Giving Away Control
Charity | Some
business owners are turning their companies over to Christian charity | Rusty
Leonard
WORLDmag
Feb 27, 2010
Here is a disgrace that was published in a “Christian Magazine.” Lauding the
showing of respect to wealthy Christian business people and tax cheats.
This article then proceeds to “Educate” beleivers on how to earn tax free
salaries and benefits by falsely (In our
estimation) giving their business’s to a church or
ministry but still maintaining the control,wages and benefits of said company.
Willie Sutton, when asked why he robbed banks,
responded, "Because that is where the money is." (And here
are paraded before us robbers liars and cheats hiding under the spotted garment
of the church)
Fundraisers
for Christian ministries have learned that successful Christian businesspeople
represent one of the easiest ways to raise significant sums for their cause,
because that is where the biggest gifts are.
It is not that Christian
businesspeople are more generous than other Christians; they just have a
greater capacity to give.
While many entrepreneurs give
cheerfully and generously from their sizable income, some have tried a different approach. They have
used a foundation or donor-advised fund structure to maintain management
control while transferring ownership from the controlling
shareholder to a legal entity with a stated purpose of funding Christian ministry. Some
who have taken this step speak about spiritual benefits that they have received.
Stanley Tam, the
founder of US Plastics, says he felt led to make the Lord the "Senior
Partner" in his business nearly 60 years ago. He and his wife first
arranged to have a foundation own 51 percent of his company but later gave the
entire company after seeing the great needs many people in poor countries had.
Tam, who has written a book titled God Owns My Business and has travelled to 35
countries to tell others of the spiritual benefits of this decision, has seen
his business generate over $100 million in donations to Christian ministries
over the years. And Jesus said to the rich young ruler go sell
all though hast and follow Me. There is
a way that seemeth right in a man’s eye but leadeth unto death.
Alan and Catherine
Barnhart, of Barnhart Crane, not only made the decision to donate their
business, worth several hundred million dollars at the time, but also agreed to
pay themselves only a middle-class salary, no matter how successful their
business might become. Barnhart Crane has been able to donate $1 million per
month to Christian ministry in the last two years due to its remarkable growth.
Other Christian
business leaders pursue different approaches. Some have large salaries but
contribute generously and create an environment in their businesses that helps
employees use all of their God-given talents. Others pour profits back into the
business to create as many jobs and opportunities as they can.
"Giving has
been great fun," says Alan Barnhart. "I am convinced that it is much
more fun to be a giver than a consumer." There are many ways to give.