No one, from the person in the pew to the person in the pulpit, is immune to financial hardship. Personal finance and money management decisions affect more than individual lives-they impact relationships among people and, in the case of ministers, professional ministry. To develop and maintain credibility, it is important for ministers to establish a positive financial testimony before God and before their congregation. In Managing Money in the Ministry, author Christopher Stocklin-Doctor of Ministry and author of Cash, Credit, and Control and Financial Transformation-guides current and prospective ministers through an enlightening, personal, biblical approach to adopting healthy spending practices, eliminating debt, minimizing expenses, and maximizing income.
God is not concerned with how much money a minister has, but He does care what is done with that money. Using biblical lessons and personal experiences, Dr. Stocklin focuses on helping ministers implement a personal strategy to track expenses, develop future financial planning, establish a cash cushion, practice biblical stewardship, and institute spendable income parameters. Ignoring a financial plan can lead to financial wandering akin to the nation of Israel in the Old Testament, thus revealing a lack of direction, aim, and purpose.
Ministers cannot afford to separate their personal journey with God from their financial decisions. By creating direction and goals in personal finances, ministers can experience financial freedom and truly exalt the Lord Jesus Christ.
