Here is another set of notes from Passion to Reach's Misson Connect Podcasts. This one is entitled Money with a Mission, where Finu and Emily interview Mike Crofts on finances. For more podcasts, check them out here.
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MCP 36: Money with a Mission
Matthew
6:21 – “for where your treasure is, there your heart will also be.”
Mike @
3m25s:
Mike was
14 years old when he went to see “Heaven’s Gates, Hell’s Flames” at a local
church, he went with his friends. It literally scared the hell out of him, because
everyone that was going to hell portrayed the life he was currently living. He
decided that it was time to change, so at the altar call he gave himself to
Christ. But he mentioned that the play got him there, but it was the
relationships he built (i.e. the youth pastor’s relationship with him, and
having his friend at the church) that kept him there.
How did Mike’s
life change after this decision? He found that he didn’t struggle with anxiety
and depression anymore because he made a choice that committing his life to Christ.
He felt lighter, like a weight had been lifted off his shoulders. His schoolmates
would ask him, “why are you always smiling?”, and he often had to defend/share
what he now believed.
Finu @ 7m40s:
Pastor Finu
mentions for us to never despise a young person, who chooses to come to the
altar. They may look a little distracted, or you may think they are not sure
about what they’re doing or if they fully understand, but this doesn’t meant
God is not moving in their lives. There is a supernatural work the Holy Spirit
is doing, that we can’t really explain. There’s a heart change, a life change,
a desire for something better... to live life at a higher level.
Mike @
9m39s:
To someone
who is working with young people, while doing their best to influence their
life, Mike’s advice is: Don’t give up. They’re listening to you, you’re
planting a seed... even if you don’t think they are listening to you, they are.
“You’re planting a seed and it takes time for a seed to grow and for the harvest to come. You plant the seed but you have to continue to water it. Don’t give up. Continue doing what you’re doing. You are influencing a generation that needs to be influenced in the right way.” - Mike
Emily @ 10m45s:
How did
you begin to discover what to do next in your life?
Mike
@11m10s:
Mike had
two passions in high school: skateboarding and music. It took him upwards of
six years after high school to get into the music industry.
He believes
it was God who had him on a journey; he refers to it as a valley. He started to
challenge the things he was taught in the church; critical thinking was
developed in his early twenties. Both his theology and character were changing
while he was in this season. He mentions that when he was out on the road this
development was critical; he says, “Just because you’re on a Christian band, doesn’t
mean everyone’s a Christian.” A lot of the time, he felt as though he was
ministering to the people behind the scenes, rather than the ones in the
audience.
Finu @ 13m50s:
What was
the journey between being a musician to becoming a financial coach? It almost doesn’t
seem to fit but...
Mike @ 14m10s:
Mike got
married to his wife... They had believed that you can use debt to build wealth...
and it didn’t work. Then one day Mike just decided they were going to live debt
free. In two and a half years they paid off all their debt. They studied what
the bible had to say about finances. He wasn’t taught it in church, outside of
tithing, and as he studied he learnt that the Bible has more to say about finances
than it does about faith or heaven and hell.
God has
a lot to say about money, and Mike started to put some of this into practice
and it worked for him. Then when people saw it working for Mike, they asked him
to help them. At first it wasn’t a job for him, he was just giving people advice.
It soon became a passion for him; helping other people to get out of debt,
without having to sell products or insurances. So he developed a curriculum for
students and adults, he did talks at churches too, on money. He has a course
called “The Five Essentials of Personal Finance” which has been very
successful.
Finu @ 17m02s:
The
bible says a lot about finances, and we don’t seem to talk a lot about it. What
is more limiting to a person than not having their finances in order? What do
you [Mike] see when you think of money on a mission? God gives us the power to create
wealth, and be a steward of wealth. How does that actually play out in a practical
sense?
Mike @ 18m37s:
Here are
some stats:
- 7 out of 10 Canadians are living paycheque to paycheque.
- The average Canadian owes about $35,000 in consumer debt.
- Canadians are spending $1.69 for every $1 they earn.
- The number one reason for divorce in North America is for money-related problems.
And none
of these stats exclude the church.
Mike
sees the power of a generous giver. There is a stat that shows only 6% of the
Evangelical Christians actually give to support the church.
Debt
limits our opportunities. We have an obligation to pay it back, and it limits
us from what we can do. Luke 16
says if you can manage the little God gives you; God will give you more to
manage. Mike
believes money is a test. We need to be givers.
Finu @ 22m10s:
This is
a huge topic. When it comes to generosity and funding the kingdom and the
gospel... this includes starting businesses, and being a job creator. You can
give if you’re in debt yourself.
Finu
recalls the biblical characters of Solomon, and Joseph, and Daniel, and they
were all so smart and had Godly wisdom.
You need
resources to fulfill God’s mission for your life. If you’re in debt and you make
bad choices, you’re going to limit yourself. And things may be delayed because you
have to clear up the debt you’ve created.
Finu
asks Mike to give some general principles to managing your money to have more available
to give and to invest into the kingdom.
Mike @ 23m53s:
There is
a clear path for our finances. Proverbs 21:5
- Good plans are required for finances. Managing your money every month, have a monthly cash flow plan or budget.
- Debt is dumb. Proverbs tells us a lot about this.
- Put money away for an emergency.
- Take care of your own family first. (See 1 Tim 5:8) (i.e. investing for long term goals, insurance)
- Giving is huge. There is a return with giving. (Keep giving even if there is a cut in income.)
Emily @ 27m26s:
Everything
is at our fingertips; credit cards are available as soon as we turn 18.
We need
to build, we need to plan. Trusting God in every area, and this is no exception.
Seeing where God provides in moments when it’s unexpected.
Mike @ 28m44s:
Christians
tend to let their debt have control of their life rather than God having
control over their life. This is why Mike has become a financial coach and
teacher.
Finu @ 29m14s:
When we
take care of our lives: health, relationships, finance, etc... There will be no
restrain to live out your mission.
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More on Mike's ministry: mikecroftsdaily.com
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