

| Every dollar that comes into a church for offering and tithes is a blessing. Some Pastors wrongfully pressures the congregation into giving more than they can afford. The members sometimes want to please the pastor so much, that they write a check and "stand on faith" according to some who have written bad checks, in hopes that the money will come before the Church deposits the checks. Some people write a check on an account that they are aware in advance does not have the funds to cover the check. Legally speaking, this is a crime and the Bible teaches us to follow the law of the land. Every time you write a bad check you break the law and God's law. Most of the time, this issue goes unreported and the business or Church accepts this as a business loss. As such, people continue to write bad checks where ever they can get away with it. Last year I watched and disapproved of a Pastor who stood on the pulpit and called off a list of names of members who had written bounced checks for tithes and offering. I did not like what this Pastor did, as when the members did not come forward to make the checks good, the Pastors called out their names in the next service each Sunday until they paid. I felt bad for the members. I thought, this Pastor should forgive the checks and move on, not knowing the details or the frequency of the check writer or the damage it may have caused that Church's account. This story re-surfaced recently when a visiting Pastor wrote a bad check to our Church which bounced and due to extremely bad timing of this check it caused a back lash in our account causing other checks to bounce. As a Pastor who follows the Word, forgiveness was in order. This visiting Pastor was informed of our forgiveness and as such this Pastor gave their Word that they would pay the bank charges by overnight mail. We took this Pastor's word. The replacement funds never arrived. Our emails went unanswered and our phone calls went unreturned. Therefore someone else's blessing were blocked by the dishonesty of this Pastor. It was hurtful to the Church and someone that this visiting Pastor never met. When you write a bad check to a church - you block the blessings of someone else, especially if the Church, donate funds to families with emergencies, including food and clothing for their children. It is a terrible thing to have a contribution check bounce, especially if that contribution causes a gift to a family in need to bounce. Brothers and sisters in Christ: We are held to a higher standard than people in the world. Always do the right thing. If you know anyone or if you have written a check to a charity or a church and it has bounced, do the right thing, pay the fees the church incurred in your error and replace the check immediately. They should not have to ask you as you know the check bounced before the charity or the Church is informed. Accidents happen and when they do, as Christians we have to always do the right thing and be honest and truthful. Share this topic with others. What's in the dark aways comes to light. Don't force a Pastor or Charity to come to you for writing bad checks. Don't block the blessings of another. I pray that the Lord add a blessing to the readers and listeners of this story. This communication was made possible by the generous donations from supporters of: Church of the Living God. Will you become a ministry partner, as well? We need and welcome your support. |

| TESTIMONIAL SHORT STORY |
| Bounced Checks Blocks Blessings! |


| Church of the Living God |
