Why is a 2,000-member New Jersey church with no building planning a $30,000 “reverse offering” followed by $60,000 more donated back to the community?
Pastor Tim Lucas
“Washington is broke, people are broke, and folks have lost faith that government can provide a lasting solution to economic issues,” says Tim Lucas, pastor of Liquid Church, an evangelical congregation which encourages the public to “come as you are” to services at three locations inMorristown, New Brunswick and Nutley, N.J.
Isn’t this an odd tactic for a church that doesn’t even own a building? Services are held each Sunday in banquet rooms at Morristown’s Hyatt Hotel and New Brunswick’s Hotal Heldrich asnd Nutley’s John Walker Middle School.
“We believe our current economic crisis is a spiritual issue, which is why we are moving forward with God’s recovery plan,” says Lucas. He speaks each Sunday at 9:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. services that are broadcast from Morristown to the outlying locations.
This Sunday, each congregant in attendance will receive a special envelope emblazoned with the words “God Trusts You!” containing varying cash portions of the Reverse Offering with $10, $20 and $50 bills.
“Every dollar in our economy is printed with the words ‘In God We Trust,’ but we want to challenge people with the idea that ‘God Trusts Them,’” said Lucas. “Jesus talked more about the topic of money than Heaven & Hell combined.”
The church is also in the process of releasing an additional $60,000 into local community projects in all three communities where it conducts services.
Congregants will be free to “invest” the money any way they wish, he said. The church’s webpage suggests ways for churchgoers to brainstorm uses for the dollars they receive.
Lucas cited the example of five families who are banding together to bring relief to a Manville, N.J. neighborhood devastated by the flooding from Hurricane Irene. “Our folks are showing God’s love by investing their money and muscle where the government hasn’t stepped up yet.”
He said the church is also dispersing funds to local organizations including Market Street Mission and New York City Relief Bus for active projects helping the homeless and urban poor. All told, $90,000 will be given away.
“Government isn’t the source of recovery — God is,” said Lucas. “And since God trusts His people, we do too.”
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posted September 23, 2011 at 4:58 am
OUR CHURCH IN FOWLERTON,INDIANA 46930 WE HAVE BEEN PRAYING VERY HARD THAT THE LORD JESUS HELP US GET THE FUNDS TO FEED THE HUNGRY OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA IN INDIANA IN OUR COMMUNITY AND WE HAVE BEEN PRAYING AND PRAYING PLEASE HELP US AND WE ARE WORKING TO HAVE A CHURCH HOME OF OUR OWN ARE CHURCH HOME NOW IS THE LIONS CLUB IN FOWLERTON WE ASK THAT YOU PRAY FOR US AS WELL THANK YOU AND MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND YOURS THANKS AGAIN GOD BLESS!!!!!!!
posted September 23, 2011 at 5:24 am
God Bless you!!
posted September 23, 2011 at 10:19 am
God bless you and give you a building of your own
posted September 23, 2011 at 11:34 am
What a way to invest. God is for you who can be aganist you. Keep going, God bless you.
posted September 23, 2011 at 4:22 pm
This action by this church is very inspiring and I can feel the Blessing of the Lord coming down on then.and the inspiration that is pouring down on other like-minded churches.
Thanks be to God for your actions that will change the way the churches use their offering.
posted September 23, 2011 at 8:16 pm
You are doing what the government should be doing, They should put god first and things would not be in the shape it is now. you cannot grow with out love, and god is love and will make a way if ask to.
posted September 24, 2011 at 3:12 pm
I think that is wonderful! The Lord is truly blessing the church, the members and those that will be blessed outside who will benefit from the church’s generosity.
posted September 24, 2011 at 3:15 pm
I AM A MOTHER OF A 9 YEAR OLD GIRL MY HUSBAND WAS A SMALL TOWN PASTOR IN MARYLAND WHO DIED BEHIND THE ALTER AS HE WAS PREACHING HE HAD AN HEART ATTACK AND DIED.WE WAS LEFT WITH NO INSURANCE ,ONLY A SOCIAL SECURITY FOR MY GIRL FROM HER DAD AND I A SMALL PART OF THAT.WE MOVED TO WEST VIRGINIA WHERE EVERYTHING WAS CHEATER.I STILL HAVE A HARD TIME FROM MONTH TO MONTH TO MEET THE NEEDS WE HAVE AND I FEEL LIKE WE STILL DO WITHOUT ,BUT I TRUELY KNOW WHO GOD IS AND HOW EVERYTHING BELONGS TO HIM .MY THOUGHTS IS IF YOU REACH OUT AND TOUCH OUR LIFES WITH MONEY I WILL PUT IT TO HELP PEOPLE THAT ARE TRUELY IN NEED HERE.WELL I HOPE YOU DO WRITE ME BARBARA GUY P.O. BOX 1273 PRINCETON,WVA 24740
posted September 25, 2011 at 4:39 am
Thank you Lord for this wonderful church and the people in it. I know that you are working through each and every one of them.
I know that blessing upon blessing will far exceed what any human can do alone, with you everything is possible and far beyond limitation you are a all encompassing and all empowering Lord God Almighty. Thank you Lord God
posted September 25, 2011 at 5:13 am
I hope their money blessings will come back to them. What an awesome thing to do for the people.
posted September 25, 2011 at 5:56 am
May the Blessings of the LORD, the One and the same Almighty GOD above be with you always and to your congregations.
posted September 25, 2011 at 7:05 am
How refreshing to see that people are still listening to God! He will bless you. Thanks for the blessing I received as I read your story. May your places of worship not have enough seats, and many will give their lives back to Christ today.
posted September 26, 2011 at 8:01 am
Wow that’s great i wish a lot of other churches would do this most churches only care about them selves i have 8 children and one on the way i asked a church to help me out and they wouldn’t do anything and they call there selves gods people and they always talk about how we should help each other but when that time comes they don’t want to do anything god bless you guys.
posted September 26, 2011 at 7:06 pm
I trust God’s people, those who are truly His people, more than anyone else on this planet. I will pray their hearts receive His guidance, in doing the best possible, with His money.
posted September 26, 2011 at 10:38 pm
YA KNOW WHEN GOD STEPS IN AND PUT ON THE HEART OF US ALL TO DO SOMETHING YOUR DOING IT RIGHT MAY THE LORD BLESS AND IF ANY ONE HAS A CAR THAT THEY COULD DONATE TO ME WOULD BE SO HAPPY TO GET AROUND TO THE STORES AND TO CHURCH, GOD BLESS EVERYONE.
posted September 27, 2011 at 8:50 am
TO GOD BE THE GLORY! GOD HAS ALREADY STAMPED THIS MISSION APPROVED! YOU HAVE ASKED GOD TO ORDER YOUR STEPS AND TO LEAD YOU AND GUIDE YOU. HE WILL ANOINT THIS PROJECT BECAUSE YOU HAVE DEVIATED FROM THE EVILS OF THIS WORLD AND INSPITE OF YOUR SITUATION, YOU ARE STILL WILLING TO HELP OTHERS IN NEED – PRAISE GOD…….
posted October 2, 2011 at 9:32 pm
Sounds like this church really got the right message: to take responsibility & help each other. We are our brothers’ (& sisters’) keeper. Make the world a better place. With love & gratitude.
posted October 11, 2011 at 1:24 pm
This is an unbelievable demonstration of faith Pastor and Almighty God is going to back up your words and action with phenomenal success.This is just AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
posted November 12, 2011 at 7:20 pm
We need more Pastors, Preachers and church leaders like this N.J. Pastor who is demonstrating the love of God to his congregation.
He is a typical example of walking by faith and not by sight. I endorse his belief that God has the answer to the world’s economic crisis. This suffering that mankind is experiencing is not of God.
I am involved in a group of serious-minded people who have discovered our economic recovery which we believe is God-sent. I would love to share this opportunity with all of God’s people.
I have already shared the story and have posted it on the social media.