Fall Creek Baptist Church Benevolent Ministry Policy
Confidentiality
The deacons will hold in strict confidence any personal information coming to them through communication with those who are requesting aid. Information will not be shared beyond the bounds of the board of deacons except when it is deemed necessary for the physical or spiritual welfare of the individual or another person related to the situation.
Policy Exceptions
The deacons recognize that their purpose in ministering to others is broad and that the needs presented are diverse. From time to time they may agree that the best help they can offer may fall outside of typical policies. All the deacons must be in agreement for such exceptions.
Normal Procedure For Requesting Help
An individual requesting assistance must personally speak to one of the deacons. The individual should not send someone else in his or her behalf. There may be exceptions to this procedure in cases where the individual needing assistance is physically disabled or other justifiable circumstances exist. The deacons will evaluate each situation individually.
When We Will Help Financially
Monetary help will normally be given for specific needs rather than for ongoing general needs.
The deacons will consider the following criteria in helping financially:
· The individual has a relationship to the church. (This will be taken into account, but will
not be the sole deciding factor in whether help will be extended. If a person has no relationship to the church additional investigation will be necessary in order to render an appropriate decision concerning each individual case.)
· The individual has a demonstrated need.
· The individual is unable to earn sufficient funds to support all his needs.
· The individual’s family resources are not available or sufficient.
· Government assistance is not available or sufficient.
· The individual has used his personal resources until they are relatively exhausted.
Food and Clothing Assistance
The deacons will determine whether to make use of the food pantry or gift cards for food purchases when a situation has been evaluated and found legitimate. Clothing items will be donated or purchased as determined by the deacons where legitimate needs exist.
Ongoing Financial Assistance
The church should not be viewed as a means to meet an ongoing chronic financial need.
The deacons are able to respond only to occasional needs. If an individual continues to request aid for similar needs on an ongoing basis, the deacons will recommend some type of financial counseling or help the individual seek for extra employment. They will work to provide financial counseling for individuals on meeting ongoing long-term needs. If an individual has demonstrated that he or she does not make thoughtful decisions about his or her financial resources Biblical financial counseling will be recommended.
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Time Line for Financial Assistance
The deacons are limited as to the amount they can give ($200.00) to help someone requesting aid. Therefore, it may be necessary in certain situations for the church to take action concerning the request. In those cases there could be a considerable amount of time before aid can be administered. However, in extreme circumstances the deacons may immediately call the church to a special business session to address an urgent need. This called business session would apply to urgent benevolent purposes only.
To Whom We Will Write Checks
For accountability purposes, checks will not be written to the individual requesting aid. Checks will only be written to the final recipient of the finances. The church does not give cash to individuals requesting aid.
Loans
The church does not grant loans. We believe this practice would create an unhealthy
barrier in the relationship of the individual and the church. When assistance is offered it is a gift
and therefore without any expectation of repayment. Individuals wishing to reimburse the fund
may do so at their discretion as a tithe or offering to God.
Assistance in Employment
The deacons and the church will assist in helping to find jobs for those who may be unemployed. Although we do not have any expertise in this area we will put the individual in contact with some of the local employment agencies.
2 Thessalonians 3:10 states, “…if any would not work, neither should he eat.” God blesses those who work for their livelihood. Therefore it is our responsibility to work as God gives the ability and to help others to be gainfully employed.
Financial Assistance:
You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my necessities and to those who were with
me. In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and
remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, .It is more blessed to give than to
receive. Act 20:34-35
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