Testing Faith

You don't have to be an economist to tell which way the financial winds are blowing.

You could just as well be a minister, rabbi or imam, all of whom are waiting to see how a roiling economy might affect both their flocks and their ability to minister to them.

Local clergy already have noticed spillover effects from the economic uncertainty. For example, several say they've seen an increase in requests for assistance -- food pantry distributions and help with rent payments -- from congregants.

The Rev. Eldwin Lovelady, rector of All Saints Episcopal Church, says members of his church -- which includes Filipino and Hispanic communities -- now are being asked to pledge contributions for the coming year.

"I do see implications of the financial challenges," Lovelady says, in the form of parishioners who aren't sure what they'll be able to pledge or who are cutting the contributions they've made this year.

At the same time, he notes, "we're trying to meet the needs of our people and help them have groceries, transportation and that sort of thing, so it's a challenge on both ends. We see income possibly declining. We haven't seen a serious deficit, but there is the possibility of that, and the need to meet even greater needs."

The Rev. Rafael Mundo, associate pastor at First Spanish Baptist Church, North Las Vegas, says members of his congregation have been hit hard by cutbacks in the construction industry.

Mundo estimates that about 50 percent of his congregation works in construction. And, for them, the financial hits started arriving months ago.

"For members of construction, last year was bad," he says. "It wasn't as bad as right now, but last year was bad."

Similarly, congregants who work in the casino industry are seeing their income affected by smaller tips from fewer tourists. Still, Mundo says the church continues to provide members with food, rent and other help as it can.

Aslam Abdullah, director of the Islamic Society of Nevada, says the society has helped several community members with pressing financial needs in recent months. Fortunately, he adds, others in the community "who are well off or who are earning decent money are coming forward with resources to help the community."

Ace Robison, Southern Nevada spokesman for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, said the church's welfare system -- which includes bishop's storehouses, where families can receive emergency groceries -- is experiencing an increase in assistance requests.

"We are seeing some stress among our people," says Robison, who's also president of the Logandale stake.

"I can't speak for all of the 23 stake presidents in the Las Vegas area, but speaking for myself, we are fortunate in that our people have been very generous with their (financial) offerings."

In addition, Robison says, church leaders long have counseled members to maintain a supply of food and goods for use in harsh times. "So probably the most important storehouse is the individual family storehouse."

For clergy, balancing potentially sparse donations with increased demand for services can mean making some hard decisions.

The Rev. Benny Perez of The Church at South Las Vegas says that "we don't cut back on ministry to people, per se." But, he adds, some paid staff members have been let go, with volunteers being asked to serve in their stead.

"I say: 'You're all staff. Some of you are paid, most of you are not paid,' " Perez says, adding that the layoffs were "one of the most painful things I have had to do. I'm a pastor, but I'm also a CEO running a business."

On the other hand, Perez says, "our giving has remained strong, which means that we are not up, but right now we are just about even which, for me, is a great victory."

And, for every congregation, caution remains the watchword.

The Rev. David Wobrock of First Good Shepherd Lutheran Church says that, so far, donors to a building campaign are "keeping up their pledges" although the church has seen "a slight downturn" in weekly collections.

"Obviously, we're watching our spending, because we're not taking anything for granted," he adds.

First Good Shepherd also is seeing the economic crisis in the form of about 15 children who withdrew from its elementary school this year because job losses kept parents from making tuition.

"I wouldn't be surprised if, after we get through this financial situation, we see some of these people back," Wobrock says. "And we do offer, and have offered, more help this year in terms of tuition breaks. And, in some cases, those have made the difference."

If there is an upside to this financial uncertainty, it could be that hard economic times can offer a spiritual lesson.

Rabbi Sanford Akselrad of Congregation Ner Tamid notes that, during High Holy Days services -- which took place about the time of the 700-plus-point Dow Jones dip -- he said in a sermon that "when times are tough, that is when the community supports each other."

Wobrock notes that hard times offer "an opportunity for our people to reach out to their friends and neighbors."

Abdullah sees it in his own community, when "some of the affluent members of our community called and told me if I find anybody in need of something, could I refer them to him."

"This is where you get the optimistic side of the economic situation that is happening," Abdullah adds. "That, yes, people are losing (homes and jobs), but then some people are stepping forward."

Another potential benefit: Hard times might even prompt some fallen-away worshippers to reconnect with their faith.

Abdullah has noticed a slight uptick in worshippers attending Friday services during the past few weeks, possibly because, in uncertain times, "people do turn to the source they can rely on most."

As retirement accounts evaporate, foreclosure seems a possibility and jobs slip away, "I think people start turning to something that's more than just money," Perez agrees. "And it's the spiritual connection (of) a god who is not affected by a recession."

Kurt Fredrickson, director of the doctor of ministry program at Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, Calif., knows of no studies that link bad economic times to higher church attendance.

But, he says, "I think when life gets turned upside-down, and especially when tragedy strikes, whether that's personal tragedy or even nationally, like 9/11, or an earthquake or things like that, I think people always begin to reassess their lives and kind of reach out for that (spiritual) help line.

"When people lose their jobs or when people are facing the loss of their home, I think there is always that sense of, 'OK, I can't do this on my own,' " says Fredrickson, an ordained minister who previously spent 24 years on the pastoral staff of a Simi Valley church. "And that's when people begin to reach out."

Contact reporter John Przybys at jprzybys@ reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0280.