Has the economy affected worship?
Pastors look at the economy and their churches
Local church-goers have been been faithful in their attendance and giving, according to four Bureau County pastors.
As news continues on the effects of the struggling national economy, churches around the country have reported having to make cuts in their budgets, due to decreased giving from their congregations. On the positive side, some churches have reported more people are attending church because they are apparently looking for some answers to life problems.
Bureau County churches may not be experiencing those highs and lows of the economy, the local pastors said.
The Rev. Jeffrey Stirniman has served for nearly six years as priest for one of the largest churches in Bureau County, the St. Louis Catholic Church in Princeton, which has about 650 registered families. Attendance has been fairly consistent in the last several months, with no significant increases or decreases, he said.
Giving has also been consistent by the St. Louis parishioners, Stirniman said.
Sunday offerings have been good.
“There’s actually been a considerable surplus, and we’re hoping that surplus stays,” Stirniman said. “People are continuing to be good stewards of their treasures.”
However, his parishioners are not immune from the tough economic times. There have been some people in his church who have lost jobs in recent months. It is a scary time for some people, he said.
Fortunately, the Princeton area appears to be somewhat insulated from the full impact of the economic times, Stirniman added.
As far as his messages during these tough economic times, Stirniman said he’s not focusing on the economy but is continuing to give Bible-based messages. Talking about the economy during Mass isn’t something he’ll do, at least unless times got a lot harder, he said.
“I think one reason people come to church is to get away from all the news, the idea that the sky is falling on us,” Stirniman said. “People are worried enough without talking about the economy at church.”
The Rev. James Galbreath pastors the First United Methodist Church in Princeton, which has a Sunday attendance of about 185 people.
Galbreath, who has been at the Princeton church for about 10 years, said he’s not sure the economy has brought any more people into his church, but his church people have certainly been affected by the struggling economy.
Some of his congregation have lost jobs, while others have not moved upward in their jobs as hoped. Others have family members who have lost jobs and have had grown children move back home.
"The collaborative damage is there,” Galbreath said.
As far as the economy affecting church offerings, Galbreath said his church has some very faithful people who have strove hard to maintain their level of giving. The church hasn’t had to cut programs or materials.
“Our feeling is that during the stormy times, people need even more all the things the church can provide for them,” Galbreath said.
His message for people facing tough economic times is one of encouragement.
“There are certainly important lessons to be learned from times like this," Galbreath said. "Hopefully people will realize money and the worship of money can be a vain god. I think tough times also make people more thoughtful about what is truly valuable to them. They are more aware of the powerful blessings of family connections and friendships.”
In eastern Bureau County, the Rev. Curtis Jones has pastored the Seatonville Congregational, Independent Church for about nine years. The congregation has nearly 50 people in church on a Sunday morning.
Though there are people who are unemployed in his congregation, the Seatonville church hasn’t been as harshly affected by the economy as some other churches, Jones said. Attendance and giving have remained steady. Any cutbacks in the church budget were made before the recent economic troubles, he said.
When facing tough economic times, Jones said he’s encouraged his congregation to not give up and to keep their faith and trust in God.
“I encourage people to pray, and then to put feet to their prayers,” Jones said. “They can pray for a new job, but they also have to put the effort into searching out those jobs.”
On the west side of the county, the Rev. Steve Scott has pastored the Community Bible Church of Wyanet for about five years. He described his congregation as very giving and loving, gentle toward others. Attendance ranges from 35 to 50 people on a Sunday.
In recent months, there are some people who are coming more regularly, while others aren’t coming as often, Scott said. There are some people who have become more concerned about their incomes and taken new jobs to get by, but are still having a tough time financially.
As a congregation, it can be a scary time as people go through these tough times, the Wyanet pastor said.
Scott recently received a phone call from someone who asked if the church could pay his back rent. Scott said he didn’t see the church, or him as an individual, being able to do that. Maybe it’s God’s plan for the person to go through the court process and see if there could be more time allowed, Scott said.
"We grow through trusting God and remembering our lives are in His hands,” Scott said. “It’s not money that keeps a person secure. It’s your relationship with God. As you invest in strengthening your relationship with God, you find money, or the lack of it, doesn’t scare you as much.”
The tough economy does have its good moments, Scott said. For several years, his congregation has wanted to put siding on the parsonage, but had not saved enough money yet. A local business, wanting the work, has agreed to do the project for the money already saved.
Concerning his sermons, Scott said he has done more teaching this past year on giving and financial peace.
“The economy has given us an opportunity to teach what the Bible says about money, something that’s very relevant to our local culture,” Scott said. "I tell people there are more opportunities to see God at work in your life, in times like these, because you may not have all the answers or all the money you think you need. You find yourself out on a limb and realize you need help.”
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