During our devotional at our last MAC Board meeting, each pastor reported God’s favor and blessing upon their ministries. Almost without exception, every minister mentioned that God had blessed their churches financially. I have always heard it said, “You can’t out-give God”. I believe its also true, that you can’t “cheat” and get by either. I have discovered in 40+ years as a pastor, that if one of my families suffered financially, more likely than not, they were not tithers. I believe tithing is God’s secret weapon to destroy the yoke of financial bondage on our families, our pastors, and our churches, using the tithe to advance the kingdom of God here on earth. Thanks to Pastors Paul and Cathy Snyder for sharing their testimony as to what God is doing at Corinth, WV.
Report from Pastor Paul & Cathy Snyder
Corint, West Virginia
When my family and I came to Corinth in September 2002, the church was only able to pay $250 weekly salary. I knew that I would have to work for a while until God blessed and the church grew. We were always faithful in paying tithes from the church into the conference.
One of the first things we did was to set our missions program in order. Until then there was no set amount given to missions. We set a fixed amount and as the Lord blessed we now can support four projects, along with People to People children through the youth, and Alternative to Abortion Ministries (ATAM). We had to enlarge the parking lot. God kept moving in our church, and we had to enlarge it again and make a new lot across the road. Through all this, the church and my family have had its ups and downs. We made a commitment as a church and a board that we were going to give to God what is His.
As the church grew, new things were needed that previously could have been done without, to run and operate the church. God kept blessing! The time came when it became necessary that I leave my job and become a full-time pastor of the church in May 2004. The transition was one of trusting Him. Through it all, we have given back in tithes to the conference all that is asked in the Bible, 10% and over.
In 2006, God opened doors for me to go to India and Bangladesh. Again in 2007, He opened doors, not only for me, but also for three others from church to go. We as a church have come to the place that we must have two worship services on Sunday mornings, along with Sunday school. Sunday night services are for the most part full. Wednesday night services find us bursting at the seams.
We have started a building program, to build a new sanctuary this spring, including classrooms and a fellowship hall. The project looks big, however the God we serve is bigger than any mountain we can face. All that is happening in Corinth started from being faithful in tithes and giving back to the Lord. I would like to encourage all, whether Pastor, layman, or church to open the windows of heaven through giving of your tithes and see what God will do on your behalf. Malachi 3:10 “Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.”