Mishandling of funds at the PCO

(Protestant Church of Oman)

Do you realize how your offerings and tithes and other financial contributions are utilizes by the Church? The sad part is that 99% of worshippers are not bothered about it at all thinking that the finances of the PCO are utilized wisely. Please note that I mean only the PCO and not the other denominations under it from India, Pakistan, Philippines and Sri Lanka !!!

Well, its time to re-think !!!

Wnen we first think of our finances for the church, we need to control and monitor all sources of expenses, or soon the incomes will start draining sooner than you all think.

Lets start with the employees of the PCO

! CARETAKERS

There are 2 caretakers in the Ruwi church and one each in Ghala and Sohar and even one in Salalah. These guys are there to see to it that the church and its surroundings are well maintained and looked after, plus the fact that they are around at all times to make sure that the church is ready for all activities of the various congregations at various times of the week

But have you noticed the utter lack of maintenance of the church compounds in Ruwi and Ghala? These guys have hardly any jobs to do. They are paid salaries between 150 to almost 200 rials a month, plus annual air-tickets to India and back. For what?

You can get even better employees, younger and much more energetic and at much lesser pay !!! There are enough people who will do this job for 120 rials a month and willing to go on leave once in 2 years !!!

How much money can you save from this method alone

Second is the office staff

A proper Secretary cum accountant of any average company does at least 5 times the work of Jackie Kumar and her assistant and they are paid about 150 – 250 rials a month with bachelor status and an annual ticket home and back

Do you have any idea how much Jackie earns ?? 400 – 600 rials plus school allowances for her kids, 2-bedroom flat (fully-furnished) and a new car !!! And her family is back home and she lives all alone.

How much can you save from this expense alone??

Salim the caretaker is so obese and heavy alchoholic and can die the moment he gets a chest pain, plus his knees problems. One mistake on his part and the church will pay a lot of money for his hospitalization. Being a muslim, he will never ever talk good of Christianity and anyway he goes public talking of anti-christian sentiments along with the other muslim caretaker from the al-amana centre who is presentlt transferred to the Ruwi church

Why can’t the church employ good Christians for these positions, who have no unhealthy habits and who can use this job position to also grow in Christ?? We can understand if Salim and the other muslim guy have become Christians due to their employment here !!!

Please note that there was a caretaker in Ghala church who died in July 2000. He was a very heavy alcoholic, used the portacabin behind the church for gambling and storing and selling alcohol and even kept a mistress with him. He returned home from leave and went on a drinking spree and fainted in the shower and died in Royal hospital in the ICU . How much expenses did the PCO spend on this? And the PCO even doled out money for his benefactors !!!

Are any of you laymen ever realizing these things? How can we all ignore these blunders on Church management and expenses?

It is high time the church either cut down on these exhorbitant expenses or recruited somebodyelse who can work better for lesser pay and benefits. The church can use all such money earned very wisely for outreach ministries or support Christian causes in asian countries

When you elect new Church members to the committee, all thet do is ignore these things and just continue with these mistakes. How can people who are qualified accountants and financial controllers of major companies in oman be in the church committee and IGNORE these truths

Both churches needs proper maintenance and it is never carried out wisely, despite having a full-time maintenance foreman in their partial pay-roll? What is the use, if there is no result?

Have you realized that the other church denominations have noticed this and is laughing behind your backs?? The Catholics next door are so aware of this, and just go see how they manage their expenses wisely

It is high time that you all realized that you need to be sure that such expenses are controlled severely and your money is properly used for the Lord’s service

A church looks lovely in a green atmosphere and we must create an oasis look in these church compounds!! NEEM trees are a very easy source of greenery and maintenanve is so cheap. There should be park like facilities around a church for people to relax and spend a day in the church premises.

Most people have only a day off and many come from so far away and have nowhere to rest from the afternoon sun. Shady trees will be an excellent alternative

Please do something about this before these viewpoints gets louder and more embarrassing

The next point of utter embarrassment is the complete mishandling of the Bible Society in Oman by Babu and Ranjini Ganta

If only the members of the church council / committee were found out for stealing, you gan take legal action on them and make them pay back to the PCO. This is worse. Money spent foolishly will never return and will never have the desired effect.

It is time you laymen started realizing that you ought to know how your offerings and tithes are being utilized. There is no point mentioning about shortages of incomes of the PCO and encouraging the laymen to pay up their offerings and tithes.

Anybody knows that the only was to keep a check on ones finances is to monitor and control / restrict the expenses. Ask any housewife !!!!

Basically all auditors are instructed not only to merely audit the accounts books, but to find out if the incomes and expenses are justified. Its their job to make sure that the accounts are not only correct, but JUSTIFIED !!!!

There are so many ways of generation incomes for the PCO, and what is required is that a questionnaire be sent out to the other denominations as well and seek suggestions and constructive critizisms

It is high time, you people made sure that your money is put to good use and that too, in the best possible way !!! Isn’t it so??May God grant all of us the wisdom to understand these allegations and take positive steps ASAP