Financial support for individuals through Connect Groups
One of the things I love about being part of this community is that you are so generous. For example in this season, people have given of their time and we’ve been able to host 943 guests on Alpha Online and given of money through which we’ve been able to support 185 families through the food bank.
But as well as the coordinated whole church efforts there are loads of wonderful stories of connect groups and individuals who have been reaching out and loving their neighbour in creative ways.
One of the ways has been through financial support for people who are in need and Connect Groups are one of the best vehicles for this kind of giving.
And so I want to provide some biblical wisdom in this area of giving and also some advice on the best practice from within HTBB because financial giving to individuals can be tricky for both the recipient and those giving if expectations are not clear.
I think the best way to describe what we aim to offer people is a safety net that prevents people’s situations from spiralling beyond control.
For example, one story where this has worked well is a refugee family in the congregation who lost their jobs and were going to have to move out of their apartment. A Connect Group grouped together and offered to pay two months of their rent. During the first month, the couple were both able to find jobs (and so didn’t need all the money offered) and were able to continue to support themselves. The generosity of the group bridged the gap.
So How?
John 6:1-13 documents the feeding of the five thousand, where Jesus takes the lunch of a small boy and multiplies it to feed the crowd. And in this story, we find helpful principles to apply when supporting people financially.
Some time after this, Jesus crossed to the far shore of the Sea of Galilee (that is, the Sea of Tiberias), 2 and a great crowd of people followed him because they saw the signs he had performed by healing the sick. 3 Then Jesus went up on a mountainside and sat down with his disciples. 4 The Jewish Passover Festival was near. 5 When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?” 6 He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do. 7 Philip answered him, “It would take more than half a year’s wages[a] to buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!” 8 Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up, 9 “Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?” 10 Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” There was plenty of grass in that place, and they sat down (about five thousand men were there). 11 Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish. 12 When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, “Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.” 13 So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten.
John 6:1-13
1. Involve others
When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?” He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do. - John 6:5-6
Jesus does not need us but he loves to use us! He didn’t need his disciples but he includes them because he is going to teach them something through this situation. We should seek where possible to involves others in service as:
It makes the financial burden easier to share
It gives others the opportunity to give - it really is an honour to give, and Jesus meant it when he said ‘it is better to give than to receive’
It reduces the chance of a unhealthily dependant relationship forming.
(Eg. if someone loses their job, and can’t make rent, it may be appropriate to help pay rent, but it is also appropriate for them to consider if they need to re-negotiate their rent or move house).
It helps to creat accountability and transparency
2. Do what you can, not what you can’t
“Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?” - John 6:9
Andrew (whose main role seems mostly to be pointing things out to other people) in the face of the overwhelming need, points to what they do have, in fact, it's not even theirs it's someone else's lunch. This is helpful for us to remember - we can only give out of what we have. What we have may not be enough, but in this passage, we are shown just to do what we can. There is a phrase used in Catholic social ethics which is: ‘No one is held to the impossible.’
We do what we can do and trust that Jesus will do what only he can do.
3. Give relationally
Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” - John 6:10
The word for sit down here is ‘recline’, and it is the way you’d eat at an intimate dinner party at someone’s house. It’s the word used for how John lay on Jesus at the last supper.
Money alone is rarely the solution to problems and strengthening community should be a key aim in caring for people financially. This means that:
Think about the problem holistically - there may be better ways to support than through finances (eg Practical support, food suplies, pre-loved items, technical help)
It is best that people ask for support through their connect group
It is best that the request is made publicly with people knowing who the money is going to and for what purpose (though being pastorally sensitive to the shame that sometimes goes with finding yourself in a situation of need)
Our pastoral response to this is that it is not shameful but a brave thing to ask for help.
Jesus asked for help.
He asked his disciples to pray with him in Gesthemene:
He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. 38 Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.” - Matthew 26:37-38
Jesus and his disciples were financially supported by a group of influential women.
The Twelve were with him, 2 and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out; 3 Joanna the wife of Chuza, the manager of Herod’s household; Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means. - Luke 8:2-3
If the Son of God was not above relying on others to support him, then we shouldn’t be surprised that we need help from others too!
That you pray that God would use this as an opportunity to strengthen the existing community as we share in one another’s burdens.
4. Give with thankfulness
Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. - John 6:11
Jesus gives thanks to God before the miracle happens, even more, remarkable is the words: that on the night that he was betrayed he broke bread and gave thanks!
All of our sacrifices and offerings are to be one of thanksgiving in gratitude for what Jesus has done for us. Guilt is a terrible motivator and often ends up making the situation worse. No one need give, there is no obligation. We do so out of joy for what Jesus has done for us. What is even more amazing is that Jesus gave thanks for the little boy's lunch. So when you give know that Jesus gives thanks to God in heaven for whatever it is you give, which is an amazing thought!
This also prevents the two temptations when we feel overwhelmed in the face of need:
Panic / Overwhelmed
In Philip’s reaction we see the temptation to panic:
Philip answered him, “It would take more than half a year’s wages to buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!” - John 6:7
Abdicate / Run Away
In Mark’s account of this same story he record another disciple saying:
“Send them away to go into the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.” - Mark 6:36
Basically let them sort it out for themselves. When we feel overwhelmed these are the two reactions that will come naturally to us - but if we let them rather than thankfulness drive us, we’ll likely not be as helpful as we could be otherwise.
5. Have a plan
…and distributed to those who were seated… - John 6:11
He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do. - John 6:6
Jesus had plans. Often they seem counterintuitive (in this passage he opts to focus on the twelve disciples, and lets the crowd of thousands walk away - which you’d think is a bad plan for gaining influence, but here we all are today!).
I don’t want to overplay this too much but Jesus seems to be very intentional and mindful of everything he did. It can be helpful to think in terms of the SMART goals when assessing what someone’s need is and what the ‘ask’ of the CG is:
Specific - what is this money for, and clarity around what is being given. ie this is a gift, not a loan (NB. I would never recommend loaning anyone money as I do not want them to be in my debt. So if I do not have it to gift I do not loan instead, I just give what I can).
Measurable - we know how this money is going to be used
Attainable / Realistic - The story of Jesus feeding the five thousand kind of blows this one out of the water but what I think we can ask is: “Will this giving make a difference to the situation they are facing?” ie. It is not perpetuating unwise behaviour (eg to pay off interest to a loan shark).
Timely - What is the timeframe for this giving? Is it a reoccurring need, or a one off need? Decide what happens to the money pledged if the desired amount hasn’t been given by the time it is needed (eg a rent due date)
One model of best practice:
A person asks for help and is directed to their CG leader.
Their CG leader finds someone who can help coordinate and receives the money - this is to reduce burden on the CG leader and to strengthen accountability.
A clergy/staff team member is informed who they can ask for support and guidance from, and provides additional accountability.
It is communicated to the CG what the need is.
Those that would like to give are directed to the coordinator who then individually passes on the giving information.
The coordinator tracks in a document how much money is received into their personal account and from who - and is able to halt giving when the target amount is reached.
The money is then transferred to the recipient.
If for some reason the need has disappeared, the money is returned to each person who gave.
A summary of the transaction is provided to the CG leader and staff/clergy member and kept on record in case anyone has any questions in the future.
Its good to encourage the recipient to share their situation with the group as it develops.
6. It’s about Jesus
Jesus then took the loaves… - John 6:11
Then the most important thing to remember is that this is all about Jesus. The key moment in this story is not when the disciple realise their lack, nor when they robbed a kid of his lunch, the turning point is when they bring what they have and give it to Jesus. Jesus is the one who makes us enough. And he loves it when we share our lunch but he also wants our lives, treat this kind of giving as an act of worship - pray when discussing it with others and give thanks at every stage.
Defined Team Roles:
CG Leader:
speak to the recipient
make the request of the connect group
appoint a coordinator
Coordinator:
Receives pledges from givers and then provides them with an account detail to send the money to
Receives the moneys and keeps a record of it
Stops the giving when the target is reached
At the end
give the money to the person in need
or back to the givers
Gives a copy of the giving record to the CG leader and assigned staff member