Did the Macedonian church have the “secret sauce” to keep churches open and pulpits filled that is missing today? Last week, Axios stated that 15,000 churches could close this year (Read it here). I wrote the need to fill pulpits  (read it here ). Paul wrote: In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. 1 Corinthians 8:2-3

What you just read is impossible. Absolutely impossible. The Macedonians in “severe trial” still were experiencing “overflowing joy” and “rich generosity.” That’s not the impossible part (Jesus brings joy in the most difficult circumstances), what Paul wrote next is impossible: they gave “even beyond their ability.” How can one do that? You can only give what you can give. How can you give “beyond your ability”? That level of giving only happens as one is obedient to the enabling and providing whisper of the Holy Spirit. If we are going to fill all of the soon-to-be-empty pulpits and stop church closings, we need churches full of “beyond-their-ability” givers. 

The church closing and empty pulpit crisis is as much an economic issue as it is a spiritual one. There is not enough money in the offering plates. Pastors can’t feed their families on what the church can afford to pay. Maybe there are a faithful few who’ve been giving “beyond their ability” but not enough parishioners are doing so (Edited to read: some churches have closed even as the faithful have given “beyond their ability.” Church closures are not always economic, in other words). 

Historically, many churches had people giving beyond their ability. In more than one of the churches I’ve pastored there are stories of faithful people mortgaging their homes because the church experienced a financial crisis. One church would pass the plates; the ushers would count the money; and, if there wasn’t enough, they’d pass them again. Such sacrifice is unheard of these days. What pastor would have the gall (courage?) to make such an appeal?

The greatest transfer of wealth is happening in the next 10-15 years. Not coincidently, the greatest need for pastors is happening in the next 10-15 years. What would happen if faithful followers tithed in their wills? I’m not suggesting writing family out of their will or trust, but simply tithing as they are “promoted to glory.” Folks have been faithful in life, could they be faithful in death too. This bequest could be to a local church or (dream with me for a minute) a special endowment* set up by a denomination to supplement the pastor’s salary in churches with an annual income below a certain amount. 

A compelling case could be made to wealthy donors that in order to save churches, we need a several million dollar endowment to invest in the lives of pastors. This is pastor appreciation month, what better way to appreciate pastors than to make it so these servants of the Lord are not living below the poverty line (like I did when pastoring in Bad Axe, Michigan years ago). Lifting the financial burden is one way to fill pulpits and stop the closing of churches. 

Maybe the church’s longevity could be extended as people (rich and no-so-rich) give beyond their ability in life and death. I pray that like the Macedonian churches, in the midst of severe trial, there will well up in us “overwhelming joy” and “rich generosity.” Such faithful giving just might save the church for years to come!

*The math for a pastoral salary supplement endowment is daunting. To truly work on a large nationwide scale, several million dollars (estimated: in excess of $250 million) would need to be invested to payout enough to actually help pastors. Depending on how many pastors would be eligible, the numbers could make establishing such an endowment difficult but not impossible. Not if there is “overwhelming joy and rich generosity.”