I am violating one of my own newsletter principles here – I try not to be preachy, but I couldn’t help but throw my hat into the ring on the budget debate.  As our nation grapples with the results of a generation of unbalanced budgets and national debt, this is a good time to reflect on our personal financial habits.  Those habits may be the direct influence of our culture of materialism and consumerism.

In the past five years, the Lord has seen fit to entrust Bev and me with over 1.9 million dollars.  We have done our best to use these funds wisely.  I am grateful to the Lord, and to our ministry partners, for the resources He has trusted to us.  I made many financial mistakes in the early years of my life, and I have learned from those mistakes.  Bev and I have worked hard in this season of our lives to follow some simple principles that have helped us to be exceedingly fruitful.

We Live Within Our Means – In our personal lives, Bev and I live as debt free as possible.  Though we own no home, I know that for most families a house mortgage is a necessity.  But beyond that, most personal debt is unnecessary and unwise.

We Guard Our Ambition – Bev and I are careful that we do not take on ministry debt that we cannot easily manage.  I do use a credit card for our travel and we do at times, incur debt in the purchase of property or with a construction project.  But I have learned to carefully monitor my ambition and make sure that I am not making decisions out of the heat of my own driven agenda.

We Choose a Simple Lifestyle – When we sold our home in Baton Rouge over seven years ago, we decided that we would reduce our expectations.  Spending half of each year with some of the world’s poorest people has helped us realize that “wants” are not the same as “needs”.

We Give Down & Invest Up – Jesus said, you will always have the poor among you.  Though the needs of the world are overwhelming, especially in the places we frequent, overwhelming need should not paralyze us.  Bev and I give to the poorest of the poor and devote a reasonable portion of our income to serving the poor.  But I also see the need to strategically invest.  We are church planters.  We believe in the power of the Gospel to transform a culture.  I invest much of our income into leaders that I perceive have the ability to influence others.  I invest heavily into their personal development and leverage their influence to change a community.

We Are Accountable – We are careful to be transparent in our personal and in our ministry finances.  Everyone needs accountability: to their spouse, to their family, to their pastor, and to the Lord.  A lack of accountability leads to financial recklessness and undisciplined spending.

I have posted a two-minute video on what the Lord has helped us to do over the past few years.  You can view it at www.rickzachary.com in the newsletter tab. 

Thanks for trusting Bev and me to be faithful with the investments you've made into the work of the Lord through us.

Rick, Bev & Shane