Preacher's Honorariums...When do we get to the place when unless you pay I wont preach?

[Pastor Byron L. Sims]

Just a thought! We have come to a place when the name of Jesus is not as popular as our title and name? So if a preacher has a popular name this determines his/her worth of honorarium.

[Lady Divine]

I constantly remind myself, "For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward" and I trust God to deal with all the provisions when I am invited to share the gospel. He has never failed me.

[Pastor T. A. Smith Sr]

Thanks you doc, for having the courage to address this issue. I am deeply saddened by the great number of ministers who have been seduced by the Gehazi spirit, and compromise the message and power of Christ for material acquisitions.
It is forever true that we who preach should live of the Gospel, but it is also forever true that we should not greedy for filthy lucre. Any preacher who has bee gifted to be called upon to minister in places beyond their own place of assignment has to be willing, in my thinking, to be open to occassional mistreatment. There are some in ministry who, for whatever reason, do not know how to be a gracious host to their guests. But I hold that God gives us such experiences and assignments to test our authenticity. Are we truly motivated by ministry (serving others) or by materialism (serving ourselves)?
It has been my experience that when I have ministered in a place and was not properly compensated for my labors, the Lord opens an unexpecetd door somewhere else that more than makes up for what was missed. We must be mindful that ministry involves suffering. If we are not willing to suffer with Him, we certainly cannot reign with Him.
Thank you, my brother for having the courage to raise the question.

[Pastor Byron L. Sims]

Thank you for your comment. It is a blessing to know that the true ministers of the gospel are serious about the will of God than the 'dollar' bill of God.

[Patrick D. Joubert]

I read other's postings that said that if a church or ministry will be honest about their financial situation ahead of time that those of us who are of an integritous nature would still go, minister and more than likely sow the gift back into that ministry. I've done that several times because I know that the Lord takes care of us ultimately and I would not put another church in a bind just to fatten my own finances. The problem that I have is when a church/ministry can afford to do better and they don't. I think all of us would agree that's when the problem is born.

Another story of mine and others on the network perhaps is when they lift a PUBLIC LOVE OFFERING for the speaker. They make it CLEAR thats its for the SPEAKER and then they take YOUR offering out of the sanctuary, supposedly to count it, and then bring you a check. I have a serious problem with that as well. Here is my issue. If it's for me, regardless of what it is, just give it to me. Right then and there. Don't pretend that you are going to ADD to it. If you want to add to it then it doesn't matter what the initial offering amount is, just ADD to it. The offering should NOT leave the sanctuary but go directly to the man or woman of God. I've watched people take money out, count it and then give the speaker what they want him/her to have. Now family of God, that's worst to me than charging people to come and preach and it has given birth to the charging attitude that has this discussion going on even now...

~ Jube ~

[Pastor Byron L. Sims]

WoW! Thank you for sharing your experience. I do believe that this is why it is necessary that we continue to keep the pulpit sacred from greed, selfishness, and lack of integrity. I appreciate the blessing but let us give honor to whom honor is due.

[Patrick D. Joubert]

An interesting subject indeed has been put on the stage. So much could be said with regards to this subject that we would never exhaust it fully. I believe in the privilege of preaching the gospel but I also believe that it is a privilege as much for the hearers of it as it is for the heralder of it. Tha being said, I have blessed to travel the country extensively for some 20 plus years in revivals and conference alike. I have NEVER given a set expected honorarium and there have been times when I know for a fact that I was used by people who had no use for me. I offer what I think is my most memorable experience.

I was in a city outside of my hometown in Louisiana to conduct a 5 night meeting. Travel time to the meeting was 4 hours one way and I was there 5 nights. I stayed with family to keep cost down. I preached 5 nights to packed house (200 - 300 per night) and on Friday night the Pastor told me he had a funeral the very next morning at another church that he pastored in North Louisisana and that the finance was putting together my "PACKAGE." When dinner was done the finance team gave me a bulging envelope and my family and I started heading back to their home so I could pack and get ready to drive 4 hours back to my house. I handed the envelope to my grandmother, a CHURCH MOTHER, DEVOUT, SAINTLY, woman of God and after she counted it she spoke a language such as I had neverheard her speak before. She was so angry that she made me pull over and count the money. I counted 39 one dollar bills. I received $39.00 for doing a five night revival in a city that was four hours aways from my home. Now I know all of us would agree that something was wrong with that picture. I actually called the pastor when I got home and asked him about the honorarium and his reply was "I told them to pay you $50.00 for the week."

In closing...I submit to you that the gospel is FREE but we should consider being fair with the bearer of it...

[Pastor Byron L. Sims]

Amen, Woman of God. We plow in hope, expecting to receive of our harvest. We sow spiritual seeds and reap natural harvest.....souls, priestly support, and many undeserved but appreciated blessings.

[Lady Divine]

In my humble opinion, it should never, ever be a question of money.........

WOE IS UNTO ME!

For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!

For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation of the gospel is committed unto me.

What is my reward then? Verily that, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel of Christ without charge, that I abuse not my power in the gospel.

I Corinthians 9 16-18

[Pastor Byron L. Sims]

Thank you for your comments. I also agree with the understanding that it is a privilege to preach the gospel to any congregation of any size whether paid or not. It is a blessing when the integrity of the pulpit is not based on the offering or honorarium. Most of the veterans of the gospel understood that to fairly blessed the preachers meant he had blessed the congregation to reach their contribution goals, encouraged unity, conviction, and salvation to new potential members of the host church. To reward him financially as he or she has blessed the congregation spiritually would open the windows of heaven for continued blessings. Unfortunately greed, selfishness, and lack of integrity has invaded the mission of our pulpits. One pastor that I invited to my church blessed our congregation with such a delight in God that we, even though we were small, had to blessed him. He said he had not come for money, but to be a blessing because his church takes good care of him. We were delighted to fairly blessed him anyway. If the integrity of the pulpit is there, the blessing of the house will be there too.