One problem that my young adult group is facing as we're growing larger. Our pastor is charismatic and a good leader, everyone wants to talk to and get counsel from the pastor, but he doesn't have time for everyone.

So he's created leaders under him and he's trying to send people with questions or problems to them - but it's not working so great.

Have you faced this situation as your ministry has grown? What do you do to solve this problem?

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Furthermore, is it something about our church culture that creates this situation where so many people want to connect with you, but can't and are un-interested in connecting with a lesser leader? Is there a way to avoid this?

Would your Church survive without you? What would happen if you left?

Does it need to survive without you?

Christianity Today has an interesting article which tells the history of "the offering" in churches. Until 1833 all churches in the US were state funded and took no formal offering. After the "religious tax" was repealed, churches tried different things like renting pews or taking pledges. Finally, near the end of the 19th Centuray, churches started doing an offering time regularly in their services.

Well, it's interesting that "the offering" time is not how churches have always supported their budget. Maybe there are other strategies for raising money for God's work? An interesting question in these tough economic times.

Maybe National Community Church's Ebenezer's Coffee House is also a creative way to raise money to support the ministry?