“Money is tight. We’ll have to cut our budget again this year. People just aren’t giving like they did in the past.” “Half of our families don’t give anything to the church. How can we turn that around?” “I’m just uncomfortable going to church; they’re always asking for donations.” Money is a problem even in […]
Category: Uncategorized
That’s a Wrap: 6 Carols for Year-End Stewardship
Snowflakes in the air, carols everywhere, Olden times and ancient rhymes of love and dreams to share Yes, Christmastime is here, and just a few days more to write the Christmas sermon! Here are five Christmas Carols to keep you mindful of generosity and stewardship during this hectic season. Use these familiar words to […]
2017 Church Campaign Services Newsletters
2017 Newsletters December – That’s a Wrap: 6 Carols for Year-End Stewardship November – Teach Your Children (Stewardship) Well October – Planned Gifts: A Phone Call Worth $250,000 September – Where Does the Money Come From? August – The Pledge Campaign is not about Money July – Thank-You Notes Will Inspire Faith and Generosity June – 5 Benefits of Capital Campaign […]
Teach Your Children (Stewardship) Well
How many of you had this experience as a child? Sitting in church with your family, the offering time arrives, the ushers come forward, the music begins, and you proudly place your offering in the plate as it goes by. My earliest memories of giving occurred in church. My parents made sure I had something […]
Planned Gifts: A Phone Call Worth $250,000
The first time the trust department of the local bank called me, I was totally unprepared. According to the bank, the church would be receiving a bequest worth nearly $250,000. This planned gift was nearly double the entire annual budget of the church! We immediately agreed to meet in person to discuss the expected gift, […]
The Pledge Campaign is not about Money
The goal of the Annual Pledge Campaign is to grow generous givers. The Finance Committee of your church may disagree. But the Annual Pledge Campaign is not about money, and it’s not about the budget. Our mission proceeds from the Great Commission – to go out into the world, baptizing and teaching in the name […]
Where does the money come from?
Money. One of the major challenges that churches face is setting a sustainable funding strategy. When it comes to church finances, leaders often take a “seat of the pants” approach each fiscal year with small regard for tomorrow. Too, they may not understand the funding sources available to the church, or how those sources can […]
Does Your Church Facility Represent Your Vision and Values?
There is nothing glamorous or exciting about building improvements like roof repair or window replacement. That was the reality that a recent client faced. Built in the late 1950s, their building had become worn and dated. Each proposed improvement seemed minor and cosmetic. All together, though, the updates added up to a substantial sum. As […]
Automating the Image of God
The image of God within us inspires us to be generous. “I want to give while I’m living, so I can see the good being done,” a retired schoolteacher once said. An active leader in her church, she had finalized plans for a large financial gift. I was an inexperienced pastor who learned a new […]
Capital Campaign Capacity
Here’s a quick calculator to determine how much your congregation can raise in an initial campaign campaign. [CP_CALCULATED_FIELDS id=”9″]