Wondering about the future

I wonder a lot of things. For me, I think prayer has a lot to do with wondering things in God's direction. I often don't listen for answers. I would like to get much better at waiting attentively for answers.Something I've been wondering about for quite a while is a vehicle that might have a name like .......?? Well, let's not worry about the name. I've gone so far as to wonder about it to the Parish Council and some bright sparks at the diocese. Our wonderings have led to a significant amount of research. We have discovered that while the idea is simple enough it's quite hard to do.So what is the idea? We have an annual budget that really focuses on running the church day to day. I'm so thankful that people give regularly to the "not very sexy" task of running the ship. Following the GFC and a few young families moving overseas and interstate we don't have anything left over in reserve. To do new things we need more seedmoney. Often new things are a bit risky. A bit hard to paint clearly.Through our research, mostly conducted outside St Philips, we have learned that people give to very visible things and projects; buildings, clear mission projects - especially overseas ones.We have learned, dauntingly, that if people give large sums, it's often because they trust or feel they have a good relationship with me!We have learned that the thought that our money goes to an institution or bureaucracy is unappealing to many.We have learnt that wealthy people do not give commensurately to their wealth. In fact most Christian organisations and initiatives are supported by small amounts given regularly by ordinary folk.We have learnt that Christians are unlikely to give generously to local mission initiatives. They are much more  comfortable giving overseas where they think their money does more good and is more deserved.We have learned that local community mission is much more likely to attract corporate sponsorship. Corporates are very for local community building.So why some sort of future fund? Because, in my wondering, I am really keen that as we turn 100, I'd like to see us commit to building a financial infrastructure to take us into the next 100 years.As our congregations get older we need to leave a legacy for the future that can be drawn on to seed the future church.I would like to build a million dollar fund to enable us to resource and explore what the church will look like in the next 100 years.I would like to be able to seed men and women who have a vision to bring God's rule and reign to local communities who are blind, naked, pitiable and poor spiritually, even though they have everything materially. And I can see it all very clearly.This is what I've been wondering. What do you think? I'd love to hear.Maybe we could have a Centenary Futures Forum to discuss it?In the AdventureMalcolm