The CharestCorp Blog

SNOWCONE EVANGELISM

Its hot, your tired and your kids are parched. Suddenly you see a guy selling shaved ice. You order your panting prepubescent’s some ice cold treats and after paying for the delectable delight the vendor smiles and says, “Thank you and God Bless you!”

Surprised, you look up and notice a kind young man and his industrious wife continually cleaning and polishing their tiny little snowcone business. You notice with great delight that they are genuinely thankful for a customer buying their product. Without warning, you have been touched by a disciple of Christ in of all places, a little flea market on the edge of town.

It is the phenomenon that has occurred for thousands of years. It is that wondrous place where Commerce meets Christianity. It is a world where those who are gifted with the desire to be entrepreneurs find a need and meet it. Some of these modern day tireless workers can be found every Saturday in a big concrete warehouse just a stones throw from Shields and Fowler Avenues. The Fresno Indoor Flea Market is becoming known as a true example of Market Place Ministry in action.

Churches, seeing the incredible opportunity, have been renting space and inviting members to sell their goods to those who need them and in the process planting their own seeds of Jesus in the fertile hearts of the broken and down trodden.

Where else can you meet a man with tobacco stained teeth, ample body art, and wild eyed unfettered language and talk to him about buying your used saw for 10 dollars and then begin conversing about an old cross that redeemed mankind. Suddenly, caught off guard by this commerce Christianity he even allows you to pray for his wife and his kids who left him two weeks earlier. Another seed planted, another damaged soul just a little bit closer to restoration with his Creator.

Snowcone Evangelism; It begins with a Christian and an idea. It ends with commerce, conversation then conversion. WOW! What a concept….what a God! Join us and experience Market place ministry in its rawest and most precious form. Rent a space and experience it for yourself. www.fresnoindoorfleamarket.com

Like thousands of other Americans I am watching my business friends go bankrupt. These are great men and women who have invested everything and lost it all. Most of them that I know are Christians and are searching God for answers in the midst of great pain. Recently I heard the story of a desperate parishioner relating his financial distress to his pastor just before service and being told to “Just have faith in God and everything will be fine!”

Then 15 minutes later the offering plate was passed with the expectations that enough tithes and offering would be given to pay the churches bills. But like the business owner, offerings are down. So a plea is made and the congregation is asked to give again to meet the needs of the church. However, the money did not come, because it simply is not there.

Church leaders are beginning to understand what many have been ignoring for decades. It is the entrepreneurs, the business owners; the risk takes who have been building the companies that have employed the congregants who have in turn paid the tithes and offerings. This charitable giving was earned from “profit”, and the Church profited from it.

Now, all of a sudden, those men and women, the ones who were not able to attend every pancake breakfast or late night prayer meeting, are sorely missed. Their financial failure has a very real impact on the local church. Pastors are beginning to understand that the relentless overwhelming hours that entrepreneurs spent building companies and making money wasn’t some immoral pursuit but a divine calling which funded the most wonderful ministries and impacted hundreds of thousands for Christ.

Commerce, and the individuals who create it, have been simply tolerated by some churches as an uncomfortable alliance that must be endured to have the necessary finances to run the organization. These overworked Capitalists, busy building businesses, didn’t have time for all of the fun pot lucks and deep theological discussions that so many other “employees” were able to enjoy during the week and weekends. But they provided the jobs and salaries to those who did. For this dedication some have been treated at arm’s length and felt left out of the inner circle of the “faithful friends” who have time for long meetings and three day a week gatherings.

I was encouraged when one Pastor told me that, “I guess Brother Tim was more important than I thought? He was a faithful giver and when his business went under we had to let two positions go!” Tim was a capitalist and a law abiding, God fearing, Christian. This compassionate pastor realized that “Profit” was not the enemy; profit was only the harvest, a by-product of sowing good seed and laboring to see it bear fruit.

Christian are learning to make a place for those called and anointed for business. I am delighted to see church leaders learning to embrace, nurture and encourage those faithful entrepreneurs and include them as a vital part of the body of Christ. Especially now in a time where every government entity is hungry for cash and trying to find it by siphoning the last drops of income from the very ones who pay the taxes which pays their government salaries. Now would be the best time for the church to encourage the creators of commerce and defend them in their calling.

Because, commerce, contrary to being an enemy of the Church, is and has always been the high speed rail which increases the spreading of the gospel throughout the world. This alliance is no longer thought of as an uneasy partnership where the Church must slightly dirty its hands by dealing with business, rather it is the wonderful majesty of a whole body moving in unison and leading a lost world to Christ in the process. Churches are getting it and the future is very bright!

I’m not trying to be self serving but…. I really do love Pastors and Business owners and I appreciate all that you do!

Rene M. Charest (Pastor and Business Owner) Wink Wink...

DEVELOPER PARTNERS WITH THE COMMUNITY

This Saturday on August 17^th 2010 old things become new again. CharestCorp Church Design Builders with the help of partners invested 6 million dollars into the City of Fresno by constructing a 120,000 square foot industrial complex in 2006. It was intended to be large warehouse storage space for a bustling industrial area. However, the stagnant economy and 40,000 square feet of vacant space has opened the door for a new way to invest in the community. A Giant Community Flea Market!

Using his partnerships with Non Profits throughout the Great Fresno Area, Rene Charest is inviting churches and individuals to come and sell their first and second hand goods by renting inexpensive spaces for Saturday and Sundays. In doing so both the seller and buyer are able to make or save money in a time where money is scarce and very much needed.

We welcome you to visit us and to get your church, your family or your business involved. Simply go to www.fresnoindoorfleamarket.org or call (559)392-7671.

I just finished an incredible men’s retreat with some of finest God fearing Hispanic men that I have ever met. I needed a translator while I was ministering the Gospel but at the dinner table none was needed. Food is good in any language and it was amazing how comfortable we were while breaking bread together.

However, there was a topic even easier to discuss and quite frankly more interesting. Suddenly almost miraculously we were able to speak to each other and understand one another without any help from an interpreter. The subject: Money! Anything to do with money. Making it, spending it, saving it, and investing it and the jokes about those who have it and those who do not.

God has given us over 800 scriptures about money. It’s a pretty popular topic in the Bible. Paul said that he would become all things to all men in order to win a few, So it shouldn’t be any surprise that it is a common thread of importance to virtually every culture. Those who travel from Country to Country find that no matter how hard the language is to learn, the language of Money is always understood.

Therefore, since I am an entrepreneur at heart and a disciple of Jesus, I have cleverly designed a plan to use the universal language of commerce to create sort of a Multi-Ethnic Church. In just a few short months we have Anglos, Hispanics, African Americans, Mongs, Vietnamese, Indonesian, American Indian, Korean, and others all meeting under one roof. Under one big 40,000 square foot roof to be exact!

They are all part of the Body of Christ living in the same community but coming together two days a week for the purpose of commerce. That’s right commerce. They are going to sell things, in order to make money to support themselves and their families, and the families of those within their individual churches. But they are meeting together as Christians with evangelical aspirations while using the tools of financial perspirations.

These great folks by themselves have very singularly ethnic churches, but together under my roof and under the banner of commerce, they fellowship together in peace and harmony. This new multi-ethnic church will have prayer booths, ministry teams, evangelical outreach, and worship music. It will also have goods and services for sale, yummy food to eat and wonderful second hand treasures to be purchased for a song. It is a place where men, women and children can help support themselves by using the God given talents of the entrepreneurial spirit that everyone possess but few are willing to exercise. This very colorful community is filled with laughing families enjoying plenty of clean safe fun!

I, like Paul, will do what it takes to reach the lost and then disciple the found. I speak the language of money. It is a gift from God and I am proud to have learned it. Used wisely it can be a bridge between all groups and ages. Its stable planks give me the path to reach the lost and tell them of the love of Christ and His forgiveness for their sins. I invite you and your church to be part of our Multi-Ethnic Congregation at www.fresnoindoorfleamarket.org (559)392-7671.

I was talking to a friend who used to sell colored Easter eggs at church when he was young. The smiling faces of Friends and family and the huge income of 25 cents per egg was all the encouragement he needed to continue on with a life as an entrepreneur. Today he is a multi-millionaire and supports charities all over the Country.

I believe we are about to see the same kind of phenomenon happen in the next few years. The depressed economy and loss of jobs is squeezing the entrepreneur out of tens of thousands of people and in the end who knows how many millionaires it will produce.

We have been inundated with calls from out of work college students, stay at home mothers and unemployed dads who are interested in selling goods and services at our upcoming Fresno Indoor Flea Market. They are intrigued that we are working with so many faith based organizations from around the Central Valley and excited to have an opportunity to bring much needed income home to their families.

One woman said, ” I have always wanted a chance to show off the talents God has given me, and this Flea Market allows me to share my gifts with others!” Another man told me, “The outdoor Flea Markets are dirty, dusty and either too cold or too hot. Having it inside is going to be like paradise!”

Robert Schuller started his church in parking lot of a drive in movie theatre, Chick Fil-A started in a kitchen skillet, Bill Gates started in his garage, who knows what future Millionaires will have thier start at the Fresno Indoor Flea Market. My hope is that you are one of them! See you there!

I love Costco! I feel like I’m always getting a bargain when I shop there. I buy in bulk and save big! The power of the masses is used to lower prices and give us incredible savings.  That’s how I came up with the idea of a Solar Co-op for Churches.

What does it cost to install Solar?  The installed cost of solar panels runs between $7 to $9 per watt, so a 5 kW system would cost on the order of $35,000-$45,000 and an 8 kW system would be anywhere from $56,000 to $72,000 and a 15 kW system (which is recommended for the average church) would run about $105,000- $135,000.  Many utility companies are offering incentives with some subsidizing as much as 50% of the cost of the system.  In California the State has about a 20% incentive and the Federal Government has about a 30% incentive. This still makes the system very expensive with a payback of over 10-15 years.

The Solar Co-op Concept: What if through the purchasing power of many churches a Co-op could be formed in order to purchase the PV panels and inverters wholesale and then install a much more affordable system? It is possible, and this is exactly what CharestCorp is in the process of finalizing. Churches from all over the West Coast will be banding together to get affordable low cost power and a needed hedge against ever rising energy costs.

How much can we save? CharestCorp’s initial investigation shows that costs could be very low with saving of up to 40%. This means a system could be paid for and producing free power in almost half the time as first thought. Imagine in 5 years having a system that practically eliminates your energy bill!!!

How does a Non Profit get tax incentives? Simply put you don’t. However, CharestCorp as the purcahser and solar installer/contractor is a “for profit” corporation and does benefit from the tax incentives. Therefore, we simply pass the savings on to the church to allow them the same savings as any other “for profit” company.  This passing on of savings is exactly why CharestCorp was created and our mission statement inspires us to continually find ways to help grow the Body of Christ and lessen the burden of minstry. It is important to note however, that some gap financing will be needed to pay for the product between installation and the receiving of the tax incentives.

How do I get involved? Simply go to our website at www.charestcorp.com/contact.php and request to be put on our mailing list for updated information of how to purchase your system through this church co-op. Once we have a list of possible clients we can determine the overall savings from mass purchasing at wholesale prices. Our goal is to partner with 500 churches which will represent incredible purchasing power. Currently we have interest with about one third of our goal and we are hoping to meet the total figure by summer of 2010.

So, if you are interested in saving big and being set free of your power bill, now is your time to work together with other congregations and help create this exciting new Church Solar Co-op . Once again go to www.charestcorp.com/contact.php and request to be placed on our mailing list.

FREE POWER- FLEE POWER BILLS

As a Pastor and a CEO, I continue to hear the desperate cries of families and businesses saying, “I could sure use a bailout!” What if financial relief was as close as your garage? In a recent survey CharestCorp Church Design Builders discovered that that is exactly the case. Just in the greater Fresno area people have over 40 million dollars stored in their garages and mini-storage’s. Now we just need a way to convert it into dollars!

Enter the Fresno Indoor Flea Market!This nonprofit community flea market concept will allow individuals and churches from all over the valley to help their community help themselves. Opening on April 17th from 7am to 3pm every Saturday and Sunday. Over 100 vendors and dozens of churches are preparing to be involved so the problem (which is a good one to have), will be scheduling when booths are available. If your interested call Alejandra Charest at (559)392-7671 Enjoy food, friends, and fantastic deals.

Money from Heaven?

Wouldn’t it be nice during these winter months to have a little change in the weather? I mean real change, like Gold coins and silver dollars? Per the latest statistics, The Economic Development Department has recorded unemployment rates in some Central Valley California Cities at around 29%!

Many churches simply have no more money to give to those in need. In addition there is a pervasive feeling of uneasiness about what looms ahead and the possibilities of the unemployed even getting a job, anywhere, at any wage! So what is a Christian who cares about their community to do? I think one answer is found in 2 Corinthians 9:6-8!

  
⁶ But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. ⁷ So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. ⁸ And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. ⁹ NKJV

Why this “Cheerful Giver” scripture? Because there is a river of despair that is dragging business men and woman downstream with an attitude of failure and hopelessness and leaving a pool of dead and dying dreams at its end. But this should not be the case for those who name Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. The promise and action of the Cheerful Giver should be considered at a time like this.

First, this Divine exhortation warns about sowing sparingly and reaping sparingly. However, the implication is not about the quantity of what you sow but the percentage of what you have that you sow. If you are only willing to give 50% of your efforts then that’s all you’ll get in return. But give 100% even of the little that you have with all of your heart then it shall reap bountifully!

Second, give with a heart of thankfulness not grudging annoyance. Have you ever noticed that thankful people always seem to have more to be thankful for? It’s no coincidence it’s just a fact proven by the promise above. There is a capacity for a vessel of thankfulness to hold more than a stingy tiny vessel of selfishness.

Third, notice the liberal usage of the words of plenty; God states that you shall have, “All Sufficiency”, in “all things”, have an “abundance”, and have “All Sufficiency” in all things for “every” good work. I don’t see any shortage or recession with Gods promises…do you?

All that is left is our priorities to hear and do what Gods word says. Will we walk with a thankful heart? Will we believe for Gods complete provision? Will we do what God has inspired us to do to make that happen? Do we believe Gods Revelation will lead us to new Inovations?

This is why I believe our Community Outreach Idea of having the Fresno Indoor Flea Market every weekend starting on April 17^th will give people a chance to bring items for sale that they no longer need and use the proceeds to pay the bills they currently have.  Who knows? Maybe someone will create a new product that people will love and find a new way to support their families and in return bless the community with these fresh new ideas!

April 17^th every Saturday and Sunday until the economy changes for the better. What a wonderful way to see Gods provision play out in a practical and powerful way. See you there!

Today is a time for aggressive Community outreach. and for the Church some of the worst off are in our own Congregations. Churches who normally could dip into their own resources to help congregants in need, are in desperate need themselves.

In a recent work shop with church leaders in Central California we found that 95% of all of the churches present had made cut backs including, layoffs, salary cuts and ministry cuts. Tithes and offerings have been so severly reduced that there is barely enough money to cover salaries, never mind the outreach ministries that were once done by these churches. This leaves financially hurting members one less place to go in times of great financial need.

What is the solution? How do Churches, the very ones people look towards in a time of need, help them without any financial resources? The answer is to help the community help itself as the book of Acts implies.

Acts 2:45 states: “and sold thier possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need”.

This is where the Flea Market Concept becomes an interesting option. For instance, CharestCorp recently completed research estimating that homeowners in the Central Valley, (specifically the City of Fresno) have over 25 million dollars worth of stored goods in their garages and storage areas that could be sold to help support their families. So how do we get them to leverage those good to put food on the table and gas in their cars? The answer is a good old fashioned Flea Market.

There was a time in our country where due to a global war and a severe depression that trading ones goods, second hand items and ones labor services provided a co-op of sorts that insured survival for hundreds of thousands of families. It is time we embrace this concept again.

To that end CharestCorp is using one of our vacant 40,000 square foot buildings to house an ongoing Indoor Flea Market and partnering with local churches to invite members to brings goods that they no longer need for sale. This allows families to, “sell and simplify” their lives and to remove the clutter in their garages and storage spaces and use the money to pay bills as they have need.

Now is the time to be creative and embrace our new motto: “Revelation to Innovation.” Which is to say that we believe as followers of Jesus Christ through the guidance of the Holy Spirit will discover new ways to serve our community by helping them learn to serve themselves.

For more information of how to partner with CharestCorp in making this Flea Market concept a success for your church email us at renem@charestcorp.com  and “Happy Yard Sailing!”

I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after the killing of the body, has power to throw you into hell. Yes I tell you, fear him. Luke 12:4-6

CharestCorp is talking with a lot of churches lately. There seems to be a prevailing unease with what the future holds for churches in America. It is a combination of economic uncertainty, public disdain and the appearance that governmental leaders have abandoned all the Body of Christ holds dear.

However, I am also talking to a few churches that are walking with a thoughtful expression of contentment. Not an ignorant blissful, “I’m above the circumstances” attitude but a serious but steadfast belief that God is in complete control.

With further investigation I am discovering that the leaders of the churches who walk in this incredible peace have the healthiest “fear” of God. Some may say, “Why do they fear God?” “Shouldn’t we come before Him as our friend and Savior and protective buddy in thick and thin?” The true answer is, “No!” The Living God has the ability to cast you into everlasting hell and separate you from his Glory for the rest of eternity. Good enough for ya?

These types of churches do not walk in some timid stance of fear but in a spritely gait of victory. It is an understanding that God always fiercely protects His Church. He sent His only Son to die for it and no gates of Hell shall prevail against it. So these church continue to walk uprightly, preaching aggressively and  growing exponentially. Though they fear God they are not afraid.

Even though CharestCorp is hired to help churches design and build new facilities, and to establish and maintain unity throughout the entire building process, we are the ones who are learning. We are learning that it is a privilege to partner with men and women who are pillars of the Faith while holding a healthy fear of the Living God.

Another dichotomy of the Christian faith resonates again through the saying, “Once you learn to fear God, you are no longer afraid!”