How Much Financial Support Do We Need And Why?
Mindset Shifts
When we're talking about how much financial support we need to move to Fayetteville, we didn't get to this figure based on Megan's and my specific financial needs and wants. That's good news by the way, because if our support target was based on those numbers, we'd be raising closer to $275,000! And hey, if Megan is eventually able to find part time work, perhaps we can get closer to that figure. But you and I both know it'd be inappropriate for me to receive a $90K/year income as a 20-something year old college pastor.
So, what we're really talking about here is how much is appropriate for Jeremy to earn as our church's college pastor, which has been determined by our church's oversight based on Fayetteville's cost of living and median income, Jeremy's past work experience, the around-the-clock nature of ministerial duties, and our church's policy for all pastors to receive the same base salary. Ultimately, my salary is not negotiable or up to us at all. Our role is simply to keep our personal expenses well within the means of our income in order to focus our efforts on establishing the church.
So, what we're really talking about here is how much is appropriate for Jeremy to earn as our church's college pastor, which has been determined by our church's oversight based on Fayetteville's cost of living and median income, Jeremy's past work experience, the around-the-clock nature of ministerial duties, and our church's policy for all pastors to receive the same base salary. Ultimately, my salary is not negotiable or up to us at all. Our role is simply to keep our personal expenses well within the means of our income in order to focus our efforts on establishing the church.
One More Clarification
There's one other key mindset shift that must be made in order to properly understand how this whole thing works: technically, our supporters are not directly supporting us. No one is handing us cash or giving us an allowance, and our donors' gifts don't go straight to our bank account.
Rather, supporters are giving to the nonprofit organization of Antioch Fayetteville, my employer. Instead of paying directly for our groceries or rent, you're technically funding the ministry of Antioch, who pays me an income for my work. Antioch, at the end of the day, is who determines my income and who pays me, even though Antioch's income - like most nonprofits - comes from people like you and me who donate.
That said, since one of Antioch's primary expenses is its staff, donors can specify that they'd like their gifts to be used towards my salary, which is why we 100% consider them a part of our personal support team!! And because of this very personal dynamic, we are more than happy to share anything and everything with our supporters about our finances, including how we intend to budget our money.
Rather, supporters are giving to the nonprofit organization of Antioch Fayetteville, my employer. Instead of paying directly for our groceries or rent, you're technically funding the ministry of Antioch, who pays me an income for my work. Antioch, at the end of the day, is who determines my income and who pays me, even though Antioch's income - like most nonprofits - comes from people like you and me who donate.
That said, since one of Antioch's primary expenses is its staff, donors can specify that they'd like their gifts to be used towards my salary, which is why we 100% consider them a part of our personal support team!! And because of this very personal dynamic, we are more than happy to share anything and everything with our supporters about our finances, including how we intend to budget our money.
Cut To The Chase
As a church movement, it's been determined that $60,000 annually is an appropriate base wage for its a pastoral staff based on factors I mentioned above. Jeremy's total income of $197,500 over three years also takes into account his years of relevant work experience, which will correlate to about $3,650 of monthly living costs. Megan's involvement, on the other hand, is purely on a volunteer basis and thus not compensated financially.
In the long run, once our church is established and our congregation grows, Antioch's budget (and therefore my salary) will easily fit within the tithes and offerings given by our local church body. We hope to reach that point within three to five years. But currently, given the nature of starting a new church from scratch, we need to look outside of our own walls for proper funding.
That's how we got to where we are today: where people like you have the incredible opportunity to launch a church that touches both Fayetteville and the four corners of the earth! We want you to be a part of this story! :)
In the long run, once our church is established and our congregation grows, Antioch's budget (and therefore my salary) will easily fit within the tithes and offerings given by our local church body. We hope to reach that point within three to five years. But currently, given the nature of starting a new church from scratch, we need to look outside of our own walls for proper funding.
That's how we got to where we are today: where people like you have the incredible opportunity to launch a church that touches both Fayetteville and the four corners of the earth! We want you to be a part of this story! :)
