Photo Credit: Brody Swisher, Creative Commons
One of the coolest things about Antioch has been our choice to meet in the high schools of our city.
We are a church called to love and serve our city and not simply to entertain expenses and programs that benefit church-goers. As Dietrich Bonhoeffer once wrote, “The church is only the church when it exists for the benefit of others.”
By meeting in high schools, it ensures that 100% of the rent from Antioch goes directly to the Bend-La Pine School District. More specifically, three quarters of our money goes to the district and one quarter directly to Bend High School—which allows the school to spend money on the facilities and on programs it otherwise wouldn’t be able to fund. I like to think there are a lot of trumpets in music programs, uniforms for sports teams and supplies for teachers floating around because we exist in our city.
Just this past week, we crossed the $400,000 mark in support for Bend schools and school programs.
I don’t know about you, but I think that’s a pretty cool milestone!
As someone who has pastored and been responsible for a church budget, I completely believe in your approach. $400,000 going into the school district vs. $400,000 in building maintenance, utilities and mortgage is an excellent choice. Well done.
I visited your church twice in Bend last year. Not only was the worship full of vigor and flavor; your preaching style continues to stand out in my mind as the most informative and intellectual that I’ve yet heard. God has given you a strong mind. Do you have any podcasts of your sermons? Or do you stream the sermons live on Sunday? I live in Kennewick WA, and I am a member of The Living Room Church. Thanks, ~Mark
Thanks Mark! You can find all of the sermons from Antioch here: http://www.antiochchurch.org/media/sermons.htm#.U-o3CIBdVIc