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In this episode of The Last Service Podcast, host Matt interviews Bart McDonald from the Southern Baptist of Texas Foundation about their innovative Jubilee Program. This program helps struggling churches preserve their assets and legacy while transitioning to new ministries or congregations.
Key Points:
- The Jubilee Program is based on biblical principles from Leviticus and Deuteronomy
- It allows dying churches to transfer their property to the foundation, which then renovates and transfers it to new ministries
- The program has rescued millions of dollars in church assets that may have otherwise been lost
- It provides financial stability and guidance to both struggling churches and new church plants
- The foundation takes a pastoral approach, encouraging churches that God is not disappointed in them
Quotes: "We don't want to hold a Jubilee property in our possession any longer than it takes to get it back into the hands of the local New Testament church." - Bart McDonald
"If God's people will get together and prayerfully seek the face of God, it's been my experience that God's people will almost always do the right thing." - Bart McDonald
Key Takeaways:
- The Jubilee program applies real estate principles in a non-profit framework to give dying churches better options.
- Partnering with other ministries to use empty church space is not always good stewardship - financial viability must be considered.
- Churches often wait too late to ask for help. Declining churches should seek guidance early from denominational resources.
Call-to-Action: If you've been part of a church closing or merger, share your story by emailing lastservicepodcast@gmail.com
Related Topics: Church revitalization, Church planting, Baptist churches, Church property management, Legacy giving
