"Seven weeks after our ABC's commitment Sunday, our offerings are averaging 47% above where they were before the ABC's!! Barry, this has been absolutely huge for us! Thank you...thank you!"
Scott Eynon (Pastor of Community Christian Church, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida)
Prior to the ABC's at Kingsway Christian Church:
From the Kingsway Christian Church newsletter . . .
"The response to The ABC's of Financial Freedom has also been tremendous. Literally dozens of people have affirmed how valuable this study has been to them; and for many, it has already been life-changing. I believe we will see families delivered from the bondage of debt, marriages healed because of the removal of financial stress, and God's work prospered by the increased giving of God's people. I'm also pleased to tell you the author of The ABC's of Financial Freedom will be our special speaker on May 3 and 4. Barry Cameron is the Senior Pastor of Crossroads Christian Church in the Dallas-Ft. Worth area. He is a graduate of Ozark Christian College and has been a friend of mine and of our ministry for many years. Jan and I were present when they dedicated their beautiful 145-campus and church building. More than 4,000 people call Crossroads their church home. He is an outstanding preacher; and you will be challenged."
After the ABC's at Kingsway Christian Church:
From the Kingsway Christian Church newsletter . . .
"There have been few instances when the response to the teaching of the Word has been more dramatic than your response as a congregation to The ABC's of Financial Freedom. I've received testimony after testimony of dramatic changes in lifestyle and family finances. Many of those testimonies made mention of decisions to practice Biblical stewardship by faith rather than sight. The results of those decisions have been obvious to all who follow our offering totals reported in The Podium each week. Previous to The ABC's we had averaged approximately $78,000 per week for the fiscal year (beginning July of 2007). Since The ABC's, giving has risen dramatically to approximately $100,000 per week with some weeks well over that amount. As your Pastor I have always been quick to point out where we as a congregation have fallen short. I must take this opportunity to praise you for a marvelous, positive, Christ-honoring response in this area of stewardship."
John Caldwell (Sr. Pastor, Kingsway Christian Church, Indianapolis, IN)
Barry,
I just wanted to write to thank you once again for allowing God to use you in the writing and the development of "The ABC's of Financial Freedom." The month before we began the series our average weekly giving was $59,489. This was a problem because our weekly budgeted need was $63,000. In the first three weeks since "Decision" weekend our average weekly giving has been $114,534. This is a 93% increase over where we were before the ABC's series begam. One of the biggest blessings to me has been the opportunity to hear the many personal stories and testimonies of how God has used the book and the series to literally change lives. The straightforward biblical principles along with the practical instruction and your personal testimony has been very inspiring to our entire church family. Thanks for not only being a friend to me and my family but a friend to the kingdom. God is using you to help individual churches change the world.
I hope this will be useful for you. Our first three offerings have been $101,413.24, $135,465.52, and $110,723.00. I remember you telling me before you left that we would begin to see some offerings over $100,000. Who knew it would happen as quickly as week one. It just goes to show you what resources are available to God's people if they will just begin to trust and obey God in the area of their finances.
Chris Philbeck (Senior Pastor, Mount Pleasant Christian Church, Greenwood, IN)
Barry,
Just got the numbers from Sunday. Unified offering was $125,000!!!!! Our budget for the year calls for $71,000 per week to meet budget. This is amazing! We usually have good numbers in the spring, but this is great. ABCs definitely made the difference. This is not isolated. We have been seeing offerings since ABCs in the $85,000 to $100,000 range before this week.
Have a great conference.
Joe
It always amazes me that after challenging our people constantly to trust and depend upon God, they so quickly place blame for a lack of giving in the church on leadership. Barry Cameron's ABCs of Financial Freedom material was an answer to many of my late night prayers. The material reinforced the fact that the church today is not struggling with a lack of resources. It is struggling with a lack of obedience and faithfulness. We were amazed at both the immediate jump in our giving, as well as how the high level of giving was sustained.
Tim Winters, (Executive Pastor, Shepherd of the Hills Christian Church, Porter Ranch, CA)
Hello Barry,
I did receive your email but I was in Atlanta this past week. Lisa and I greatly enjoyed spending time with you and your wife. I appreciate you more than you know.
Hey... I found out that our offering this past week went up to 164,000! That's about 80% above a year ago! Our offerings the past three weeks have been 142,000, 161,000, 164,000. Wow! It's exciting to hear our people "getting it!"
Thanks for the ABC's and thanks for being you!
Your bro,
Cal Jernigan (Pastor, Central Christian Church, Mesa, AZ)
Barry --- hey it is Sunday evening and I am sitting in my back yard by the fire just finishing up this great ABC weekend ---
I know I mentioned to you as you left how thankful I am for you but I just wanted to say again --- thank you.
I am so grateful for your partnership and friendship.
I want you to know that I am one of your biggest fans and supportive of you both publicly and privately --- I am so glad God has placed you in my life.
This series has really grown our church and it has grown me in many unique and unexpected ways.
Barry I hope you feel good about the weekend and what God spoke through you --- I had many great conversations and MANY hundreds of our people have been challenged and infected by this series and this ABC weekend.
I look forward to many more years of us partnering together for Christ's sake!
Discovery is a new church with a VERY old story and we are fired up to tell it in the most creative --- God honoring --- infectious way we can.
Thanks for being part of our journey --- and thanks for believing in the staff and people at Discovery who chase hard after God!
Have a safe trip home and where ever your travels might lead you this week
Love your family and keep your vision vertical,
Todd Clark, (Pastor, Discovery Church, Simi Valley, CA)
Guys: (a note to the executive pastors of the largest churches in America)
I probably have more knowledge on this program except for Barry himself. I personally recommended Barry write the book and also had the privilege to write the foreword. I have personally been involved in over 30 of these and have seen some major trends. I also have seen and talked to those churches who have done it without Barry.
Here is my take on it all.
1. This program WILL change your church immediately in reference to tithing and getting your financial house in order. My church, Mission Viejo Christian Church, was the first one to be done outside of Crossroads (Barry's church). Today four years later our giving is still higher than when we did the program. Before the program our giving was rarely over $20k per week. Today the budget is $28k per week and the church is within $50k of budget for the first six months of the FY.
2. Doing it without Barry is NOT as effective, in fact the percentage change in giving is about 20%. His personal testimony and church testimony cannot be duplicated. Also his son Matt has done some and he is just as effective as he lived it as a young teenager and it has made a lasting impression him and his wife.
3. The average growth in giving is usually 40% immediately after Barry speaks. It does build up the four weeks prior with the senior pastor sermon series. It usually levels in at 20% to 40%. For growing churches in a building program this makes a huge difference!!
4. Barry can only do about 7 to 9 per year and I believe Matt may begin doing them in the future. If you are interested he is booked over a year in advance. You should go to his website www.theabcs.org < HYPERLINK "http://www.theabcs.org" http://www.theabcs.org> . Also if you want a copy of the ABC's which is in its fourth or fifth print you can do so through the Crossroads Christian Church bookstore on their website www.crossroadschristian.net < HYPERLINK "http://www.crossroadschristian.net" http://www.crossroadschristian.net> .
I could write more but this will give you all the perspective of my seat which has been very close to the overall program since the early days. I do not know of another financial series that has been as successful as this one!!
Hope this is helpful and the website is a tremendous resource for you all.
Blessings
Doug Crozier (President, Church Development Fund, Irvine, CA)
Barry, I wanted to be the first to say "thank you". People are still talking to me about how much they appreciated your preaching. As I experienced it personally, I kept saying to myself, "This is masterful!" I praise God for you, your ministry and your tremendous impact on the Kingdom through the ABC's. Again, I feel so honored to have you as a friend. I have learned so much from you. I am in your debt for how you've helped my ministry here. You are directly responsible for whatever good results come our way via stewardship.
You're awesome,
David Clark (Pastor of Central Christian Church, Beloit, WI)
Hi Barry,
What a great job you did today at West Side for our ABCs series finale. From our leaders to our newest people, we needed and benefited from the challenges in your book and your message. Great stories are emerging from our small groups. Your personal story is inspiring to those of us who haven't yet buried the debt monster. Sharon and I are talking about how we can speed that day for our family. In my small group this evening, people who have given little thought to storehouse tithing were expressing conviction about it. It is very encouraging to see this.
The more I am able to know you, the more I am glad for the opportunity, Barry. I look forward to the years of co-ministry we have together. I'll let you know when yesterday's numbers are tallied.
God's best to you and Janis, your family, and Crossroads. You are doing great Kingdom work on several fronts.
Eddie Lowen (Pastor of Westside Christian Church, Springfield, IL)
Barry,
I wanted to share with you that we had our highest offering of the year this last weekend. $47,600. Considering our weekly need is $21,500, 121% over budget is pretty good. To top it all off, we received $25,000 today from a family who appreciates the ministry this church has had to their family. (They also indicated that they will give an additional $25,000 each December for the next three years.)
Thank you for your ministry and the great work you do through the ABC's. And thank all who have prayed for us this fall. God is good!
Talk to you soon.
Todd Parmenter (Executive Minister, Lincoln Christian Church, Lincoln, IL)