi.com.