The responsibility for raising funds in the church falls squarely in the lap of the senior pastor. Whether we like it or not, that’s how most church cultures operate. Bill Hybels compares financial sources to a river and correctly observes: “And like it or not, it is the leader’s job to create that river and to manage it wisely. The sooner the leader realizes that the better.”
Let’s consider how pastors raise the needed finances: the simple answer is that they must develop donors. We suggest seven means that pastors could use to develop their donors and raise the ministry’s operational funds.
Regularly cast the church’s vision
First, you must regularly cast a clear, compelling vision for the church. The key to cultivating donors for your church’s ministry is vision. Our experience is that people are not that interested in just paying the light bills or staff salaries, nor do they respond well to guilt trips, negativism, or shortages. People give to big, dynamic visions that, in turn, produce the passion that is vital to giving. They are more willing to invest in “What could be” (future possibilities) than “what is” (present reality), especially if “what is” is floundering or in the red. The exception is when “what is” is obviously blessed of God and growing spiritually and numerically.
To a certain degree, raising finances is a vision measure. What does that mean? People’s giving responses will often tell you something about the quality of your church’s vision and the leader’s ability to cast the vision. The people can know what the church’s vision is only through the vision caster and how that person articulates and frames it. Thus a pastor who fails to or cannot effectively cast the vision will have a negative impact on the church’s income.
Implement a church-wide stewardship education plan
One of the most effective ways of developing donors is to implement a church-wide stewardship education plan. This involves developing and implementing a strategy for building biblical training into your ministry. Scripture has much to say about giving, and this forms the basis for your stewardship plan. Effective communication vehicles will assist your people in becoming mature givers. We strongly encourage you to utilize all the following communication vehicles, which will work together in your church to enhance stewardship education.
Sermons about stewardship
The first and most important step that a pastor or leader can take in developing donors is discovering what the Bible says about stewardship and then teaching these truths consistently to his or her people. Leaders should not wait until there’s a dire financial need in the church to address the issue of stewardship. Somebody once said that God is not in the business of raising money; he’s in the business of raising Christians. The issue of stewardship is more about the development of the believer than it is about the financial condition of the local church. As we grow our people and teach them what the Bible says about stewardship, they mature and learn to give. Every time they give, they learn to give away a little of their selfishness.
Some leaders shirk this responsibility. They may fear what their people or “seekers” might think. Many pastors want to please their people and be liked, which is normal; however, a significant difference exists between being liked and being respected. Jesus did not hesitate to address people in the area of their finances (see Matt. 6:19-24), and pastors must not either. Many people really do want to know what the Bible teaches about money because it is an issue that is so close to their heart. They realize that their finances are not providing true happiness, and they want to know the truth. People of God must know the Word of God, and pastors must be truth tellers.
Approach your messages along the lines that giving is a privilege as much as it is a responsibility. Resist the temptation to bang your people over the head with biblical imperatives. Instead, assume that they want to give and you are there to help them enjoy the privilege of giving to God.
The pastor should expand his preaching on money beyond just giving. Sermon series could also address such topics as debt, saving, and our attitude toward money. Messages on stewardship should include encouragement concerning contributions of time and talents and the stewardship of influence.
Sunday school lessons on giving
Sunday school is another excellent place to train your people in giving. Take three or four sessions annually to cover some aspect of stewardship in your Sunday school or small-group ministry. The lessons could be coordinated with the pastor’s sermons. The same biblical text, or a different one that expands on the theme, could be used.
Small groups
Stewardship can be taught in the large gathering, but financial accountability and encouragement take place in the midsize or small group. Small-group leaders need to catch a vision of disciple making and be responsible for seeing that everyone in their group finds a place of service, is reading the Word of God, participates in evangelism, and is a fully participating partner in terms of stewardship.
Small-group leaders should not have access to the church’s financial records and should not confront people on their specific financial giving. However, it is in the small group that stewardship is modeled, giving experiences are shared, and one-on-one encouragement is exercised to facilitate good stewardship. The small-group leader can share with the group the need for everyone to participate financially in the church and give testimony of his or her own participation (without, of course, sharing inappropriate details).
New members class
When people decide to become members, they are very interested in and committed to the church and its ministry. Wise churches provide a new members class or workshop to orient them to the church and its expectations. It is critical that they cover matters such as the church’s values, mission, vision, and strategy for alignment purposes. However, this is also a great time for the church to clearly communicate its giving expectations and the biblical basis for them.
Counseling
Along with the various ministries that teach on biblical giving, we believe the church needs to provide some counseling for those who are struggling with debt and other similar financial problems. Your church could provide fee-based counseling, or refer members to agencies in their community that offer such services.
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