“Go up to Hilkiah the high priest and have him get ready the money that has been brought into the temple of the Lord, which the doorkeepers have collected from the people”. 

2 Kings 22:4

 We see him telling the temple gatekeepers to go to the high priest Hilkiah to tally up the money that was brought into the house of God, which they had collected from the people.

So what did the king command the secretary to do?

1. To add up the money that was collected from the people and brought into the house of God.
2. To pay the workers, namely, the carpenters and the stonemasons, who were repairing the temple, and to buy choice wood and hewn stone for the repair of the temple.

 Ezra 1:7-8 And Cyrus king of Persia brought forth the vessels of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar had brought forth out of Jerusalem, and had put in the house of his gods: and Cyrus king of Persia brought them forth by the hand of the hand of the captains of the guard, and numbered them unto Sheshbazzar the governor of Judah.

• He brought forth the vessels of the house of God, according to the book thereof.
• He numbered them, and delivered them unto the governor of Judah.

So, in the Old Testament, there was accounting. It states that income and expenses should be properly recorded and accounted for.

Today, in the New Testament, our main mission is

19Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:19-20

• One of the ways we are fulfilling this mission is through this project: Financial outreach to the unreached is a ministry within the church. It is a key driver of the church’s mission to reach people with the gospel.

Finance means money management. It should be based on data on income and expenses.

• The Ethiopian Kale Heywet Church head office Finance Department is properly managing its operating income and expenses by documenting and formulating financial management guidelines.
• Church income can be obtained at the local level from members; tithes, offerings, and charitable gifts.
• Unions and districts receive income from the local communities in the form of percentage or quota contributions.
• The headquarters has the right to collect income from the districts and unions. It also receives income from international partners who support various projects.
• Each expense must be supported by an expense document. Funds sent from the headquarters to projects must be documented in the budget type in which they were sent.

For Example 

• Salary expenses in payroll
• Office rent in contract and receipt
• Purchase and services in accordance with the guidelines in documents…..

• Prior to disbursement of funds, the budget should be prioritized in the work plan;
• The Finance Department will strictly monitor that funds received from donors and resources obtained by the church are used only for the intended purpose in accordance with the plan;
• Ensure that the disbursement of funds and the preservation of funds are carried out in a proper manner;
• Knowing that expenses can be incurred by a group, not by an individual, when an individual requests money, there is a budget for the requested money. We will prepare payment documents and pay with legal receipts after ensuring that the requested money is approved (signed) by the responsible person.
• Any purchase must be made with a receipt. However, if the purchase is necessary, if the supplier who has a receipt in the city is missing, payment will be made according to the contract, and no payment will be made otherwise.
• Ensure that the receipt of goods is cut and attached after purchases are made;
• Ensure that the signature of the attendance is the same as the signature of the payment during training or in any other case when payment is made;

Therefore, we, as Finance, prepare a report on the proper management of these budgets and prepare a report that is fair, transparent, and timely for all concerned, and have it audited by an external auditor; we present an audited financial report to the General Assembly.

12 I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me trustworthy, appointing me to his service. 1 Timothy 1:12