This site uses cookies to maintain login information on FarmallCub.Com. Click the X in the banner upper right corner to close this notice. For more information on our privacy policy, visit this link: Privacy Policy
NEW REGISTERED MEMBERS: Be sure to check your SPAM/JUNK folders for the activation email.
Church problems.
-
- Cub Pro
- Posts: 23701
- Joined: Sun Feb 02, 2003 2:09 pm
- Zip Code: 63664
- Tractors Owned: 47, 48, 49 cub plus Wagner loader & other attachments. 41 Farmall H.
- Location: Mo, Potosi
Church problems.
Our church was built 45 years ago, mostly with volunteer labor by church members. Some was done by contractors, but none of the current members know who. We discovered this week that the trusses used for the roof and vaulted ceiling are coming apart to the point the contractors that have looked at it believe it is unsafe to meet in. Our income is less than our weekly expenses, and preliminary estimates are that it will take around 2/3 of our bank account to repair the building, which at the current donation rate will only leave us able to meet another 5 or 6 years. We are in a quandary as to what to do .Repair it and go on as long as we can, or put it up for sale and transport our members to another Church of Christ each Sunday in a van. I would appreciate your prayers and thoughts.
If you are not part of the solution,
you are part of the problem!!!
you are part of the problem!!!
-
- 5+ Years
- Posts: 2019
- Joined: Tue May 16, 2017 9:25 am
- Zip Code: 63628
- Tractors Owned: '40 H
'44 B
'47 Cub
'49 C
54A Blade
42 Woods Mower
Henderson Loader
Cultivators
No. 8 Little Genius 2-12 Plow
IH Running Gear - Circle of Safety: Y
- Location: Bonne Terre, Mo
Re: Church problems.
Yikes. Is it possible the church can obtain a loan to do the repairs? Decades ago, the church we were attending got a loan from Unico Bank to build a new building next to the old church building. I know that will require the church to endure a monthly bill, but that may be a solution.
-
- 5+ Years
- Posts: 414
- Joined: Thu Jul 02, 2015 12:02 pm
- Zip Code: 25314
- Tractors Owned: 1948 Cub (looks pretty)
1951 Cub (does the work)
1952 Cub (sold) - Circle of Safety: Y
- Location: Charleston, WV
Re: Church problems.
Very sorry to hear about this. I mean no offense but to your contractors, but I think it would be worth the money to get a structural engineer to look at it and discuss your options (if you haven't already). He may see an repair approach that the contractors didn't.
Good luck with this.
Good luck with this.
-
- Team Cub
- Posts: 9542
- Joined: Wed Jul 26, 2006 10:50 am
- Zip Code: 44057
- Tractors Owned: 57 F-Cub - Dad & Mom's Cub
77 F-Cub - Red Long Stripe - Circle of Safety: Y
- Location: OH, Madison
Re: Church problems.
Prayer has been lifted up.
Bill
Bill
-
- 10+ Years
- Posts: 6363
- Joined: Wed Sep 12, 2007 8:40 pm
- Zip Code: 49120
- Circle of Safety: Y
- Location: Niles / Buchanan, Michigan
Re: Church problems.
John, that's sad to hear. You've got two problems, the lack of income and an unsafe building. The first one that needs to be addressed is the building. Selling the building does not seem to be the answer in my opinion since you will need to nearly give it away as an unsafe building.
I'd suggest you appeal to the community and see if a local contractor might step in to help. Not that you're looking for a free fix but possibly a discounted cost. Often times you will find a contractor that may do the repairs for cost.
The next issue is your church will need to increase its giving and try to grow the church. Growing a church these days is difficult since so many have fallen away from the faith but Gods Word never promised it would be easy but it's our responsibility to do. I'm guessing you've got an older church population with not many younger families? If so, that equates to a dying church and will need to be addressed or all of this won't really matter.
I think a lot of prayer is needed along with a plan on how to bring more families into the church not only for the benefit of the church but for the families as well. I'll keep you and your church in my prayers.
I'd suggest you appeal to the community and see if a local contractor might step in to help. Not that you're looking for a free fix but possibly a discounted cost. Often times you will find a contractor that may do the repairs for cost.
The next issue is your church will need to increase its giving and try to grow the church. Growing a church these days is difficult since so many have fallen away from the faith but Gods Word never promised it would be easy but it's our responsibility to do. I'm guessing you've got an older church population with not many younger families? If so, that equates to a dying church and will need to be addressed or all of this won't really matter.
I think a lot of prayer is needed along with a plan on how to bring more families into the church not only for the benefit of the church but for the families as well. I'll keep you and your church in my prayers.
1929 Farmall Regular
1935 John Deere B
1937 John Deere A
1941 John Deere H
1952 John Deere B
1953 Farmall Cub
1935 John Deere B
1937 John Deere A
1941 John Deere H
1952 John Deere B
1953 Farmall Cub
-
- Team Cub Mentor
- Posts: 20433
- Joined: Fri Jul 02, 2004 9:52 pm
- Zip Code: 65051
- Circle of Safety: Y
- Location: Mo. Linn
Re: Church problems.
What ever solution the congregation decides is going to be an expense.
Thought. Rent or use another building for services. Years back the Catholic church allowed another denomination to use their building for services while the other building was being repaired. Services were scheduled for different times. Also when in the military, some posts only had one church. All denominations use the same building.
Thought. Rent or use another building for services. Years back the Catholic church allowed another denomination to use their building for services while the other building was being repaired. Services were scheduled for different times. Also when in the military, some posts only had one church. All denominations use the same building.
I have an excuse. CRS.
-
- 10+ Years
- Posts: 5259
- Joined: Tue Jan 12, 2010 2:08 pm
- Zip Code: 12514
- Circle of Safety: Y
Re: Church problems.
check with the insurance company, you may be surprised what they cover
-
- Cub Pro
- Posts: 23701
- Joined: Sun Feb 02, 2003 2:09 pm
- Zip Code: 63664
- Tractors Owned: 47, 48, 49 cub plus Wagner loader & other attachments. 41 Farmall H.
- Location: Mo, Potosi
Re: Church problems.
obtaining a loan is not an option since our income is lower than our expenses. We have tried repeatedly to increase membership, but in a 5 mile circle around the tow of Potosi, and anyone that is interested in church is attending one..We had a pretty good size congregation several years go, but tihin the period of a year many of them were transferred out due to work, or retired and moved back home. We are left with only 3 families that can afford to give anything and another 3 that are barely getting by.
If you are not part of the solution,
you are part of the problem!!!
you are part of the problem!!!
-
- 5+ Years
- Posts: 2019
- Joined: Tue May 16, 2017 9:25 am
- Zip Code: 63628
- Tractors Owned: '40 H
'44 B
'47 Cub
'49 C
54A Blade
42 Woods Mower
Henderson Loader
Cultivators
No. 8 Little Genius 2-12 Plow
IH Running Gear - Circle of Safety: Y
- Location: Bonne Terre, Mo
Re: Church problems.
I know the past year and half, especially last year, a lot of churches were closed down due to Covid. Our church did live Facebook for the whole month of April last year, and then we kept the live Facebook going since then. But income was down a bit. In our area, John's and mine, you can't throw a rock without hitting a church, so it's hard to increase a congregation without pouching (one pastor described it as "fishing in someone else's pond) another church.
-
- 10+ Years
- Posts: 4162
- Joined: Thu Nov 09, 2006 11:26 pm
- Zip Code: 61722
Re: Church problems.
A couple small churches around here are facing the same problem with membership. The young ones could care less about church or us old people now days.
-
- Team Cub Mentor
- Posts: 20433
- Joined: Fri Jul 02, 2004 9:52 pm
- Zip Code: 65051
- Circle of Safety: Y
- Location: Mo. Linn
Re: Church problems.
Perhaps doable. Church vans cost money.John *.?-!.* cub owner wrote:Transport members to another Church of Christ each Sunday in a van.
Next thought. Hold services at member's homes on a rotating basis. Atleast for a while, until the church members see how things go.
I have an excuse. CRS.
-
- 10+ Years
- Posts: 2799
- Joined: Tue Jul 22, 2008 12:44 pm
- Zip Code: 48370
- Tractors Owned: 184
- Location: Oxford, MI
Re: Church problems.
Sounds like it is time to consolidate. Merge two congregations to create one larger group.
184 w/ Creeper & 3-Point
IH 3160a Mower
IH Model 15 Tiller
IH-54 Blade
IH 3160a Mower
IH Model 15 Tiller
IH-54 Blade
-
- 10+ Years
- Posts: 1776
- Joined: Thu Oct 26, 2006 7:17 pm
- Zip Code: 44657
- Circle of Safety: Y
- Location: Minerva,Ohio
Re: Church problems.
Repair it and have one or more fund raisers to help pay for it. You’d be surprised how much you can raise with fund raisers. You could have a spaghetti dinner. Many local grocery stores will donate or discount supplies. How about a gofundme page on Facebook?
'49 Cub (Vince)
'41 allis B with Woods L59 mower
656 Wheel Horse with 42” sickle mower
C-165 Wheel Horse
Simplicity 20 HP Sunstar
Honda 48” walk behind mower
'41 allis B with Woods L59 mower
656 Wheel Horse with 42” sickle mower
C-165 Wheel Horse
Simplicity 20 HP Sunstar
Honda 48” walk behind mower
-
- Team Cub
- Posts: 17327
- Joined: Sun Feb 02, 2003 2:59 pm
- Zip Code: 55319
- Circle of Safety: Y
- Location: MN
Re: Church problems.
I think your options are to merge with another church, schedule your services at an available time in another church, or go with one of the other options for meeting elsewhere. Even if a fund raiser got enough money for the entire repair (which is unlikely), It would only extend your finances for another 10 or 12 years beyond your worst case projection. Even that assumes you don't loose one of your "3 families that can afford to give anything".
-
- Team Cub
- Posts: 9542
- Joined: Wed Jul 26, 2006 10:50 am
- Zip Code: 44057
- Tractors Owned: 57 F-Cub - Dad & Mom's Cub
77 F-Cub - Red Long Stripe - Circle of Safety: Y
- Location: OH, Madison
Re: Church problems.
John,
Just some thoughts on what we experienced in our church. Yes, attendance was larger than yours, however, we generated enough to pay off a $130,000 mortgage in just two or three months, without affecting weekly giving.
We challenged members to convert unused assets into cash, a few examples:
- a small crawler tractor that had been setting in a fencerow for years
- a unique pencil collection - really
- an unneeded life insurance policy cashed out to the church
- selling used clothing patterns on ebay (yes, there is a market for them)
- selling unused road worthy vehicles
- others that I don't remember at this time
We were amazed at how much "stuff" we had, that we weren't using, that could be converted to cash then given to the church. There are people out there that will give good (sometimes, really good) money for our "stuff." There were three or four families (no names given, just the amount) that pushed donations approaching $10,000 really hard. Our congregation was happy and excited to do this -- lots of smiling faces and high fives.
Bill
Just some thoughts on what we experienced in our church. Yes, attendance was larger than yours, however, we generated enough to pay off a $130,000 mortgage in just two or three months, without affecting weekly giving.
We challenged members to convert unused assets into cash, a few examples:
- a small crawler tractor that had been setting in a fencerow for years
- a unique pencil collection - really
- an unneeded life insurance policy cashed out to the church
- selling used clothing patterns on ebay (yes, there is a market for them)
- selling unused road worthy vehicles
- others that I don't remember at this time
We were amazed at how much "stuff" we had, that we weren't using, that could be converted to cash then given to the church. There are people out there that will give good (sometimes, really good) money for our "stuff." There were three or four families (no names given, just the amount) that pushed donations approaching $10,000 really hard. Our congregation was happy and excited to do this -- lots of smiling faces and high fives.
Bill
-
- Similar Topics
- Replies
- Views
- Last post
-
- 16
- 5111
-
by Gary Dotson
Sun Jun 12, 2022 7:12 am
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: IHCubCadet147 and 4 guests