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 After the "religious tax" was repealed, churches tried different things like renting pews or taking pledges.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?