Acts 29 Finances
Acts 29, a global church planting network, operates with a financial model that aims to support its mission of planting gospel-centered churches. Their financial practices, while generally transparent, have faced scrutiny and discussion regarding specific details and overall effectiveness.
Funding for Acts 29 primarily comes from two sources: partner churches and individual donors. Partner churches commit to annual financial contributions, typically a percentage of their annual income, based on a covenant relationship. Individual donors, often members of partner churches or those passionate about church planting, contribute through online giving platforms and other channels. These funds are then strategically allocated to support various aspects of the network’s operations.
A significant portion of the funds is dedicated to church planter assessment and training. Acts 29 invests heavily in identifying, evaluating, and equipping potential church planters through rigorous assessment processes and training programs. These programs are designed to ensure planters possess the necessary theological grounding, leadership skills, and missional vision to successfully establish and lead healthy churches. Funds are allocated to cover the costs of these programs, including staff, curriculum development, and logistical arrangements.
Another critical area of financial allocation is direct support for church plants. Acts 29 provides financial grants and loans to qualifying church plants, particularly during their initial startup phase when resources are often scarce. These funds help cover essential expenses such as rent, salaries for core team members, marketing initiatives, and ministry resources. The amount and duration of financial support vary depending on the specific needs and circumstances of each church plant.
Beyond church planter training and direct support, Acts 29 allocates funds to administrative overhead, regional operations, and global initiatives. Administrative costs cover the expenses associated with managing the network, including staff salaries, office space, and legal compliance. Regional operations involve the activities of regional directors and teams who provide support, coaching, and accountability to church planters within their respective regions. Global initiatives encompass strategic projects aimed at expanding the network’s reach and impact in different parts of the world.
Transparency and accountability are emphasized in Acts 29’s financial practices. They typically provide annual reports that summarize financial activity. These reports offer insights into the sources of revenue, the allocation of funds across different areas, and key performance indicators related to church planting outcomes. However, detailed breakdowns of specific expenditures or individual church plant funding arrangements are often not publicly available, leading to calls for even greater transparency from some stakeholders.
The effectiveness of Acts 29’s financial model is often evaluated based on metrics such as the number of churches planted, the health and sustainability of those churches, and the overall impact on communities. While the network has experienced significant growth and success in planting churches, questions remain about the long-term viability of some church plants and the stewardship of resources. Ongoing discussions within the network and among its partners focus on optimizing the financial model to ensure it effectively supports the mission of planting gospel-centered churches for the long haul.