This process allows me to share some rather personal comments/thoughts (and sometimes written Prayers)  about Ministry Finance issues during this month.  Please go to  0200  for further explanation and links to earlier JIM's JRNLs.  The four digit links  xxxx  below come from www.bcidot.org .  See list of Frequently Used Vocational Terms at the bottom of this document.  If you would like to receive the current  JIM's JRNL  during the first week of the subsequent month,  please join the following Yahoo Group:   ---- http://groups.yahoo.com/group/JIMsJRNL/.    Caution --- the non www.bcidot.org web links that I reference in these JIMs JRNLs; do NOT imply my endorsement per se.  Further, if any of the links below do not work, let us know which one at LINK@bcidot.org.  Incidentally,  our more recent www.bcidot.org  links (Web Docs) can be found at 9712. 

Administration (6)

    Sometimes those of us that function in the area of administration (ADM) at Churches,  or Christian Ministries, find it easy to lose sight of our part in the Ministry itself.  Recently, I came across such a person who very cleverly used the term "ADMinistry"  as an attempt to communicate that "Ministry" is central.   A "THOT" :  In I Cor.  4:2 we are reminded that we are given trust and we must be faithful.   Another "THOT":  "As a Administrator some of our major objectives include:  To INFORM, to MOTIVATE TO APPROPRIATE ACTION, AND to CHANGE CERTAIN INAPPROPRIATE VIEWS OR OPINIONS,"   If you are a Ministry Committee Chairman, I trust some of the ideas within  0085  are helpful.  Last "THOT":  All of us are finding that our Email volume is increasing ---- learn to manage.  Maybe portions of the  0914  content will help.

Chandler, Ron, and Church Administration web site (7)

    Please go to 0202  where we brought Ron's excellent web site to your attention.  Please  Click Here  and go again to this resource and discover some significant resource updates.  Keep Ron in prayer as his sabbatical is over and he now returns to his full time CBA job at a Church down South.  He will have his hands full maintaining this web site and his usual duties plus varied other CBA interests and duties.

Church and Personal Finance (8)

             I am convinced that Church Ministry Finance Teams should have a strategy for assisting their people with their Personal Finances.  Please click here  for more specifics on this topic.  When you  click here  you will find a Larry Burkett article that covers five dangers for each of us that pertains to "THINGS."  Hope you enjoy.

Invite you to my Desktop (5)

        Recently I had four very agreeable Onliner relationships that were greatly enhanced by them looking at the contents of my desktop.  Go to  0130  for details of how this works at no cost to an Onliner.  Three of these Onliners used their high speed connections to not only look at the QuickBooks (QB) file content samples on my desktop, but to also follow my phone instructions and use their cursor to go to various parts of the QB system.  The other Onliner simply viewed portions of my desktop having to do with the contents of  www.bcidot.org  as we interacted regarding some of his questions or comments.
        I wish more of you would feel at ease in trying out this resource ----- high speed connections are not essential even though they are much more efficient.  Give it a try !!!!!

Personal Finance and use of the "Envelope System"  (4)

    When you click here you will go to a very helpful tool called the "CASH ORGANIZER" as provided by Crown Ministries (please go to  4999  for related info)  for Christians re their personal finance . Their advertisement includes such info as the following: "This cash only envelope budgeting system will simplify the control of your CASH SPENDING.  
     Please also digest the information contained in  1211  with respect to full use of Internet Centric (or Internet Friendly) resources for spending controls.
     If there is no Cash left in a particular envelope, you are finished spending in that category until pay day."  Below is a Net Resources (not Cash Only) sample of  $2,496.16   - or both Cash and Bank Balances and unpaid Plastic Balances must be properly managed.

		Percent of
		Net Resources
Cash on Hand	$   450.24	18%
Bank Balances	$2,920.60	117%
Total	$3,370.84
(1)  Unpaid Plastic Balances	$   874.68	-35%
(2)  Net Resources	$2,496.16	100%

    You will notice that this very fine CASH ORGANIZER effort involves the "Cash on Hand" only portion of the above "Net Resources" that require prudent management; or the "Cash on Hand" portion is only 18% of such "Net Resources."  As provided by the "QVE - Quite Virtual Envelope System"  (please  click here  for more info),  we maintain that your effort should cover the entire 100% of your "Net Resources" and not the Cash on Hand portion only.   Or 100% of your "Net Resources" can be under "no can spend If nothing is in envelope"  spending controls, etc.  Some of you like to pay your weekly plastic purchases each Saturday and further manage your Plastic buying.  Click here for more info.

>>     It generally is good "FLOAT" Management (see  0006 ), or Stewardship, to righteously buy now and timely pay off the Unpaid Plastic Balance so that you  NEVER PAY ANY INTEREST EXPENSE  OR PLASTIC CHARGES.  
>>     The said "Net Resources" of $2,496.16 reside in the applicable "QVE - Quite Virtual Envelope" --  Click Here. for more related info   Click here and go to some more info along these lines within the June 2004 JIMs JRNL.

Internet Financial Services by a HOMER or Retired Accountant (3)

        Does your Church (or Christian Ministry) handle less than $500,000 per year and are your Church people comfortable using the Internet?  If so, please review  5109   where I have described some way that you can utilize the applicable remote services of qualified Ministry Finance and Accounting people. By the way, be sure and link to  1211 and read about AFT (After the Fact) QBuxBox Weekly Internet Acctg System.  Please also be aware after July 2006 of the  SPENDING CONTROL  web site.

Your hypothetical staff (paid or volunteers) referenced below would likely include:

>> Paid staffer CLARE  who handles the duties related to the People database and Giving records (see  0021 );
>> Volunteer  FRAN  handles the defined bookkeeping duties;  sometimes paid staffer CLARE also handles  FRAN's  responsibilities.
>> Volunteer  LEE  is your Board Treasurer and Internal Auditor

        The other party could be a the Retired Accountant  who is open to providing the applicable remote tasks assigned to  HOMER  within  5109.  It was my privilege to train and to also work very closely with this person.  Your arrangement therewith would include the following specifics:

                    Issues and Parties involved:

>> All would have the means to send/receive Email and Excel Attachments
>> All would use the Internet to connect up with the QuickBooks Online Edition  (QBOE) for Online Accounting - see  0802  for some more info.
>> All would ideally have a fast Internet Connection; especially if  FRAN  works from home. This is not essential, but very desirable for efficiency. Please discuss about a tax deduction for Ministry use of a personal computer -- see  0092 . Sometimes  FRAN  works from the Church's computer, etc.

Church costs:

>> Pay the QBOE monthly fees of some $30.00 - the first month is free. For more info go to www.quickbooks.com .
>> Pay for Intuit Payroll processing costs; it would probably average no more than $15.00 or so a month
>> All phone calls originate from Church or Volunteers. 
>> There might be merit to allow the HOMER for a time to be initially involved and have access to the file via QBOE.

        Reference is made within  5109  to  0601  Method One; however, all engagements are via  0601  Method Three. Under Method Three, the Church weekly sets aside prioritized money in various Operational DAGs - see  0063  (or DAG Boxes - see 0002).   Then the Church can only purchase if there is money available within that DAG for said purpose.        

Investments by Ministry Fund Teams and related data (9).

         Of course Ministry Finance Teams need to be prudent when investing money for which they are responsible.  I trust the ideas shared within 0043  and   0044  are helpful in this regard.  When you  click here  you will find someone who apparently adheres to Biblical views when they help you invest in the stock market.   

IRS Tax Guide for Churches and Religious Organizations (2).

    Do you sometimes take things home from the office and try to read it while you are watching TV?   Try this one.   Go to   http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p1828.pdf   and print out this 24 page IRS document called "Tax Guide for Churches and Religious Organizations" .   I highly recommend that this be read by everyone serving on a Ministry Finance Team  (0000).  Then ask your Tax Consultant for more details , or necessary clarification, as to such referenced topics as the following:

• General Tax deductible Charitable Contribution Info
• Church IRS Audits
• Handling of Church Employee/Staff Business (Church) expenses
• Clergy Compensation Issues
• Church Tax Free Status
                    

 TUTORIAL RE USE OF QB FOR MINISTRY FUND ACCOUNTING (1)

   Is there a need for a Tutorial re use of QB for Ministry Fund Accounting that functions something like the following?

• One on One - not a group or a class tutorial For Ministries like Christian: Churches, Mission-Agencies, Schools and Parent Teacher Organizations (PTOs).
• We provide GoToMyPC resources -- see links below
          0130-06 http://www.bcidot.org/hlp/0130-06.html  -- we together view my desktop contents
          0601-06 http://www.bcidot.org/qbb/0601-06.html#10  -- via Method one
• Pro Bono – no fees
• Course material comes from the following:
          0041-01 http://www.bcidot.org/all/0041-01.html  - foundational document
          0079-20 http://www.bcidot.org/hlp/0079-20.html - Self Help transactions
• Posting some of the 0079-20 transactions while someone watchs/monitors
• Ministry is required to do, or have the following:
          Pay costs of needed Phone calls
          QBPro2002 or QBPro2003 –  ask us about other versions.
•         Be able to process QB files to and from us
• It is preferred that the Ministry have the following:
•         Excel capabilities
          Fast Internet connection – like DSL or Cable       
          Be part of the following Yahoo QBunch group
                     http://groups.yahoo.com/groups/qbunch  

- Monthly Prayer -

   Dear Lord ....  thank you for directing me recently to read about both Samson and Gideon.  I am more impressed with Gideon than Samson, Lord.  Seems that Samson was quite egotistical and careless in a number of ways.  Whereas Gideon seems to have had a servant's heart and was willing to use only 300 men to carry out Your objectives, rather than the original 33,000.  Many of us, Lord, seem to have limited resources, but all of us serve the almighty, awesome Lord God of the universe.  Help each of us to be faithful  - - in the Name of Jesus I pray.  Amen.

 Frequently Used Vocational Terms:

            CBA = Church Business Administrator, CBAer;  CMS = Church Management Software/System;  CPA = Certified Public Accountant;  GAAP = Generally Accepted Accounting Principles/Practices;  GPFund or GPF = General Purpose Fund; MFTeam or MFT= Ministry Finance Team;  QBOE = QuickBooks Online Edition;  QBooks or QB = Quickbooks; SPFund or SPF = Special Purpose Fund

HOME  |  ABOUT  US  |    OUR PURPOSE   |   SITEMAP  |  COMPUTER FUND ACCTG  |  HELPS 

Click Here and go to a list of earlier JIM's JRNLs - Contact  Jim@bcidot.org 

This document was last updated on:  June 17, 2008