Talk to me NOW Q. What missions does Sherwood Church support with movie funds? A. Through the North American Mission Board, Sherwood has helped three start-up churches in the US: two in Baltimore (one urban, one suburban), one in San Francisco (near the financial district). Through the International Mission Board, Sherwood supports missions worldwide. At home, Sherwood funds local outreaches such as The Lord’s Pantry (food pantry), a crisis pregnancy program, and a drug-and-alcohol treatment center. Giving may change, of course, as needs and opportunities change. Q. How did Sherwood Church arrive at how it would allocate Sherwood Pictures’ revenue? A. Well before FIREPROOF was a DVD, a team of former deacon chairmen began praying with Pastor Catt to help the church project to the year 2020. Their prayers: how do we continue to reach the world from Albany, Georgia—and not just through movies? In what other ministries should we invest in and participate? What impact might we make? All decision making related to money is prayerful and deliberate. Q. The operative word is prayer? A. A visiting pastor said of the Sherwood Church prayer tower: I’ve preached across the world and this country, and this is the only church that proclaims at its front door: We are committed to prayer. We are! Prayer buoys our unity, vision, purpose, missions, and giving. We’d rather be known as a people of prayer than the folks who made the movies. Besides monthly finance meetings, Executive Pastor Jim McBride meets weekly to pray with members of the finance committee—covering church members’ giving, illnesses, lost jobs (many examples of answered prayer!) the church budget . . . and good stewardship. Every week, 200 men pray for Pastor Michael Catt’s Sunday sermon. In building the sports park, church members walked and prayed over every single acre. At the base of the large cross central to the park, church leaders buried a capsule of prayer cards from the last five years. Family Friendly Gaming
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