Budget Rules

By Doug Franklin November 14, 2011

We all have budgets, resources given to us to make our ministries grow. It’s very important that our budget reflects our vision. If our vision is to build transformational relationships then our budget should have resources to take students out of food so we can hang-out and talk. But what happens when the church doesn’t want to pay for things that they think are not “church related.” This issues comes down to people controlling the resources who are not doing the ministry. This is not a great place to be if you are a youth worker because most of the time the older people in the church make budget decisions while younger people in the church carry out the ministry. If you’re in this position and you’re frustrated I can understand. Here are a couple of ideas to help ease your suffering.

1. Project vision
This is what you have to do when casting the vision has not worked. Budget leaders are suspicious of how money is spent by youth workers so take a student with you into the budget meeting. Have them share how they have been affected by the vision of the youth ministry. This is the most effective thing you can do to help the budget folks get your vision.

2. Never go over
When you are given a budget don’t go over the money they have given you. When you show you can be responsible with the money they will give you more. This is an integrity issue, even if they will never give you more money and even if they will never help you with the ministry, don’t go over. You need to be a leader of integrity. Money and sex are the two areas that take down leaders. Never give money an inch because it will end up taking you down.

3. Don’t mix money
Be very careful about mixing your money with church money. I know that sometimes we are behind and we use our money hoping to replace it later with church money. This can be dangerous. Make sure you are above reproach. Also you can go bankrupt very fast if you don’t keep track of spending. Don’t spend your own money if you can at all void it. It leads to bitterness and anger if you don’t feel like the church is “all in” with you.