GIDEON’S ARMY FINANCIAL INITIATIVE

“The greatest thing in the world is not so much where we are, but in what direction we are moving that makes the difference.” In Judges 7, with a faithful few, Gideon was able to obtain a large victory over Israel’s enemies. The First Episcopal District desires to create a modern-day Gideon’s Army. This idea of the “faithful few” is the principle behind the Gideon’s Army Financial Initiative, which is a long-term financial plan that will support the:

 

a) establishment of a permanent investment portfolio with monthly reporting capabilities;
b) create, develop and support of the new church plants;
c) mechanism to assist churches that are in need of financial support; and
d) continued work to create fiscal soundness and financial stability

 

We believe that whatever people have an interest in they will make an investment with. It is time for us to stop borrowing our way out of debt. “The rich ruleth over the poor and the borrower is servant to the lender” (Proverbs 22:7). We cannot continue to rely on others to do for us what we have the God-given ability to do for ourselves. We have the skills, expertise and resources to make a difference. We have the management know-how, the marketing acumen and the creative genius to shift the paradigm of how we manage money. As we face our future realities, this much we know: anyone can steer a ship, but it takes leadership and a good crew to keep the ship afloat.

 

For the Gideon Army’s plan to work, we need the “faithful few” (i.e., at least 5,000 members of the First Episcopal District: clergy and laity alike) to give $1 per day in the months of August, September, October and November 2017. This plan is only designed for four months out of each year for the next three yearsending in 2020. This will require commitment, dedication, and discipline since the program cannot be successful unless we follow through with the vision. Where there is no vision, the people perish(Proverbs 29:18).

 

The members of our “faithful few” Gideon’s Army are being asked to register at gideonsarmy.info, and to enter your demographic information, church affiliation and financial commitment. Once this is complete, each new recruit will submit his or her information, via a secure web connection that will enter an automatic contribution of $1 per day for the duration of the program.

 

Lastly, an oversight committee consisting of clergy and laity, which does not include the Presiding Prelate of the First Episcopal District, will administer the funds. Not only will the oversight committee provide quarterly reporting, every individual donor will be able to access the programs progress at gideonsarmy.info.