I think that a man who works should eat.
Reasonable fees are expected, and...well...reasonable. Depending on where a man hails from, he will need airfare or enough money for gas and possibly a room to and from...plus food money to, from and while staying...if he has a family travelling with him, the expenses have just gone way, way up...
So...compensate a man for his expenses, and give him something to take home and pay bills with.
I can understand a man asking for a set price up front. I know what its like as a kid, travelling with my parents, to be put up in a roach-filled church parsonage and eat bologna all weekend. Not that there's anything wrong with bologna, and hey, if that's all you've got, be thankful. But there's something to be said for churches that meet the needs of the evangelist and his family, and make sure that he is not only compensated, but allowed to continue to make a living that way.
Churches who treat evangelists as if they are second rate citizens and feed them beans whilst they dine on steak ought to be ashamed of themselves. I'm glad our church treats visiting ministers with respect and
great hospitality. Aren't we all to be hospitable?
That said...asking for obnoxious amounts of money just so a church can have the
privilege of hearing your prestigious voice belt out the perfect sermon...well...a bit of ego could be in play there.
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