Preachers, Facebook and Begging For Money
Preachers, Facebook and Begging For Money
Beware! An old problem has invented a new avenue to intrude uninvited into your world!
Over the years, ethical pastors, missionaries and evangelists have strived to work in harmony to further the Gospel.
When an emergency presented itself and additional finances were needed, the brethren all understood there were limitations and restrictions attached to acquiring the additional funds.
Our old pastors taught the younger ministry that ‘If you have a gift, it will make room for you. Don’t make room for your gift.” The advice is still relevant and appropriate today. I have tried to live by that.
They also taught us that if you claimed to have a ‘Faith Ministry” and went around asking for money, it wasn’t ‘Faith’ at all. You didn’t have a ‘Faith Ministry’, you were just a beggar.
Today through the conduit of Radio and TV, many are scammed. They are hoodwinked into investing and ‘sowing seed’ into bogus ministries.
(The great news is that all of us can have salvation and healing without investing a dime in some false prophet’s coffers.)
We now have the Internet. Along with that came Twitter, Everyone’s Apostolic, Facebook and other social networks.
It seems like lately that most of us have been swamped with notes in our Inboxes from assorted preachers.
- Missionaries, that some of us have never even heard of, want you to send them money.
- Evangelists are posting on your pages desperately wanting you to give to them.
- Preachers starting a church or pastoring a small one somewhere need you to contribute and they don’t mind asking.
Don’t give to them.
- You heard me right.
- They are not ethical.
- If they where ethical, they wouldn’t ask you!
Here is how the whole system works. Let’s start with the Missionary first.
Missionaries.
There are two basic and acceptable avenues for them.
If the Missionary is with an organization, they back him. He travels and gets acquainted with new congregations and revisits his faithful supporters. The pastors of those churches make pledges and mail their monthly checks to his Missions Department. The Missions Department then sends him a regular check. If an emergency arises, he contact his Missions Department and they respond. Sometimes a local pastor friend may hear of the need and respond privately.
If the Missionary is independent, he has no headquarters to help him out. He is at the mercy of the Lord and his friends. If he has an emergency, he may call or write a close pastor friend or two. This friend, may not have enough money himself to meet the crises. He them become a spokesman for the missionary and on his behalf will call some of his pastor friends. These men then will go to their churches, if need be, and raise the offering that way.
How ever it’s done, it’s never done privately between a saint in a church and the missionary.
Missionaries who get on Facebook and plead with saints for money are without scruples or ethics. Don’t give to them. Let your pastor guide your giving.
Pastors
Pastors that likewise plead for money from someone else’s saints, are without ethics or principles. Do not respond to them.
You don’t go next door to your neighbors and ask their working teenager to give you money to pay your bills.
Evangelists
Evangelists are out of line to EVER ask a dime from ANYONE. I have pastored 30 years and I have been preaching out for 50 years. During all those years, I have preached 919 revivals and never called and asked for one. I’ve also preached 335 conferences and 62 camps besides.
If you are a God-called preacher, don’t you think that the same God that called you will provide for you? He does!
No evangelist should ever ask for money on Facebook. Don’t be foolish and give to him, no matter if you like him or not.
His asking is without principle.
No evangelist should ever receive money from saints in the church where he is preaching a revival.
If money somehow makes it to his hand or pocket, he must give that to the local pastor.
If the pastor decides to keep the money or give it back, that is the pastor’s prerogative.
Every preacher must understand that God has a way of balancing every thing out. The same God that fed Elijah with a raven knows where each of us is laboring in the vineyard. Our day will come, where all the wine tours will be for us.
If these preachers are having to call and write around begging for money, maybe they should have stayed in their local church and helped their pastor. Maybe,(God forbid anyone should say it.) they’re not really called.
In spite of our talking till we are blue in the face, grievous wolves run loose among the flock. They will fleece you of your money if you let them. Don’t. Give the Bible way. Bring it into the local storehouse. (Church)
Do you want a blessing! Do you want to help the work of God? Then give bountifully to your local church. Give God your tithe. (You want a real blessing? Tithe on your Gross!) Give extra to your Building Fund, Missions and Sunday School. And while you are in a giving mood, slip some money in your pastor’s hand and bless him.
Apostolic Expository Series
Christy Ballestero (My Beautiful DIL)
http://marciaballestero.com/
Pastor Anthony & Kim Ballestero, New Destiny Worship Center, Clearwater, FL (My Son)
Pastor Bryan & Christy Ballestero, Temple Of Pentecost, Raleigh, NC (My Son)
James Groce Blog – "Toward The Mark"
Kenneth Bow Blog
Kingdom Speak Podcast
Philip Harrelson – "The Barnabas Blog"
Verbal Bean Ministries
Holy Ghost Radio
The Ballestero Blog 
This really needed to be said! You need to teach a class to these ministers on “Ministerial Ethics 101”. 🙂
Nila Marxer
August 20, 2010 at 7:19 pm
Amen! A mans gift will make room for him.
And God does it in his own timing!
Tony Spell
August 20, 2010 at 7:32 pm
And let the entire church say amen!!!!!
Caleb Adams
August 20, 2010 at 7:52 pm
And THAT’S my brother!!!!! Loved it!!! I was blown away recently when a young man, just starting a church, sent me a message asking for sponsors. I did not even reply. All I can say is they need to talk to Momma about praying for food & before the family could get up from their knees, someone was at the door w/bags of groceries. Do they not know Who we serve!??!
Carlene Branham
August 21, 2010 at 1:06 am
That was so awesome Elder!!! This is something that a young minister could be taught if he could ever learn to sit……..by the way I’m looking for a revival.
Bryan Tanton
August 21, 2010 at 1:49 am
LOL, Thanks! Love you Son!
mballestero
August 21, 2010 at 5:04 pm
AWESOME !!!
Bill Uzzle
August 21, 2010 at 2:15 am
Excellent.
Steve Epley
August 21, 2010 at 11:05 am
Thank you Brother, you reaffirmed what we already knew. We had a situation like this in a recent revival. The good part was it was coming from a new convert. The bad part was it was going to a seasoned minister.
Pam Adams
August 21, 2010 at 12:30 pm
Amen and Amen… we have had guest that ask my husband to buy them a Lap Top computer.. Last I had heard you did’nt need a $1,700.00 lap top to preach a revival.. I agree you need to teach a class.. Well for the right money I would teach it. hehe Looking forward to seeing you guys in Dec.
Sue Pinell
August 21, 2010 at 3:59 pm
very good……….
scott baham
August 21, 2010 at 5:53 pm
“Thats what Im Talkin Bout”..comes to mind bout rite now.
Jerry Rowell
August 21, 2010 at 6:52 pm
I agree Brother Ballestero. Now, would you like to sow a $1,000 seed offering into my internet ministry?
John Carroll
August 21, 2010 at 7:39 pm
lol
mballestero
August 22, 2010 at 4:31 pm
Clap….clap……clap…..
R Kent Smith
August 21, 2010 at 11:36 pm
This blog wasn’t a bit funny but it put a grin on my face from side to side! It makes my heart jump up and down and cry, “Hear ye, Hear ye!”
Johnny King
August 22, 2010 at 7:19 pm
Your Comment put one on my face too. Thanks Friend!
mballestero
August 23, 2010 at 12:31 am
This needs to be taught to every church in America! Preachers should listen up! Thanks my brother!
Dr. John Scheel
August 27, 2010 at 9:15 am
That’s what I’m talking about! Keep up the good work!
kevin archer
August 27, 2010 at 2:51 pm
Absolutely awesome.
Thank you for ‘uncovering’ this old apostolic landmark!
Jim Parker
August 29, 2010 at 9:33 am
Amen!!! This definitely needs to be taught!!!!!
Karen Ward
September 6, 2010 at 11:54 pm
I know this is bit old, but I have been asked, “What are you going to do for money when you go preach? will it provide enough?” My reply was “God will provide.”
Thank you Brother B I will back you on this one.
Joshua Brinsfield
September 22, 2010 at 2:05 am
Excellent… so direct and to the point, no room for misunderstanding what you’re trying to say. My pastor taught me all my life that your ministry and gift will make room for you… thanks for the words of wisdom.
JREmery
November 9, 2010 at 10:19 pm
Have said this myself. Only you have said it more eloquently. Thank you. I will be sharing this far and wide.
Tony M
May 28, 2015 at 1:09 pm
Coming to this late, through google search for “Indian pastors begging for money”. My husband and I have started a small ministry in the US but we are inundated now with African and Indian “pastors” begging us for money. No amount of explanation is enough, they simply do not stop. Right now there’s one telling me it’s for his kids in his orphanage, complete with photos and “proof” of his ministry credentials. It’s so hard to close your heart against someone who may be in need….and yet many ??? remain.
Stephanie S. Tackett
April 15, 2020 at 12:29 pm
Psa 37:25 I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.
Evidently, righteous, people don’t beg. (Tithe payers never have to beg) Interesting how bums have cardboard signs asking for money and they always include “God Bless You”
Do what you wish, but I ignore them and if they persist, I block them.
Martyn Ballestero
April 15, 2020 at 1:41 pm
Thank you for your reply.
Stephanie S. Tackett
April 16, 2020 at 5:00 pm