Financial Support

Partnering in Starfishoz 

Thanks to those of you who have asked to hear more about partnering in what the Lord is doing through our lives. This is a generic note for a wide audience, so please forgive that it tries to cover many things in one paper.

 

Some general points:

·       We have been called to live by faith. That means it is the Lord who will provide. In fact, one of the names given to him in the bible is Jehovah Jireh, the Lord provides.

·       The fact that he may choose to provide through you is special both for you and us.

·       This is not about us getting x number of supporters until we have enough to live each month. That is not living by faith, it is living by calculation.

·       Likewise, this is not about us sending out letters to “supporters” telling them what we’re doing, and feeling obligated to contact them with a thankyou every time there is a deposit in our account (although we will be grateful). This takes our eyes off the kingdom work we’ve been called to do and has us managing a system. There is also the danger we then start ministering in order to please humans (the donors) rather than the Lord.

·       If there is an abundance of funds above and beyond our needs, these will be reinvested back into starfishoz. In other words, they will enable other workers to be sent into the harvest and be supported, as the Lord calls them and as multiplication takes place. These decisions will be made by our original listening group (refer to the first newsletter we sent out in June 2009) and by the financial deacons (see below).

 

Ways to give:

·       Those of you who are not involved with or committed to a customary church community may wish to give all or part of your regular offering

·       Those of you committed to an existing church community may choose to partner with us above what you are already giving on a regular basis

·       You may want to give a one-off gift, or an annual gift

 

Any of these can be given weekly, fortnightly, monthly etc by direct debit or cheque.

 

Account names and postal addresses for cheques:

·         P & J Steicke ATF Steicke F/T

BSB: 704-942 Account No: 138590

64 Marrett Drive, Ingle Farm, SA 5098

·         C & T Joppich ATF Joppich F/T

BSB: 704-942 Account No: 137332

7 Robert Arnold Ave, Valley View SA 5093

(The reason for separate accounts is for taxation purposes)

 

Holy Spirit inspired need assessors:

In Acts 6 the apostles sought deacons to assist in the administrative tasks. These were people full of the Holy Spirit, wisdom, and faith. This meant the apostles could devote themselves to the word and prayer, and so it was that the word of God spread and the number of disciples flourished.

When this group is established, these people will be able to

·       speak into our lives regarding finances

·       have access to the incomings and outgoings of starfishoz related accounts

·       speak to the wider church (house churches) regarding the resourcing of kingdom work

·       Discern needs of both believers and beyond and direct resources accordingly.

 

Along with a wider group of people, Peter and Craig are currently in the process of establishing a small group of deacons for the purpose outlined above. We already have 3 people who have been discerned in prayer and who are considering their involvement.

 

Andrew Kowald, an accountant in Perth (Integrity Accounting), was part of our original listening group and is giving us wise financial and tax advice throughout this process.