Giving to religious causes went up last year. Did your church giving go up last year? Did it go up more than 2.7 percent? (If it did, you beat the average!) Or, do you need help with generosity and stewardship? Religious giving was up in 2015. For more details, see my new podcast, Cheerful Giving. […]
There are four essential components in a successful capital campaign – the Case, Leadership, Prospects, and the Plan. Each one of these is critical to the success of the campaign. What is a Case for Support in a Capital Campaign? The Case is a written document that gives the rationale for the campaign. After reading […]
Mortgage debt could be crippling your ministry. Imagine how much fun it would be to burn those mortgage papers! Then imagine how much relief your budget will have when “Debt Service” is no longer a line item and a monthly drain on finances. What a time for a party! Mortgage burning parties used to be […]
Here are the answers to last week’s quiz: 10. Know Your Numbers. Pearson’s Law states, “That which is measured improves. That which is measured and reported improves exponentially.” Here are some important numbers to know: average giving per worshiper, new givers, how many stopped giving (and why!), aggregate giving by age group. 9. Remember the […]
Paul Begala, a former Clinton presidential advisor, once said, “The budget is a profoundly moral document.” He then quoted the Bible, “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be.” Budgets, after all, reflect our priorities. The decisions we make about how and how much we spend our money reveal our values and demonstrate […]
A word about how generosity is inspired… I’m very fortunate to live in an area where a number of churches have sausage suppers. Rural German farmers have a higher standard for sausage – each congregation is very proud of its own recipe. A typical plate comes with their specially made sausage, mashed potatoes, white beans, […]
How many words do you know that follow the phrase “line-item”? Here’s what Google suggests when you type that in: Seriously. Budget. But more importantly, VETO! Line-item is a negative word. So why do we keep using a line-item budget to communicate spending in our congregations? Here’s how it typically plays out: First line… personnel. […]
Freebie Friday – I’ve always known that Moses could teach us many things, but I wasn’t sure that applied to fundraising – until now! (It should be pointed out – the ability to raise funds must have been hereditary. His brother Aaron also raised quite a bit to build that golden calf!) Enjoy this Friday’s […]
How would you answer Peter Drucker’s question – What is your mission? Within that question lies the answer to reaching your full potential as a pastor and as a congregation. Let’s call it “Mission Clarity.” I had the privilege of meeting with the pastor
I came across an incredibly important document recently: Year-Round Congregational Stewardship: Six Best Practices My first reaction was this – if you follow that list