In our national www.STATEofthePLATE.info survey research among churches, we discovered that giving is declining in 37% of the churches and is flat-lined in another 24%. In this new economic climate, here are 10 ways that pastors and church leaders can inspire generosity and increase giving so their church can focus on thriving instead of just surviving.
1. Intentionally focus on stewardship as a matter of Christian discipleship. If we do not teach our people that Christ is Lord of all, is He really someone’s Lord at all? While Christians cannot serve God and money, they must be taught to serve God with their money. Don’t preach and teach on finances and giving for institutional survival; aim for transformed lives. No one is born generous. Generosity is something that must be taught and caught. I don’t believe the heresy that God wants everyone to be rich, but I do believe that God wants everyone to learn to become more generous with whatever God has given them.
2. Inspire people’s generosity through true stories. The Bible is filled with stories of people’s generosity—the little boy with the five loaves and two fish, the Macedonians who gave in the midst of their poverty, the former slaves who gave their riches to build the tabernacle, David who shared his wealth to build the temple, the widow that fed Elijah from the little she had, the widow’s mite, and many more. But also share true generosity stories from your own life and the lives of those you know. If you need ideas for true stories, check out the 40 true stories in the free eDevotional at www.GiveWithJoy.org or search Google for “stewardship stories, tithing testimonies, generosity illustrations.”
3. Include teaching opportunities on generosity and finance in the church worship service and annual calendar. In the worship service, share an offertory verse or video. In your church calendar, consider sending out a daily generosity devotional that couples and families can go through together. Offer financial classes, Sunday school classes, and seminars throughout the year. Put generosity and financial pamphlets or articles in your bulletins, newsletters, lobby literature racks, and giving statement mailings.
4. Ignore the doom-and-gloom, sky-is-falling media headlines. Yes, we live in the midst of some challenging times. But when the headlines say unemployment hits 10%, that means that 90% of our people are working! When the headlines indicate the stock market stumbles, remember that many of our people don’t depend on the stock market for their weekly or monthly income. We are not to operate in fear, but in faith in a God who is bigger than the latest media headlines of our day. The reality is that if someone makes more than a $1000 a year, they are richer than 80% of the world’s population. We need to teach our people to be faithful stewards and generous givers with whatever they have.
5. Investigate best practices and materials that can be adopted or adapted for use in your church. Don’t try to reinvent the wheel. There are a lot of proven resources available for your church to use. Start by downloading the free national report on the “50 Best Practices and 80 Best Websites to Increase Giving” at www.annualstewardshipprogram.org.
6. Increase the number of ways you allow people to give. For a number of years churches have debated whether they should pass the plate or have a box in the back for offerings. Today the answer is both, and more! Pass the plate, have a box in the back, offer online giving, electronic check processing, stock transfers through a brokerage account, gifts-in-kind, and estate gifts.
7. Instruct people from the Scriptures about finances and generosity. We need to teach people to be faithful givers, not because the budget says so, but because the Bible says so. Our focus needs to be to teach people to be faithful givers to God, not to the church budget. Our goal is that our people please God, not the church finance committee. Church budgets are spending plans, not the giving goal. It is the Scriptures (all 2,350 verses on finances, generosity, and material possessions) that will help people become faithful stewards and givers.
8. Ignite people’s faith in God as their Provider. I like to ask people, “What would you rather have—what your company can pay you or what God can provide for you?” God is bigger than a paycheck or a pension. We need to teach people that their company may be their employer, but God is their Provider. He is bigger than stock markets, housing markets, and job markets. Too many people have had a “show me the money” attitude. God can use paychecks and pensions to provide for His people, but He is not dependent on them.
9. Involve people in giving opportunities beyond the general operating budget. In addition to people’s regular giving, churches can mobilize resources for benevolence needs, building projects, mission projects, crisis and relief ministries, camp scholarships, and special designated needs. Different people are motivated by different things. Wise churches know how to invite people’s “over and above” giving to tap into the God-given desires people have to feel they are meeting a specific need. The www.STATEofthePLATE.info View from the Pew personal surveys identified 14 different areas at church and beyond the church where people donate.
10. Inform people of how their gifts are being used and additional resources to pursue. When you send out giving statements, include some type of financial newsletter that highlights church giving, special projects, missionaries being supported, and financial websites that can be of help to them.
Brian Kluth is the founder of www.maximumgenerosity.org and the author of a 40-day devotional on generosity (www.GenerousLife.org). Kluth’s annual www.STATEofthePLATE.info research monitors church giving, budget, and generosity trends.
© 2010 ChurchCentral.com
