If your church went way into debt to buy a new building, did you have a good outcome, or was it a disaster?
398015
Our church is going through this issue now.  The church should analyze their income from the last two years to see if they can afford the mortgage.  Lots of churches go into debt to build, but they have a reasonable belief that they can pay off the loan.  There are also lots of organizations that help churches with low/no interest loans, land purchase help, etc.  depending on your location and denomination, I would check into that before getting a traditional loan.
207835
I think it is bad business: My guess is that less than one per Million of this bibles brought anyone to Christianity. \nA good quality bible like these cost at least 10. \nSo instead of wasting 10 Million on Million bibles to convert one person, they could use this money to convert 100 people by bribing each of them with $100,000! \nThat 100 times better return on their investment!
1005792
I did.  You can usually get a much better (and fixed rather than variable) interest rate that way.  I am not sure what the cons are, I only know the pros.
203134
Many people have.  This question has been asked a couple of times already.  They violated predatory lending laws, and charged excessive fees that in most cases resulted in the acount having less money in it when it was closed then when it was opened even.
578166
The biggest mistake I ever made was getting out of the will of God, and getting out of church. I got with the wrong people. They took me out in sin, father than i wanted to go. I Thank God for bringing me back to Him, and for another chance to serve Him.
1111182
ask your church if they have work you could do for money
217744
No I disagree the old testament tithe was 10% we live under the new covenant.  10% is a great start but if you are unable to give 10% give what you can.  If you are able to give more than do so.\n\nAnd no I think that a church that does that is way off.
461488
Look in the Yellow Pages under Churches and call them all.  They have the money set aside for such emergencies.  You don't have to be a member - just in need of services.....)(
1145335
My husband & I bought a foreclosed home last year.  We actually looked at several.  We chose this house because of its location.  It had been vacant for 2 years, and not well maintained prior to that.  We knew all of this before we made the offer of nearly 25% less than the asking price (which was low for the area to begin with).\n\nThere was some extra paperwork, mostly releasing the bank from any liability for things that did not work.  Nothing worked.  Our offer was accepted within 24 hours, and it still took 6 weeks to close on an unoccupied house with a cash purchase.\n\nWe have been doing renovations since December.  We have been doing them ourselves and have saved tens of thousands of dollars.  Even with all of the work we have still spent less than 1/2 of the curent market value of similar homes in this area.  If we had it to do over, we would.
1022946
churches have always been corrupted. It is probably best to worship God in your own way.
199776
No.  But you may think about registering as a church to avoid the taxes.
975811
SORRY I AM A CHRISTIAN-BUT THE ONLY KNOWLEDGE I HAVE OF FINANCES IS-\nGIVE AND IT SHALL BE GIVEN UNTO YOU-GOOD MESURED ,PRESSED DOWN,SHAKEN TOGETHER,AND RUNNING.\nGOD BLESS AS YOU SEEK
66428
Not as much as you might think.  The real "value" in the Catholic Church is in people and art.\n\nFrom news reports of the abuse of some of the Priests, you will see that many Diocese are declaring bankruptcy over $30 million - $100 million.\n\nJust to give you an example, as of July 2003 the Vatican's real estate is worth about 700 million euro ($1.21 billion), not including its priceless art treasures.
1174398
I just sold my house in Florida.  I was 10 miles from where Hurricane Charley made landfall.  Property values went through the roof because there was a sudden demand for existing, undamaged homes.  With each successive storm leaving more damage in its wake that demand increased.  People needed shelter, and the insurance companies and contractors could not make the repairs fast enough.  It was easier to buy another home than it was to have your damaged home repaired.  Many people sold their homes at HUGE profit.  The market in many areas has now gone flat with a glut of overpriced homes.\n\nI did not make a huge profit, that is one reason I was able to sell.  It has gotten very expensive to live in Florida.  I could no longer afford my homeowner's insurance & property taxes.
1064897
On the face of it, this sounds like good financial management by the firm.\n\nIf it were financially shaky, they couldn't get bank cooperation to do this --so-- thumbs up.
972302
No.\nI had a great time at the church outreach last night.\nWe packed the place! It was Great!\nIf you missed it, you missed it.
973580
I totally think so.  How can you justify "having faith" and financially planning?  Did Christ financially plan?  Or his disciples?  For more than money for ministry?  But of course we all know we must financially plan, or else be headed for disaster.  Another example of difficulty of interpretation.