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 Guiding Your Church through Financial CrisisIs your budget tightening up?
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So what are steps churches can take to help people survive the financial crisis? Kluth recommends offering budget counseling and resources that address giving in a biblical context, such as FPU's or those offered by Crown Resources. He also believes in scriptural teaching. In tough economic times, Kluth thinks too many people look at their company as their provider instead of God. For larger churches, Kluth sees additional opportunities in the area of networking, career transition, and seminars to help job seekers find another job or a new occupation. Consultant may helpA former pastor who specializes in stewardship teaching thinks churches that pull in their horns now are sacrificing long-term gains for short-term perspectives. Rod Rogers, who wrote Pastor Driven Stewardship to review the giving principles he developed as a pastor, has seen his business slide precipitously during the past year. However, the Topeka, Kansas-based consultant says that congregations that hire a consultant to enhance operations often wind up paying for those services from increased donations. "I tell them to think of it as an investment," says Rodgers, who also does motivational speaking. "You're investing to get more money than you put in." Among sources he suggests for funding a consultant are a special offering, borrowing from another budget category, asking a donor for a short-term loan or gift, or holding a brainstorming session. Rogers says too many churches have a scarcity mindset when in reality money is available if they are willing to ask. He cites a Chicago church that needed a 33 percent increase to survive and took in 39 percent more in the first five weeks of a stewardship campaign. "Many Christians don't give because they think they can't afford to," Rogers says. "We have to teach them they can't afford not to—that they will be better off giving to God than keeping 100 percent and trying to do it on their own." Benevolence still importantWhile searching for sounder footing, churches need to continue—even increase—food, clothing and other assistance. Churches in one Phoenix suburb that offer relief efforts have seen dramatic increases lately, such as a center that has helped 50,000 people with food the past six months. That's normally the number they would serve in a year. "We're a middle-class church, and we helped a lot of people," Kluth says. "We helped 168 families with food or grocery cards last year. Depending on the church, it may need to be helping with medical costs or get involved with mortgage help. We do stop-gap mortgage payments." Rodgers likes the idea of creating a bartering system via a church's website. That way, someone who needs a plumber might be able to secure those services by offering accounting expertise. "I would (also) do a stewardship series," Rodgers says. "Preach the word and teach people to give. I think it would encourage them." © 2009 ChurchCentral.com |             |
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