N.J. Church to Hand Out Cash to Congregants in 'Reverse Offering' Stimulus
Calling it a "spiritual stimulus," leaders of a New Jersey church say they will be giving away $30,000 in cash during church services on Sept. 25 to everyone in attendance.
In a press release widely circulated on the Internet, Liquid Church says that instead of giving during the Sunday collection congregants can expect to receive - envelopes marked "God Trusts You!" stuffed with $10, $20, and $50 bills.
"Washington is broke, people are broke, and folks have lost faith that government can provide a lasting solution to economic issues," said Tim Lucas, Lead Pastor of the 2,000-member church.
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Lucas will be encouraging recipients of the "reverse offering" to invest the money in meaningful ways, such as putting the money into the community to help others in need, which is why the envelopes will be marked "God Trusts You."
"Every dollar in our economy is printed with the words 'In God We Trust,' but we want to challenge people with the idea that 'God Trusts Them’,” said Lucas.
Lucas revealed that Liquid Church will also be "releasing an additional financial injection of $60,000 into local community projects" in the three N.J. counties where it holds services, Essex, Middlesex and Morris counties.
Luas, who has been preaching a sermon series called "Broke," says, "Jesus talked more about the topic of money than Heaven & Hell combined."
The senior pastor is hoping congregants will learn from the biblical principles delivered in his sermons to become better stewards by sticking to a budget and getting debt under control.
With the "reverse offering" and donations to community programs combined, Liquid Church will be giving away $90,000.
"Government isn't the source of recovery - God is," said Lucas. "And since God trusts His people, we do too."
Liquid Church was founded in 2001 by Lucas helps to provide clean drinking water in Ethiopia, Central African Republic, Haiti and El Salvador.
