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Growing Generous Givers
12 tools for cultivating an unselfish church.
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Early in the budget process, we ask all leaders to make a wish list of new ministries or purchases for their area. Our leadership team then determines approximate costs for each request and develops a priority wish list. Because different things motivate different people, our wish list includes both staffing, such as adding a part-time children's director, and property, like new video equipment. We do not allow people to designate their giving to these projects, though, because that would undermine giving to our general budget. Instead we say if our total offerings exceed the budget, we will undertake wish-list items. Then they know their increased giving will make a difference. Because people don't want to give to something as uneventful as the general fund, we changed its name to the ministry fund, which shows that its purpose is people oriented. 5. Get commitments. If I don't get a specific commitment from people, my Bible teaching has little effect. The first year we had a stewardship emphasis, I taught God's financial principles for four straight weeks, and then I sat back and waited for the offerings to go up. The line on our offering graph remained horizontal. I couldn't figure out what went wrong until I talked about it with another pastor. "How much increase did the people indicate on their commitment cards?" he asked. "What commitment cards?" I replied. "You have to help people clarify and cement their decision," he said. "The only way I know to do that is by having them write down their giving commitment for the next year." The following year I used commitment cards, and giving went up 20 percent. A similar result has followed commitment Sunday every year in the churches I have pastored. I have learned several things about receiving financial commitments: Prepare people. Tell them weeks in advance about the coming commitment day. That helps prevent the feeling of pressure or manipulation. Ask people to think in terms of their weekly giving rather than an annual amount. This helps them break it down into manageable amounts. Ask them to specify their weekly increase. We encourage people to grow every year in every area of discipleship, including stewardship. A figure of $200 per week may sound generous, but if someone's income has increased and they write zero on the increase line, he will realize his commitment is not a sacrifice of faith. Asking people to calculate the increase in their giving encourages them to consider something more sacrificial. Assure people their commitments will be kept confidential. Promise that no one will contact or pressure them if they are unable to meet their commitment. 6. Involve more people. Seventy percent of offerings will come from those who serve in the church. That means one of the best ways to increase giving is to increase the number who serve. They are the ones who see the vision, develop a passion for greater ministry, and increase their giving to make it happen. |             |
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