The answer is yes, indeed!
We will first present a short history about Glen Beck's ministry that gives a ringing testimony about how God honored this program in the churches he served as Pastor. Below, as PDF files, are the amazing summary reports of the results of the Faith Promise program in dozens of United Methodists churches in Indiana since Glen retired from the pastorate and began presenting "Faith Promise" in local churches. Don't miss taking a long and thoughtful look at them.
Here is a little history, in Glen Beck's own words, about his personal experience.
"In 1968 I participated in a Mission Awareness tour to Haiti where, as Bob Pierce, founder of World Vision put it, My heart was broken by those things which break the heart of God.' I came home determined my local church would become more intential in fulfilling The Great Commission.
We tried some things with minimul success. At a Good News Conference in Cincinnati (about 1969-1970) I attended a seminar on faith promise missions led by Dr. Harold Spann, a U.M. pastor from Texas. Here was a tool we could use!
Over the next 18 years in pastorates at Emmanuel UMC in Noblesville, IN and Good Shepherd UMC in Indianapolis, IN (both churches had about 375 in membership) the annual faith promise missions conference was the highlight of the church's annual program.
It should be pointed out that these churches wee the most unlikely places one could expect to implement 2nd mile giving. Both churches were heavily in debt for building programs, and both had suffered substantial loss of membership for years. However, at the same point the churches began to prioritize missions, God began to bless both spiritually and financially. If you were to ask the key leadership, 'When did your church begin the dramatic turnaround', they would answer, 'It was when we began to do missions."
Emmanuel went from zero apportionments paid to payment in full. The heavy indebtedness was paid in full and the church added an educational wing which cost more than the original building. 2nd mile giving went from zero to $35,000. annually. Perhaps more important was what was happening spiritually. "God added daily to the church" and Emmanuel was listed among the top 10% of the Southern Indiana Conference of the United Methodist Church in church growth.
While Emmanuel UMC was in a rapidly growing area, Good Shepherd UMC was in an area of Indianapolis between inner city and the suburbs where there was little opportunity for growth from 'new people'. In fact the church had lost members 15 straight years, but again God's blessings came at the same point they began to do faith promise missions. The church went from a minimal 2nd mile giving to as high as $50,000. per year. Good Shepherd led the Southern Indiana Conference in advance special giving four straight years. Attendance for worship went from 160 to 260 and Sunday School from 115 to 172.
As someone has said, "Set the church on fire and they will come to see it burn." For both Emmanuel and Good Shepherd the fire began at the same point - when they began to "do missions". Through the years these two churches have given over 1 million dollars in second mile giving.
Click here to view the Faith Promise Summary Report June 2002 throught June 2005
Click here to view the Faith Promise Summary Report 1999 throught October 2002
Click here to view the Faith Promise Summary Report January 2001 through June 2003
Click here to view the June 1, 1989 through June 1, 2003 Report
Click here to view the Mission Interpretation Brochure