The Glory of God. The purpose of New Hope Bible Church is to glorify God. In regard to financial stewardship, this means we must guard His reputation, reflect His character, and obey His Word as we manage the resources He graciously gives (1 Cor. 10:31; Eph. 1:12).

The Ownership of God and the Stewardship of His People. We acknowledge His ownership over all of our resources: money, time, family, material possessions, and talents. Therefore, our role is simply to be wise stewards or managers of those resources He entrusts to us (Gen. 1:1; Ps. 24:1; Pr. 13:4; Hag. 2:8; Lk. 16:10-12; 1 Cor. 4:7).

A Debt-Free, Non-Borrowing Ministry. The goal of New Hope Bible Church is to honor the teaching of God's Word and remain a "debt free" ministry. Because God is so good, He may use this philosophy for our benefit in several different ways. Spiritually, He may use it to:

1. Strengthen our trust in Him (Pr. 3:5-6).
2. Develop our trustworthiness (Lk. 16:10-12).
3. Demonstrate His faithfulness (Mal. 3:10-12).
4. Cultivate our contentment and self-control (Phil. 4:10-13; Heb. 13:5).
5. Teach us the importance of sacrificial giving (Phil. 4:15-20).
6. Teach us to avoid debt (Pr. 22:7).
7. Testify to the world of the reality of the Gospel (2 Cor. 9:13).

Practically, He may use it to:

1. Prevent a focus on fund raising.
2. Promote Christian unity.
3. Set a financial example for the families of the church.
4. Guard the ministry in difficult financial times.
5. Encourage the members in active financial involvement.
6. Provide direction for growth and development.
7. Stimulate ministry creativity and innovation.

Funded by Sacrificial Giving. God's work should be funded by the sacrificial, free will giving of His people. Each person should give cheerfully out of his or her abundance as God leads, not by compulsion or coercion (Ex. 25:1-2; 1 Chr. 29:16; Pr. 3:9-10; Mat. 6:2-4; 2 Cor. 9:6-7).

Fair compensation of Employees. Faithfulness to God's Word and the effective labors of His servants are the keys to church growth; therefore, we will endeavor to provide effectively for those who labor for the Gospel's sake. Income paid to pastors and other employees should be fair and a reasonable indication of the congregation's evaluation of their worth. Yet, it should also relate to the person's responsibilities, the size of the congregation, the economic level of the locale, and the experience of the employee being considered (Gal. 6:6; 1 Cor. 9:14; 1 Ths. 5:19; 1 Tim. 5:17-18).

Benevolence. The Deaconate shall administer a benevolence fund for the purpose of meeting the legitimate financial needs of those in distress. Every member of the local church should be able to look to the fellowship as an extension of God's provision. We will also endeavor to help the needy in our community and around the world (Acts 6:1-6; 2 Cor. 9:13; Gal. 6:9-10).

A Policy for Borrowing and Lending. To the best of our ability, we will establish a familial relationship (an enduring relationship characterized by obligations and sanctions) with those to whom we may lend or from whom we may borrow money. We will abstain from being surety (co-signing) for another believer or ministry (Pr. 11:15; 17:18; 22:26, 27). We will not charge usury (interest) when we lend to other believers or ministries. In the exercise of sound business judgment and upon the unanimous vote of the Deaconate with no more than one abstention, we may choose to borrow using the following guidelines:

Guidelines for borrowing:

1. We will borrow only as a last resort to address an urgent need, weighing the short and long term financial impact (Pr. 22:7).
2. We will borrow only for a short term not to exceed 10 years and preferred not to exceed 5 years (Pr. 6:1-5; 22:7).
3. We will borrow only the amount we can repay upon liquidation of our assets (Pr. 6:1-5; 22:7).
4. We will seek full participation and input from all current members.
5. We will pay on time and in full (Pr. 3:27-28).
* If necessity demands, the church may lend to families, or families may lend to the church using the following guidelines:

Guidelines for lending:

1. We will not charge interest (Ex. 22:25; Lv. 25:35-37; Pr. 28:8).
2. We will expect nothing in return (Lk. 6:27-38).
3. We will only lend money we can afford to lose (Lv. 25:35-37; Pr. 28:8).
4. We will meet all family needs first (1 Ths. 3:7-13).

Savings. The Deaconate shall save, not hoard, a portion of the yearly income in order to prepare adequately for unknown circumstances (Pr. 6:6; 21:28; 1 Tim. 6:17-19).