Pastor Tim Corner

At July’s quarterly business meeting, we heard from the Trustees and Treasurer that we are struggling with making the budget at PBC. Although this is a cause of concern for us, I do not think that we find ourselves in a hopeless situation. The Trustees are going to start working on a plan to help this congregation increase their stewardship in the coming months. Each one of the boards is being careful in the ways that they distribute the gifts that we have been given. In the coming months, want to ask you to start thinking about your contribution to PBC: Why do you give to PBC?

Here are some reasons that Jenn and I give to PBC:

• In the Old Testament, the Hebrew people were commanded to give the first tenth of the spoils of their land as an offering to the Lord. This was meant as a way of recognizing that everything they have belongs to God and is a gift from God. Therefore,we participate in the Hebrew tradition of the tithe by giving 10% of our spoils to the church.
• We give to PBC because it helps us to realize that our money is not our own. Jesus does not want us to just tithe 10% of our income to the church - he wants us to submit every penny we have to his Lordship. Therefore, we give because PBC gives us the opportunity to submit more of our budget to the Lordship of Jesus and the building of His Kingdom.
• We give to PBC because we believe in the opportunity of PBC. For 151 years, God has used this church as a lighthouse to this surrounding community. For 151 years, God has provided for this church while his love has emanated from this church into the community. Over the years, as things and people have come and gone in this community, God has continued to hold this church steady. Now, as we watch the community change from a farming community to a suburban community. PBC has the opportunity to be a steady influence when so much around us is changing. So, we give in order to help this church be a steady influence amidst so much change.
• We give to PBC because we beheve in the people who make up PBC - young and old alike. We believe that God has gathered a unique and special group of people that are known as Pughtown Baptist Church. We like being a part of this church community. It is good for us to be a part ot this community. Our family benefits from being a part of this community. Therefore, we give to help maintain this church community.
• We give to PBC because of the Cornerstone class at PBC. They have been the foundation of this congregation for most of their lives. The ministries of this faith community rest upon the support of their shoulders. In their support and dedication to PBC, they have modeled a way of giving and caring for the development of God’s church. Because of the model that has been set before us, we give to PBC.
• We give to PBC because we believe in faith growth of the youth of PBC. We believe that we have a responsibility in the nurture and growth of the children that God has privileged us within this congregation. Our hope and desire is that one day every child who walks through the doors of this building will come to know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. It is our hope and desire that their commitment to Jesus will occur in our brand new youth room. Therefore, we give to support the youth ministries and out of love for the youth of this church.
• We give to PBC because we want to see this congregation grow. Grow in faith. Grow in love. Grow in kingdom building. Grow in drawing people to Jesus. We know that one of the ingredients of growth is commitment - the commitment of our time, our treasures and our talents. We recognize that nothing in this world comes easy, and the best things in life are seldom dropped on our doorstep -. they usually come through hard work and deep commitment. We give to PBC as part of our commitment to the growth of Jesus’ church.
• We give to PBC because we believe in the mission of PBC. We give to PBC because we want the kingdom of God to come to Pughtown as it is in heaven. We give to PBC because we believe that God is using this church to share his love in the Ridglea community. We give to PBC because we believe that God desires that every child in the Owen J. Roberts School will come to know Jesus as Lord and Savior, and we believe that PBC plays a role in that. We give to PBC because we believe that God has a special head for our friends at Coventry Manor, and PBC participates in God’s mission of hope and love on Chestnut Hill. We give to PBC because we believe that God is using this congregation to be his hands and his feet to the ends of the earth - like the Gulf Coast, Mexico City, Coatesville, and beyond.

I pray that God would continue to lead us, provide for us, and challenge us to build His kingdom through supporting the ministries of this church.

Pastor Tim,

Updated August 3, 2007.