bahrain christian fellowship

A local church stewardship (finance) ministry comprises the following brethren: its Chairman, the Treasurer, the Assistant Treasurer, Cashiers and Money Counters. Like any other church officers, they are also ministers. Like every Christian believer were called to ministry and gifted by the Holy Spirit. God supplies each person with the resources for ministry and spiritual gifts.

The recognition of God’s ownership leads to financial faithfulness. This faithfulness is manifested in returning an honest tithe and offering to God for His abundant provision and His sustaining power.

Finances are an integral part of the church ministry. Local church finances are handled by a member of the congregation with business skills elected to the important responsibility of church Treasurer.

The history of church treasurers goes back at least to 457 B.C. when Ezra appointed guardians for the funds given for the work in Jerusalem. To those given the care of the Lord’s goods Ezra commanded, “You are holy to the LORD, and the utensils are holy; and the silver and the gold are a freewill offering to the LORD God of your fathers.” (Ezra 8:28)

“The care exercised by Ezra in providing for the transportation and safety of the Lord’s treasure, teaches a lesson worthy of thoughtful study. Only those whose trustworthiness had been proved, were chosen and they were instructed plainly regarding the responsibility resting on them. In the appointment of faithful officers to act as treasurers of the Lord’s goods, Ezra recognized the necessity and value of order and organization in connection with the work of God.”

Jesus Christ and His traveling group of disciples also had one designated to take charge of their funds.  Jesus taught the importance of the proper management and integrity in the handling of responsibility to them.

If it was important in the days of Ezra and of Christ to have someone to take care of church funds, it is also essential today.

The work of the church finance is sometimes not recognized as a ministry because it is done behind the scenes. Nevertheless, it is a specialized and a vital ministry in which the treasurer as well as the assistant treasurer, the cashiers and the money counters headed by its chairman exercises their spiritual gifts dispensed through trust and integrity. The church and the whole congregation benefits directly from their works as they oversee the proper handling and disbursing of church funds while maintaining transparency through outside auditing of its records and financial statements annually.