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More Time for Ministry

October 16, 2019
Pastor Edgar participated in a Finances for the Kingdom course facilitated by Resonate Global Mission missionaries Jari and Jesse Rodriguez.

Pastor Edgar participated in a Finances for the Kingdom course facilitated by Resonate Global Mission missionaries Jari and Jesse Rodriguez.

Resonate Global Mission

Edgar is a dedicated pastor living with his wife, five grown children, and a grandson in Nicaragua. The small church he pastors isn’t able to support him financially, so he also runs a welding business.

Working long hours welding made it possible for Edgar to pastor a church, but his financial situation made it hard for him to find time for ministry. When he participated in a Finances for the Kingdom course facilitated by Resonate Global Mission missionaries Jari and Jesse Rodriguez, Edgar felt convicted to surrender his finances to God and learned better how to manage his finances.

Now he has more time for ministry.

“Edgar takes advantage of every opportunity to learn more about his Christian faith [and] to bless his congregation with new wisdom,” said Jesse.

Even though Edgar was busy with his family, welding, and pastoring a church, he still made time in his schedule to develop his leadership skills. In the past he had participated in training facilitated by the Nehemiah Center, a Resonate partner.

But when the Nehemiah Center invited Edgar to participate in the Finances for the Kingdom program, Edgar hesitated—he was skeptical about what is often called biblical teaching on money and finances.

“[Edgar] hates prosperity teaching,” said Jesse. “He didn’t want anything to do with [studying about] money. He said money had no place in God’s kingdom.”

Edgar wrestled with whether he should attend the training. But because training from the Nehemiah Center had helped him in his ministry before, he thought he would give Finances for the Kingdom a chance. And the very first session surprised and encouraged him.

“What does God say about our finances?” Jesse and Jari asked.

They prompted Edgar and other participants to go to God’s Word. Edgar read familiar Bible verses—Scripture that he had read many times and had shared with his congregation—but on that day Edgar saw the Bible verses in a new light.

The Holy Spirit worked through the Finances for the Kingdom teaching to show Edgar that God cares about finances and stewardship as well as  about people’s spiritual well-being. But Edgar didn’t just experience a change of heart. He felt convicted to surrender his finances to God and to change his habits too.

Jari and Jesse gave Edgar tips on managing his finances. Edgar started by writing out his family’s budget and hanging it where everyone in his family could see it and contribute—they wrote out what money was needed for food and bills, what money was coming in, and where all the money was going. Edgar also started saving money and paying off debts.

Edgar wondered if he would feel restricted from keeping a close eye on his budget, but he said he experienced more freedom instead. “[Participants] start to see God’s faithfulness and goodness as they start applying these principles,” said Jari.

Edgar discovered that as he learned more about managing his finances, he didn’t have to spend as many hours welding. He could devote more time to ministry! And now he not only has more time to spend with members of his congregation and community, but he has even been able to work in ministry with other communities in El Salvador and rural regions in Nicaragua.

“That’s the goal of our ministry,” said Jesse, “—to strengthen the Nicaraguan church.”