This publication is a window into the heart of the Editor of Kingdom Faith Giants concerning the distribution and management of fund as it regards of the pursuit of the mandate given to him.

This shall serve as a clarifying and unifying vision for how we approach the issue of money (the purse) as it relates to the Kingdom Faith Giant’s vision

We want everyone that is interested in this vision to understand what we believe, the basis of our belief – especially in the regard to the finance of the ministry

It is important to state at this point that this publication is not about wrong and right but about what the Lord is placing in our hearts. Therefore its intent is not to judge any ministries or persons (who am I to judge another man’s servant, each one shall give account of his/her stewardship before God).

We are simply taking this medium to express our sense of mission not just to preach the message of faith but to project honour and excellence in the pursuit of the same. I pray that the Lord will grant you understanding and access into the same understanding, passion and perspective within us for Christ and His Kingdom.

God’s Economy: How God Fund His Work On The Earth

In order to appreciate the essence of this publication, it is important to understand God’s finance system as it relate with the funding and support of His Workers on the earth.

God called the tribe of Levi to the work of ministry and for this reason when the inheritance of land was shared among the tribes of Israel, the tribe of Levi was excluded, God instructed Moses that their inheritance is the tithes of the people (Num 8:21, 23, 24)

(You can study Number 18 for in depth study) By the instruction of the Lord, the tithes became their inheritance and reward for their service in the tabernacle of Congregation.

God doesn’t need our money, He wouldn’t shop with it or build mansion with it. No He owns all things (Ps 50:12-13), so if God doesn’t need it, why then does He require us to give? There are two principal reasons:

1. A medium to support His work on the earth and His ministers
2. A platform to bless His people (the law of seedtime and harvest)

This form a two way system: God instruct us to give, so as to support His work and His workers on the earth and thereby creating a medium to rain His blessings on His people resulting to financial increase and many more.

This same principle is still applicable today: The scriptures say in 1 Cor 9:13-14:

Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the temple? and they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar? Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.(1Co 9:13-14)

Basis for Reward

Being a minister of the gospel, don’t automatically qualify one for the holy things of the temple, only those minsters impact and bless God’s people with the Gospel are entailed to live of the gospel.

Service is the Keyword: In Num 18:21-24, the Word said that God instructed that tithes should be given to the Levites because of their service, also in New testament, it is only when a minister of the gospel impact the people with spiritual substances, that he is entailed to the material substance from the people (1 Cor 9)

It is important to understand what preaching of the Gospel entails: preaching of the Word of God is not to entertain people or to impress with vocabulary or man’s wisdom. God ordained preaching of the Gospel as a medium for the transform of lives. (Rom 1:16, Math 10:7)

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. (Rom 1:16)

And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give. (Mat 10:7-8)

Math 10:7-8 can be summarised as preach with impact. That has been the pattern through out scriptures, any time God sent a man to preach the Word, it always to transform lives and destinies.
This truth was further validated by Paul in 1 Cor 1:17

For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.  (1Co 1:17)

You may then wonder IN what was he sent to preach the Word, He gave his answer in 1 Cor 2:4 after explaining the powerlessness of preaching with man’s wisdom instead in God’s power (1 Cor 1:17-31)

And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: (1Co 2:4)

Although it is not the preacher that impact people, but He play a vital role, a minister has the responsibility of just not declaring but staying in God’s Word and with God in order to receive the right Word in season: that will comfort brokenhearted and build the weary. This Lord showed me this truth in early 2011 while mediating on Jer 8:22,

The Lord said to me “It is not the physician that heals but the medicine, What guarantee cure of the sick is the prescription of the RIGHT medicine, not just any medicine. In the same way, if you desire an impactful ministry, stay with Me for the right Word, a word for a group of people is not the same word for another group. Since what cure one may not cure another Stay with Me and My Word and I will give the Word for the season ”

This truth is validated in Jer 23:22 and In 2 Tim 2:15

But if they had stood in my counsel, and had caused my people to hear my words, then they should have turned them from their evil way, and from the evil of their doings.  (Jer 23:22)

Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. (2Ti 2:15)

Impact Equals Rewards

Only Impactful Ministers are qualified to enjoy support according to the Word of God, 1 Cor 9:11, Rom 15:27 and Gal 6:6

If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things?  (1Co 9:11)

It hath pleased them verily; and their debtors they are. For if the Gentiles have been made partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister unto them in carnal things.  (Rom 15:27)

Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things.  (Gal 6:6)

It shows that until a ministry bless you, you are not obligated by God to give toward such ministry- that God’s system. In the Kingdom, if you don’t work, you are not qualified to eat. In the same vein until a minister/ preacher impacts the people He is sent to minister to, he is not qualified to be supported.

Danger Associated With Donation & Offering

In my little walk, I have discovered that any office that gives an holder access to public funds, donation and other related funds attract criticism from the public, no matter the integrity of the person upholding the office.

This also applies in ministry, the more the people, a minister of the gospel impact or transform by the Word of God, the more the giving or offering he enjoy and the more the criticism that follows.

Paul was aware of this danger in 2 Cor 8:17-22

Avoiding this, that no man should blame us in this abundance which is administered by us: Providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.  (2Co 8:20-21)

From verse 17-20, Paul took extra measure by sending individuals “whose praise is in the gospel throughout all the churches” and someone who the churches appointed to travel with him in distribution of the abundance committed into his hands. In verse 20-21 He explained his actions, that it is not enough to be honest before God, you must strive to be honest before man.

Paul’s Situation & Approach

Paul never wanted the Gospel of Christ committed into his hand to hinder or people to have a wrong perception that he preaches the Gospel for financial gain. He decided not to demand for offering (1 Cor 9:12-18) but decided to endure all things and work with his hands (making tents).

In our times, this practice is popularly referred to as tentmaking (Scripture Reference: Act 18:3, 1Cor 4:12, 1 Thel 2:9, 2 Thel 3:8, Act 20:34, 2 Cor 11:7)

I believe Paul was questioned for his practice and he defended his reason in 1 Cor 9. Although it was his right to demand for offering (1 Cor 9:11) but He chose not to use the right so that the Gospel wouldn’t be hindered.

Similar Situation In Modern Times

One will think that the criticism that genuine ministers of the gospel receive as regard financial abundance is new, but I discovered that it was not new but an ancient circumstance( It was evident in the life of Paul).

Some ministers of the Gospel have lost their placement and ministries all because of money, many have decided to embark on the ministry journey all because of “cheap” money thereby deceiving God’s people and milking them

Also many genuine men of God who are enjoying abundance due to their spiritual impact and input in the lives of God’s people (which is their right according to scriptures) are now classified as business tycoon- popularly referred to In Name of God Plc

The Two Conflicting Forces

The scriptures recognise the conflict between the Gospel and Money, and therefore admonish us that we can’t serve both. In Mathew 6: Jesus painted this truth in a more graphical way with a simple lesson – You can’t serve money and God at the same time – in other words God and money can’t occupied the first priority in your life as the same time, but if you chose God and Serve Him, then money will serve you ….“And all these things shall be added unto you”.

My mentor Bishop David Oyedepo, once said that you can’t have the bag (money) and ministry at the same time. If one chose the bag, you will lose the ministry, but if you chose the ministry, the money will keep flowing.

It’s Effect on the Gospel

When people believe that money is the reason for ministry – a mean to enrich the preacher, such ministry loses its effect on the people, because until you receive the ministry of the sent one, you can never enjoy the blessing- He has to convey. Math 10:41, 2Chron 20:20, Mark 6:1-5

Basis of Our Finance System

Due to the abundance experienced by some preachers and the criticism associated with it and potential hindrance of the same to the Gospel, like Paul the Apostle there is a need a radical approach to the management of these abundance.

Personally I have always been careful and caution about money but at the same time I am heavily concerned about the situation in the body of Christ where people see the Church and various ministries as business instead of a place of transformation. I agree that are false preachers who are out there to milk the sheep of Jesus dry but still, every original has a fake counterpart.

In the few years, after a careful observation of the happening in the Christendom and careful study of the Word of God, the idea of supporting myself and my task through the work of my hands (like every other person) was dropped into my spirit.

The Lord spoke to me from Math 17:27 “Put your skills to work and you will have enough for My Work and for Yourself”

It sounded strange to me since I didn’t know anything about tentmaking in the ministry of Paul, but it has also been my practice to check up every revelation and vision received with the Word of God. It was then, I started receiving insight into the life and ministry of Paul – which is the basis of the insights am communicating through this publication.

Base on my research, I believe the following approaches can be adopted as regard ministry funding and dealing with the criticism associated with the same.

1. Remain Poor: I believe that poverty is not a good companion for any man, plus that it is not God’s will for His children either a good testament to the Christian faith. In Exodus, God instructed Moses to make a special garment for Aaron and his sons (His priests) for glory and beauty. So if a minister remains poor, his ministry and testimony will suffer.
2. Hide the Blessing and Abundance: I know of some many people that are strive to hide their wealth, but have not fully succeed to do so. The reason is this: God’s blessing can’t be hidden; you can’t hide a good thing for long. It will later burst open.
3. Be Blessed and endure the criticism as part of the persecution: Mark 10:29-31
4. Be Blessed through another channel of blessing: This is a radical approach just like Paul the Apostle.

I have also discovered in my study of the lives of men of God, any one that escaped criticism as it relate to abundance despite the affluence such person enjoy adopted a radical approach.

The likes of George Muller (Refusing to ask for offering, but asking the Lord to meet his needs and the orphanage, and God never fail him for once, because God is fully committed to what He command )

We also have Billy Graham, early in his crusade ministry; he observed the rise of criticism from the media that he was enriching himself through the use of his crusade’s love offering. He implemented a system that I believe is still effective in terms of workability.

1. Stop receiving offering for himself in his crusade and place himself and his team on salary
2. For every crusade, such crusade is incorporated in that state and reputable men will be appointed to manage the general offering collected every night
3. During the Crusade, he or team never involve themselves with the finance.
4. At the end of every crusade, audited report of income and expenditure is prepared by a financial institution and published in the newspaper

This resulted to the drastic fall of the criticism that was rising against him and his ministry. I am not worship him, but the Word said that we should observe the old path and walk therein (Jer 6:16) and we should be follower of them who through faith and patience obtained the promises. Heb 6:12

Finance Decision

For the course of the promotion of His work which He has committed into my hands and base on the approval of the Spirit of God, the following we will be adopted in the pursuit of the mandate as it relates to finance.

1. The Ministry will be funded principally via the word of my hands – software company
2. In situation, where donation will be received, it must be based on directive of the Spirit.

Closing Word

In closing, we must understand that every ministry ordained by God has its own finance system as ordained by God, therefore this publication shouldn’t be used as mean of comparison or to judge any ministry but to communicate the basis of our practice.