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October 31, 2007

Why does Microfinance work?

The short answer is that it provides the capital necessary to finance the economic growth for people who live in places that are completely closed to traditional financing options. Bottom line, microfinance supplies the demand. That's economics 101.

But I think there is something else that is intriguing about this new concept. It's indivduals giving to individuals. It's a personal connection disguised as a business transaction. No one is going to lose everything over a small microloan. In fact, it's OK to risk that amount with a possibility that you may never see that paid back.

People are emotional beings no matter how hard they try to keep it rational. A basic rule in selling is people buy from who they know, like, and trust. That is the same for commodities such as toilet paper and services such as financial planning.

I think individuals are looking for a way to make a difference. And microloans provide a way to participate in the "global" economy without having to be included in the Fortune 500 list of companies.

See how people are doing it here.

I'm curious. Would you do it?

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October 30, 2007

Willow Creek Repents?.....kind of

I have mixed feelings about part two of this story. On one hand I'm not surprised. On the other, I'm disappointed. Read my first post here. And read Willow Creek's response here.

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Churches and Microfinance

Microfinance is hot. The concept that people can make small loans (like $30) to people halfway around the world, and that loan, which barely buys a meal for a family of four at McDonalds, literally has the ability to change the course of their lives is amazing. The net result is their ability break out of poverty and begin to be self-sufficient.

Perhaps the leading voice in this movement is Muhammad Yunus. He wrote a NY Times bestseller recently titled Banker to the Poor. No, he is not a believer. But he is making a measurable difference in the lives of people all over the world through very small sums of money. He is giving them a second chance at life; a chance as well as a change that they could not provide on their own. (Sound familiar? It should. That's the heart of the Gospel message.)

What if you knew that the money you spent on your family vacation this year could be the principle funds that--if loaned to individual members of a particular village in small sums--could result in increased economic prosperity and the end of poverty? And In turn, you eliminated the challenges that poverty brings such as early death, poor health and nurtition, and a lack of ability to provide for the well-being of the members of this village. How would you feel?

I want to introduce this subject and begin a series of posts that I hope will encourage dialog about a way for Southern Baptists--a denomination that has championed missions from the beginning--as well as Christians all over the world to change lives by providing the Bread of Life as well as bread FOR life.

It's at least worth a coversation.

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October 29, 2007

Willow Creek made a mistake? - For Pastors Only

I realize that this subject is outside the boundaries of our normal conversation on stewardship and giving. But I think there is room to talk about what Willow Creek has admitted on to the public stage. After careful evaluation, they have arrived at the conclusion that they got it wrong.

They have become, for many pastors and church leaders, the ultimate example of success. Many have patterned their own ministry models after Willow Creek. And they have been very successful...if raising money and growing attendance is the ultimate goal of church. But it is not.

I'm not going to throw darts at Willow Creek because we have all crossed that line. For many pastors and church leaders, we have been pressured to operate our churches like a business: sell. sell. sell. and profit. profit. profit. While those might not look the same as they do in business, we often mark the growth or health of any ministry or church by contributions and attendance.

Willow Creek should not be beaten up in the court of public opinion. Rather, they should be congratulated for doing something that most of us would not do if we were in the same position. They admitted they made a mistake and got it all wrong. They confessed that more people doesn't mean more ministry. And more activity never--no matter how utilitarian--replaces the work of the Spirit in the lives of believers.

This takes courage. A trait that is amazingly rare among church leadership today.

Before we crucifiy Willow Creek and burn all their material that sits on our bookshelves, may we be reminded to audit our own lives and ministries to ensure that they are being transformed into an accurate picture of Christ. And even more important, that our churches are facilitating opportunities for growth in body, mind, soul and spirit.

It is those to whom we have been given who are looking to us to show them the way to eternal bread and living water. Are we living examples of Christ's sacrifice for us, or are we simply building our resumes for the next big "ministry" [sic] opportunity?

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October 25, 2007

Howard Dayton on Debt

There is a great feature article on LifeWay.com today about debt from Crown Finanial Ministries' leader Howard Dayton. This would be a great article to print, copy and distribute to your church as a bulletin insert.

We know this to be true: the more debt people have, the less they are able to give to the church. That applies to time and talent as well as money. And if you're looking for a great way to address personal debt in your community, don't forget about the SBC's new focus on finanical freedom: It's A New Day. How Will You Spend It?

Give people financial hope first, then you'll be able to give them a hope that will last for eternity.

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October 24, 2007

Regular attenders and offering envelopes

There is a new class of membership that exists in churches today. This group has been given the title of "regular attenders." These are people who seem to act like members in that they are present at church functions and may even volunteer for church activites or leadership positions. In fact, some "regular attenders" may attend for years before they ever decide to formally join the church.

So the question remains: if members are expected to give of their time, talent, and money to support the growth of the Kingdom through work of the local church, then how does this apply to "regular attenders"? Do we give them a "Regular Attender" packet that is somewhere between our Visitor packets and our New Member packets. Does this packet include a sample set of offering envelopes and explain how they are to use them?

I think this is a simple question: should those who are "getting" something from the work of the local church also have a responsibility to "give back" to the work of the local church? Yes. And one of the principle ways we do that is with money. Yet that rarely is discussed or taught. And most pastors and church leaders are careful to address the subject of money. This baffles me, especially when their paycheck is tied directly to church contributions.

It takes money to run any organization. And at the end of the day, the church is an organization with fixed and variable expenses that must recover those costs through contributions. And where should those contributions come from? Where else, those who attend and receive the "benefits" of the organization. Using that definition, then the responsibility of giving and stewardship carries forward to the regular attender as well as the church member.

So, why aren't more pastors eager to address this subject in public and private. Among the many reasons that we will not address, there is one that is often ignored. Pastors are "graded" on their ability to put people in the pews. And there is a school of thought in church growth strategy that emerged about a decade ago that says that if you talk about money, people will leave and never come back.

If that's the case, then I say let them go. In business, it's not about the number of customers you have. It's the number of profitable customers that you have. If you have twice as many customers as your competitors but aren't making any profit, then you'll never be able to sustain the business let alone dream of growing. Yet, if you have half the number of customers as your competitors but those customers are twice as profitable, then you are head and shoulders above your competition.

Now, church members or regular attenders shouldn't be managed like customers. But what use is a member or a regular attender if all they are doing is taking and never giving back through time, talent, and money? It's just like having a customer that is not profitable or worse--one you're losing money on. And that is no way to build a business or grow a church.

The Gospel is a message grounded in sacrifice. Our lives should reflect the message we speak. So find the courage to speak the truth, take a deep breath and watch your ministry grow.

As a good friend says frequently, "Look it in the teeth. Even if it bites back."

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October 23, 2007

IRS and Cash Donations

The end of the calendar year is quickly approaching. It's a good reminder that the guidlines have changed when it comes to cash donations to churches. Gone are the days when you could just drop cash into an offering plate and expect to be able to deduct it on your tax return as a charitable donation. Every penny must be accounted for and documented from the organization who receives the funds.

Read more about this here.

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October 18, 2007

Calvanism, the SBC and the Cooperative Program

I came across this post yesterday. I believe it raises a compelling question that may be more generational than theological. There was a time when churches were comfortable sending money from their offering plates to this big thing called Cooperative Program. Now there are some churches who wish to have more control over how it's used--specifically to fund CP and their own, individual mission efforts.

Is the net result the same? Or have we short-changed a program that has worked well for almost a century?

This leaves us with a need to re-discover CP and how it can continue to be a hallmark of our denomination. I'm not interested in facilitating a political battle. I'm interested in honest dialog.

So what do you think? Do Spencer and Brister have a point?

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October 17, 2007

Pastor's Guide to Fundraising Success

I found a great article on Church Solutions Magazine today. It was written by two people who have spent their lives helping churches and other non-profit organizations raise the money needed to not only meet their annual budget but also accomplish the ministry God has placed on their heart.

If there is one thing I come across over and over again, it's that implementing a formal fundraising plan is absolutely essential to any fundraising endeavor. And like it or not, fundraising is part of the pastors repsonsibility. In a lot of ways, the role of the pastor is similar to the role of a college president who number one job is to raise money for the institution. In the case of the church, the pastor is the theological leader as well. But that doesn't remove the responsibility of fundraising.

The paradox is that very little time--if any--is spent preparing pastors for this endeavor during their seminar training. So many pastors feel absolutely helpless. And a natural human response to fear is to ignore it.

Bottom line, no plan will yeild less than desirable results. Sure, you might be able to sustain an organization with no strategy in place. But you'll never realize any measurable differences without a plan.

Here is what the writers of the article say:

Not all churches implement a full plan of asking every member to give every year. Some church leaders take shortcuts, thinking: "Our annual fund campaign this year was very successful and it was a lot of hard work. Now that our members know what is expected of them, they will continue to give every year without being asked. After all, we are engaged in the Lord's work and our members know that it takes money to get the job done." The result is that annual giving begins to decline. After three or four or five years, church leaders decide they had better do another annual campaign.

Such interruptions not only weaken ministries and individual response opportunities, they add to the challenges of helping persons understand the importance of ongoing and increased giving to the church, in good times and in bad times.

Read the rest of the article here. Purchase the book here.

Do what you have to do to write out a church donor plan that matches your ministry goals. Then work the plan. You'll be amazed at the results.

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October 16, 2007

Prevent conflict over church finances

I think we all can name a pastor or a church that has been destroyed either by the perception of wrong or the practice of wrong in the area of church finances. I know here in Nashville there have been several churches that have had to deal with this. It's unfortunate, but it's reality.

Money is a strange beast and can bring with it a sense of control, privilege, and even arrogance. But this is probably not breaking news for you. One thing we can all do is put in place "best practices" that help us avoid the appearance of wrong and poor decision making.

I read an article today specifically written for church leaders. It's called 5 Ways to Prevent Conflict Over Church Finances. In it Keith Hamilton with the Georgia Baptist Convention outlines some practical tips that will help us ensure that the ministry doesn't live in the shadow of the administration of the church.

Unless you live the life of a Human Resource professional, no one likes to write and define policies. But if the church--an organization at its core--is going to operate effectively and efficiently, it must take the time to outline policies that protect its integrity and provide a plan or procedure that will exist long after the present leadership moves out or on.

I think one of the strengths of this article are the numerous quick links to how-to resources. I would encourage you to take a few minutes to check it out.

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October 15, 2007

Ken Hemphill on pastors, preaching and money

Dr. Ken Hemphill [Ken] is not only a scholar (he has a Ph.D. from Cambridge University in England) but also a pastor. He most recently held the position of president of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. His current role is national strategist for Empowering Kingdom Growth-a joint effort between LifeWay and the Convention. Ken is also the author of Making Change: A Transformational Guide to Christian Money Management.

After meeting at the Convention last summer, Ken graciously accepted my invitation to be interviewed for this blog. (If you missed it, you can read it here.) During that interview, he mentioned that many pastors believe if they talk about money, then people would leave. His position is that such is not the case. I asked him to comment further as this is an area of much discussion and directly impacts the conversation within many churches on the subjects of stewardship and giving.

EXPLODING A POPULAR MYTH

During the early phase of the emphasis on “marketing the church” it seemed to be a general consensus that many people would be kept from attending church because “all they talk about is my money.” It seems that many pastors bought into this myth and often avoided this clearly offensive topic. George Barna’s research indicated that 87% percent of pastors preach about stewardship during the course of the year, but nearly 39% only preach a single sermon on giving (pg. 92). In other words, the only sermon many people heard on finances was the annual “we-have-to-give-to-make-the-budget” sermon. Thus the aversion was not to the teaching on finances but to the financial appeal to give to “feed the organization.” In truth, I think such sermons offend believers and non-believers alike. No one wants to hear a “guilt laden appeal for funds to feed the organization.” If you doubt this statement, listen to this conclusion from Barna’s extensive research. “My reading of the situation is that many people sitting in the pews choose not to give to their church because they assume the pulpit pleas for money are simply human demands for resources, without a biblical underpinning” (pg. 51).

What is the pastor to do? We know that kingdom advancing ministry is impossible without sufficient resources. The lay leadership holds us accountable for “raising the budget” and yet we are told we can’t preach on money and continue to reach the community. Actually we can and we must preach on money if we are to be faithful to God’s Word and meet the needs of our congregants. The issue is we must avoid “human appeals, without biblical underpinning.” We must teach the fundamental principals of biblical money management and stewardship.

Once again Barna’s research indicated a wide-spread ignorance of the biblical teachings about stewardship. Yet a surprising finding of Barna’s research was the willingness and eagerness of people to learn about these principals. “The people, however, display an amazing level of ignorance about a topic on which they are supposedly well versed, and they are surprisingly open to learning more about their responsibilities before God” (pg. 77).

Thus we can come to three critical conclusions. First, we must agree that the suggestion that people are unwilling to attend church if we preach on money is a myth. Second, we must avoid guilt-laden appeals for money for the budget. Third, we must address all matters related to finances. We must talk about the source and purpose of material possessions. We must give biblical counsel on how to earn, spend, save, invest, and give money. Stewardship is not a matter of meeting a budget; it is a matter of our priestly duty as a royal priesthood. It is both responsibility and privilege. It is a matter of worship and ministry.

Note: All page references are from Barna's book, How to Increase Giving in Your Church.

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October 11, 2007

Church giving statistics

Baptist Press published an article today on church giving that I think you'll be interested in reading. It's a sobering report that we can either reject, ignore, or "look it in the teeth" and begin an honest conversation about stewardship and giving.

"Had giving been at an average of 10 percent in 2005 rather than 2.58 percent, there would have been at least an additional $168 billion available for the overseas and domestic mission work of churches," the authors noted.

Read the entire article here.

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Stewardship and Fundraising

We need to be clear about two technical terms...Fund-raising refers to a process of asking donors for contributions to an organization...Fund-raising professionals typically manage programs in which potential donors are asked for gifts....

...Fund-raising is a secular term, stewardship is biblical. It is most clearly depicted in the parables of Jesus, when he talked about a king or a wealthy landlord who went on trips and left his realm in the hands of a manager, or "steward." ...The message is always that God owns the earth and all its riches but leaves it in our hands temporarily....

The term stewardship today is often used loosely to mean nothing more than "giving" or "teaching about giving." ...Stewardship involves more than money and more than expecting to be blessed in return. It includes use of time, talent, and treasure, and it includes management of not only personal wealth and church wealth but also the entire human family and the environment. We are asked by Christ to oversee all of humanity and all of planet earth until he returns....

From Money Matters (pgs. 143-4)
by Dean R. Hoge, Charles Zech, Patrick McNamara, Michael J. Donahue

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October 10, 2007

Money and the Church

Two common fallacies exist in our stewardship thinking, and both must be corrected. First, we seem to have had the idea that we can expect good fruit from a corrupt tree. That is, we have conducted the administration and finances of the church as though non-Christians could exemplify evangelical stewardship...We shall need to face up to the possibility that our spirituality may have to be increased before we can expect more generous giving....

A second fallacy in stewardship thinking is the idea that man automatically exemplifies evangelical stewardship simply by accepting Christ as his Lord and Savior. This fallacy arises because we have failed to recognize that the many implications of the gospel are not immediately clear. The Christian faith has implications for all areas of life, but sometimes these implications are hidden and must be brought out into the open as one grows in faith. Hence, if Christians are to learn to express their faith in more generous giving, they must be given certain guiding principles.

From Money and the Church (pgs. 204-5)
by Luther P. Powell
(Note: This book is a classic and unfortunately out of print.)

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October 9, 2007

Find purpose and church growth through giving

Additionally...the feeling is that if you talk about money in church, you'll run people off. This is nonsense.

Is it "more blessed to give," or isn't it? If it is--that is to say, if fullness in life and happiness through life are found in giving just as Jesus suggested--how can you not talk about giving? People would be drawn to this kind of church because people are looking for purpose, significance, and eternal happiness.

From The Giving Myths (pg. 32)
by Stephen McSwain

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October 8, 2007

Tough Words from Barna on Church Giving

People no longer give to the church simply because it is the church. The church must prove it is worthy of donations through the mark it leaves on the world...Today, four out of five church supporters actively search for evidence that their money has made a difference in people's lives. Now here's the rub. Most churches are struggling to trigger this motivation for giving because relatively few churches periodically, quantitatively and objectively measure their ministry influence. In an age of consumer skepticism, organizational excellence and virtually infinite choices, churches cannot afford to risk reliance upon people's assumptions and good will.

From How to Increase Giving in Your Church (pg. 62)
by George Barna

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October 4, 2007

Short Stories on Stewardship: An "Excess"ive Opportunity

Jerry Mixon, State Stewardship Director for the Mississippi Baptist Convention, has been spinning stories this week about what he has learned as a pastor and denominational leader on the subjects of stewardship and giving.

Today's final short story reminds us that our excess is an opportunity to meet the needs of others. Everything changes when we preceive all that we have to be God's gift to us rather than what we are entitled to or due as a reward for our own efforts. And in the the act of giving we model the behavior of the generous God we serve.

An "Excess"ive Opportunity

Over the years it has been a puzzle to me how God has never given me so much that I could not receive it. Well, according to Malachi 3:10 that is the promise in the Bible. A promise that says God will open up the heavens and send so many blessings that you will not be able to receive them.

Then several years ago my mother-in-law passed away, and my wife and her sisters divided the inheritance. We had so much furniture and other items that we did not have room in our home to put them. What do you think we did with them? We gave most of it away to other family members. That is when it dawned on me. God had been giving me so many blessings over the years that He never intended me to store them up. His intention was for me to give them away. The purpose of His blessing me was so I could be a blessing to others.

A lady once said to me, “Have you ever wondered why you have extra money in your bank account?” My reply was, “Yes, so I can buy new golf clubs or get a new suit.” “Well,” she said, “I believe God gives us extra money so we can meet needs in the lives of others. Of course, God expects us to first meet the needs of our household. He also wants us to save, invest, and plan for retirement, but His intention is for us to be generous givers.”

One lady said to her friend that she was so depressed she could no longer feel the presence of God. She said, “I wish God would just reach down and touch me with His hand.” Her friend said, “We should pray and ask God to do that.” They bowed in prayer and afterwards the depressed lady said, “I felt His hand on my shoulder, but it felt a lot like yours.” Her friend remarked, “It was my hand. God just used the hand that was nearest you.”

When you and I have more than we need, God intends for us to share. Let’s become God’s hand in someone’s life today.

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October 3, 2007

Short Stories on Stewardship: God is a giver

Jerry Mixon, State Stewardship Director for the Mississippi Baptist Convention, is sharing this week what he has learned as a pastor and denominational leader on the subjects of stewardship and giving through story.

Today's short story reminds us that no matter how much we give no one has ever lost everything because they gave too much.

God is a giver

The first truth I learned about God was that He is a giver. God gave his only Son to die for me. After that I realize that you can never outgive God. God will not become a debtor to us. The Bible teaches if we are to receive, we have to first give. The economy of man is that you get to keep what you keep. The country boy said it like this, “Get what you can, can what you get, sit on the can, and try to steal what is in every other can.” These folks live by the Golden Rule, which is “He who has the gold makes the rules.” God’s economy is different. The writer of Ecclesiastes 11:1 said, “Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days.” In God’s economy you get to keep what you give away. Luke in his gospel said it this way, “Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, running over, shall men give into your bosom” (Luke 6:38 a).

What a wonderful plan God has about giving. It works different from the world. You get to keep not what you keep but what you give. Notice how God will cause men to give to you. They will shake it down and press it together to make sure you have abundance. God will cause men to never shortchange you or cut a deal. Instead, others will be generous toward you.

So, my friends, never be afraid to trust God with the tithe. That is only the beginning. That is where you start, but not where you stay. We all need to become generous givers. I tell you, this truth changed my life. Instead of looking each day how I could behave so others would give to me, I started looking to see opportunities where God wanted me to give to others. This attitude of giving started with the tithe and moved to offerings. We are told to bring not only the tithes, but also the offerings (Malachi 3:8).

I have never met a person who said they were bankrupt because they gave too much to the church. I have met many that were destitute financially because they gambled it away, smoked it away, or drank it away. Why is that? A simple truth says it all, “You can never outgive God.”

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October 2, 2007

Short Stories on Stewardship: Giving what you have

This week Jerry Mixon, State Stewardship Director for the Mississippi Baptist Convention, is sharing what he has learned as a pastor and denominational leader on the subjects of stewardship and giving through story.

Today's short story speaks to our willingess to give what we don't have and our unwillingness to give what we do have.

Giving What You Have

Do you remember the story of two country boys talking, and one asked, “Billy Bob, if you had a million dollars, would you give me half of it?” Ole Billy Bob replied, “Lee Roy, you know I would.” So Lee Roy questioned again, “If you had a thousand dollars, would you give me five hundred?” “Lee Roy, we have been friends for over twenty years,” said Billy Bob, “and you know I would give you five hundred dollars if I had a thousand.” Well, Ole Lee Roy scratched his chin and asked, “If you had two hogs, would you give me one?” Billy Bob shouted loudly, “That’s not fair. You know I have two hogs.”

Have you ever heard people say something like that? I have heard many people say if God would let them win the lottery, they would give half of it to the church, spend a lot on helping the poor, and live on the rest. We all need to understand that God never requires of us to give what we do not have. His requirement is that we give to him what we have.

When we give time, talent, and money to God, it is blessed. There is in Malachi 3:8-10 a blessing and a curse. The curse may be the absence of the blessing. When something is blessed, it simply means it has the capacity to do more than it would normally do. So which would you rather have: ten dollars blessed of God because you gave the tithe, or ten dollars without the blessing of God because you did not give the tithe? The real question is: Can ten dollars blessed do more than ten dollars not blessed? The answer is ten dollars not blessed can do only what ten dollars can do in our economy. Ten dollars blessed of God can do what GOD CAN DO. I am not one of those claim-it-and-name-it guys, but I am saying you can claim what God has named. So give what you have and not what you don’t have. Then you can claim God’s blessing.

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October 1, 2007

Short Stories on Stewardship: Sam Houston's Wet Wallet

Jerry Mixon is the State Stewardship Director for the Mississippi Baptist Convention. He served as a local pastor for 32 years, five years as a full-time evangelist and is a well-known writer. He has authored two books: Off the Main Road and Along the Way Home.

His ability to spin a story impressed me. So I asked him what would he tell himself about stewardship--knowing what he knows now--if he could go back in time to when he began his ministry? He has done so through four short stories I'll share with you this week.

Be sure to mention these to those pastors you know who are just beginning their ministry. While stewardship can be an uncomfortable subject, new (and experienced) pastors simply can't afford to ignore it.

Sam Houston's Wet Wallet

Paul Powell tells the story of the baptism of General Sam Houston in his book, Taking the Stew Out of Stewardship. Just before he was baptized, the pastor asked Sam to remove his watch so it would not get wet. “Thank you, I will,” Houston replied. Then the pastor instructed the General to also remove his wallet. Sam Houston replied, “No, I believe not, pastor. I’m afraid it needs baptizing, too.”

In my first little country church I was fearful if I preached about money, my congregation would get mad. If I announced it, they would not come to church at all. The truth is, some did get angry and some did not come to church when I preached on tithing. However, over the years I learned that I could not be a prisoner of those fears. I was not afraid to speak on hell, witnessing, discipleship, dedication, salvation, baptism, or any other subjects. I would attack each subject, even rattling the gates of hell. I was not concerned with what anyone thought. I noticed that for me it was only dealing with the subject of money that made me fearful.

Thank goodness God helped me to overcome that fear. It happened when we were raising money for a church project that God used an old deacon to help me. One day he said, “Preacher, don’t worry about asking people for money. They know how to protect their wallets. If you don’t ask them to give, you will rob them of a blessing.” That one little statement gave me freedom. I never again apologized for asking people to give. The truth is that giving is really a reflection of our salvation. Sam Houston’s wet wallet became a personal testimony of his commitment to Jesus Christ. Thereafter he paid one-half of the pastors’ salaries and financially helped ministerial students at Baylor University so long as he lived. After his baptism Houston was told that his sins had all been washed away. Sam Houston replied, “God help all the fishes.”

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