May 30, 2008

Economic despair leads to outreach opportunities

I read a very interesting commentary yesterday that put a positive spin on the economic pressure so many seem to be facing. Can Saving Prepare Us for the Oncoming Recession? points out that the market has been abused by US consumers. We are quick to acquire debt and reluctant to save. That means we continually push the limits, only staying above "the storm" as along as conditions remain the same. Unfortunately, if one part of "the system" falters or changes, we discover that our lifestyles are really a house of cards.

The writer points to the oncoming recession as a necessary and essential market correction that will force consumers to evaluate their current lifestyle and asses the level of change required. This is a "come to Jesus" moment for many who for the first time (at various ages) will learn that building our lives on debt is much risker than we had every imagined.

I don't think the writer is scolding poor financial decision making; neither do I. I see a world of opportunity in the midst of a gloomy economic forecast. My greatest fear is that we'll fumble the chance to connect with people where they are and offer them a spiritual solution to a financial mess.

We need to see the potential bridge building opportunity debt provides for the Church. We do offer another way to view the value and meaning of life. We do offer another way to order our lives, one that does lead to financial freedom today and eternal freedom forever.

What steps is your church taking to address the anxiety and destruction that is consuming the people in your pew and community?

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May 21, 2008

Revisiting the connection between salvation and stewardship

I doubt many people would instintively make the connection between stewardship and salvation. For most, stewardship is one of those subjects that is a "necessary evil" for church leadership. The overall sentiment is "It's time for our annual stewardship emphais again..." from people in the pulpit. And the people in the pew typically respond "....again?!"

I think stewardship is something we should get excited about. (Ok. Maybe I'm a little biased.) But it excites me to talk to churches who "get it." They are building models and systems that ensure their ministry is fully funded today and sustainable for those who come behind them. And the amazing reality is that those same churches are seeing salvation experiences in record number.

Salvation through stewardship happens because both are connected. Both speak to an understanding of how we view ourselves in light of our Creator. And how we choose to approach the use of the assets we've been given (our time, money and talents) is a direct result of what we believe.

We shouldn't underestimate the value and role that stewardship plays in the salvation experience.

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March 25, 2008

Is debt a spiritual problem?

John Yeats, Director of Communications, with the Louisana State Baptist Convention views debt as a spiritual problem. He writes in "When debt becomes demonic":

Statisticians often find no major difference in the personal finances of American Christians and the general population. However, the failure of American Christians to trust God with prudent financial decisions does not mean that Christians don’t have an available solution. Obedience to God in the area of biblical financial stewardship can tame the demon of consumer debt and set the Christian free to be a conduit of kingdom resources for the glory of God. [emphasis mine]

If we believe that debt is first a spiritual problem and second a behavioral issue, then we must not rely only on behavioral modification programs to provide a lasting effect. We must treat the underlying cause which is an incomplete understanding of our time, talent and money as assests to be managed for the Kingdom rather than personal wealth to be spent at will.

If we believe that debt is a spiritual problem, then it deserves a spiritual answer. The church should be the venue through which people find spiritual and financial transformation.

Below are some previous posts that remind us that the time for the church to respond is now:

American debt
Howard Dayton on debt
Two main causes of debt
Americans and Debt
Spending habits of church and non-church members
Salvation through stewardship
Get rich slowly

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March 24, 2008

Personal debt and the role of the Church

Perhaps the single greatest opportunity we have as church leaders to make disciples of all nations in modern-day America is by dealing with personal finance. Debt is no respector of age, sex, class or creed. And we're kidding ourselves if we don't think the people in the pew are thinking about it as often as they eat or drink.

But how did we get here? How did we get to a point in our culture when the pursuit of personal pleasure trumped our picture of ourselves as managers of God-given resources such as time, talents and money?

Get Rich Slowly caputres this shift in American thinking brilliantly in his recent post, The Negative Saving Rate and the Age of Easy Credit.

I would add that the theological implications of this shift in thinking warrant a calculated effort by the church to address the personal finance issues our staff members, church members and community residents are already concerned with.

I'd be interested in your response to any (or all) of these questions: (1) How are you helping your members find practical, Biblically based solutions to debt and personal finance issues? (2) Have you used debt as a way to connect with your community who DOESN'T attend your church (or perhaps ANY church)? and (3) What have you learned as a result of your efforts?

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February 14, 2008

New Stewardship Bible now available

I'm excited to point you to the It's A New Day Bible from Holman Bible Outreach. This is the product of the partnership between three guys who decided that it was more important to work together than to worry about who gets credit. So in less than 12 months this concept went from idea to finished product. Record time!

Perhaps the greatest accomplishment that I see is in its ability to connect Stewardship and Scripture while taking the reader through 30 days of devotions that will shape the mind and heart to see Jesus as Lord and Savior.

This will be a great tool not only to supplement the New Day campaign in your church but also to use as part of your assimilation strategy for new members.

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January 21, 2008

Staggering statistics

Poverty: More than 1 billion people live in absolute poverty. This includes 700 million people living in slums, 500 million people on the verge of starvation, 93 million beggars, and 200 million children exploited for labor.

Minimal Wages: 1.2 billion of the world’s poorest populations must survive on $1 a day.

And we are worried in America about how we will be able to afford the latest and greatest of anything........I mean everything.

From Generous Giving

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November 27, 2007

American Debt

Far from being a personal problem, Americans' personal debt is increasingly being fingered as the source of the next great global economic collapse.

New York Magazine, 10/28/2007:
The U.S. economy, for all its worldly sophistication, is driven by mall shoppers and late-night Amazon addicts—70 percent of the gross domestic product is accounted for by consumer spending, which is buttressed by debt. According to the Federal Reserve, total U.S. household debt was, as of August, $2.5 trillion—a 24 percent increase in the past five years. Total credit-card debt, including gas cards and the like, was $915 billion.

The willingness of consumers to keep spending and piling on debt in the midst of a slowing real-estate market is hailed on Wall Street as an act of patriotism, which Schiff considers perverse. Imagine, he suggests, that you ran into a good friend and asked him how he was doing. His reply: "I took out a third mortgage, maxed out my credit cards, and emptied out my kids' college savings account so I could buy a bigger TV and a new car, and we're going to Greece on vacation over the holidays. Things are great!" Schiff lets the idea sink in and then finishes the thought: "And we're celebrating the fact that we're doing this as a nation?"

Read the entire post here.

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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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September 26, 2007

Two main causes of debt

It occured to me the other day that there are two main reasons why we've become a people who find it easier to acquire debt than to save: the pursuit of pleasure and the need for approval from others.

There is nothing inherently wrong with the pursuit of pleasure. God tells us that he wants to give good gifts to his children. And Jesus promised an abundant, full life. However, debt rarely leads to any lasting pleasure. In the end, we are often left with a table full of bills and a soul that remains unsatisfied.

The need for the approval from others is taught from an early age. The brand of the clothes we wear, the make of the cars we drive, the neighborhoods we live in all provide for us physical examples of power, position and prestige. However, the approval from others lasts only for a short time. And we must consistently find a new reason for others to be impressed with our success. Again, we are left with a soul that remains unsatisfied.

If the average American today spends $1.20 for every $1.00 that he or she earns, that means there are a lot of people searching for satisfaction that remain unsatisfied. It's A New Day introduces people to a new way of thinking which leads to a new way of living. One that returns the focus back to God's intention: for his creation to live not only in relationship with the Creator but also to use the time, talents, and money God has freely given us to invest in eternity.

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September 12, 2007

Americans and Debt

In the richest society in world history, 80 million U.S. families would say that they are in financial trouble, after 50 years of almost unparalleled prosperity. American Christians give 2.6 percent of their incomes to the cause of Christ, only slightly better than the total giving of those who deny Him [emphasis mine]. Nor is the malaise in giving limited to the American church: God’s people globally control a majority of the world’s wealth but spend 98 percent of those resources on themselves [again, emphasis mine].

Click Here to read more alarming statistics from Generous Giving on Americans and Debt.

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September 11, 2007

New Day Emphasis includes Estate Tithing

Baptist Press published an article last week that is sure to start a conversation among pastors and church leaders. While the concept of Estate Tithing may not be a completely new subject, it's been ignored by most church stewardship programs.

The largest generational transfer of wealth in history is occurring in the United States now, Clayton said. A Boston College study predicts the amount exceeds $41 trillion as the World War II generation passes on and Baby Boomers get older. At the same time, the study estimates that less than 30 percent of Americans have a will that directs where the money will go.

(Read the entire article here.)

The It's A New Day Campaign starts with Financial Freedom. But the ultimate goal isn't just to get people out of debt. It's to teach people how to live (and die) in such a way that we demonstrate an understanding that all (everything we have, are and will ever be) is God's. We've been entrusted with what we have for a reason and purpose. And that purpose is to build the Kingdom. But we need to think about how we can do that through our estate planning sooner rather than later.

A great example is how Jerry Fallwell impacted the ministry of Liberty University through his estate. Read the post.

Click here to find out when the next one day seminar will be held in your state. You can also request more information here about how Philanthrocorp (the official New Day partner on estate planning) can help your church implement an estate tithing emphasis for your next stewardship campaign.


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August 17, 2007

Jerry Fallwell leaves debt-free legacy

Jerry Fallwell lived what he preached. By his instruction, almost all of his life insurance policy was used to cover the remaining debt of Liberty University--the school he founded in 1971. (Read the ABP story here: Fallwell's Life Insurance Policy erases Liberty University debt.)

Typically we think of tithing when we talk about stewardship. And for most Christians that is as far as they go. What about the other 90%? Doesn't God own that too? Of course he does. We just haven't done a very good job at teaching people what to do with the other 90%.

I believe that many people want to do everything in their power to continue the ministry of their church. And many would be willing to give a portion of their estate to ensure the continued viability of its ministry beyond their own life in this world.

But the conversation has to take place. The options have to be laid out. And the decision has to be made before we exit this world and enter the next.

(If you're looking for a good place to start, read my previous post on this subject: Philanthrocorp.)

Fallwell's legacy ensured the continued ministry of Liberty Univeristy. May we follow his example and do likewise. To God be the glory in our living and our dying!

(Photos from Liberty University.)
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August 14, 2007

Ken Hemphill talks about Making Change

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.

Ken and I first met at the Convention meeting in San Antonio. After our lunch, I was convinced that I wanted to interview him for this blog. So, I asked him. And he graciously accepted my invitation.

So, this is the script of our e-mail interview. (No editing.)

Ben: Tell me about your observations that led to writing Making Change.

Ken: First, I must be candid to tell you that the impetus for this book came form Morris Chapman. Morris expressed to me his concern for the lack of resources available to and through our local churches for the advancement of the kingdom and the fulfillment of the Acts 1:8 challenge which requires us to advance the kingdom to the ends of the church. Having said that, I would quickly add that my observation of our local churches and my conversation with out pastors made it abundantly clear that a tremendous need existed for a biblical tool that would help people to deal with financial issues from a kingdom perspective. We are foolish to think that we can be successful in fulfilling any portion of the Acts 1:8 challenge without allowing the Lord to provide the exceedingly abundant resources through us.

Ben: How does Making Change contribute to your role as national strategist for Empowering Kingdom Growth?

Ken: My role is to provide tools that will equip and empower the local church to be an effective kingdom tool. I believe that the local church is the primary tool God chooses to use to advance His kingdom on earth. Thus my role is to assist the local church. I continued to hear pastors and laypersons complain about the apathy in their church as it relates to service and giving. Further, I heard them complain about the general lack of understanding concerning the Cooperative Program. For that reason, I felt we must look allow the Bible to speak related to money management, stewardship, and the cooperative funding of mission. I think Making Change answers those questions in a style and format that is user-friendly.

Ben: What did you hope to accomplish by writing this book?

Ken: I continue to hope that the Holy Spirit will use this book to bring conviction and transformation in the area of our financial stewardship for the sake of the kingdom. But beyond that, I am praying that God will use this material to bring revival. Many Christian leaders have recently focused on the need for revival or awakening. We generally partially quote 2 Chronicles and call for a prayer meeting. But God tells us in 2 Chronicles that we must turn from our wicked way. When Israel asked God how they might return, He quickly responded that they must cease to steal from God by neglecting His tithes and offerings.

Ben: What feedback have you received about Making Change?

Ken: The response has been very positive from pastor and laity alike. They like the format which is to allow the Bible to speak for itself and they like the comprehensive nature of the study. It deals with money issues as diverse as earning it, spending it, saving it, and giving it.

Ben: Can you identify one change that is more important than another both for churches and believers today?

Ken: Absolutely! We must have a change of heart before we will ever have a change of thinking or action in relationship to giving or serving. Until we have God’s heartbeat we will always treat money, time, and talents as if they belong to us and we have the right to give or withhold them as we desire.

Ben: Your subtitle of "A Transformational Guide to Christian Money Management" suggests that Christians should manage their money differently? Why? And in what ways?

Ken: You are on target with both your observation and your question. First we manage the Lord’s money given to us in kingdom stewardship and not “our” money. Second, the money, time, and talents given to us have both the potential and opportunity to advance the kingdom until the King returns. Third, the management of God’s resources entrusted to us in this life will have a bearing on our service to the King for all eternity. We often fail to recognize that we were created to serve the King forever. This earthly kingdom is already passing away but we are “born again” to an eternal kingdom. Finally, we manage the Father’s resources with His kingdom in view so that one day we will hear Him say, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”

Ben: Why do you think the spending habits of non-Christians and Christians are largely the same?

Ken: I think that many Christians actually live their lives as if this life is all of life. In other words, we live and spend without the kingdom in view. I think this happens because of the pressure of the world to have and to spend. Further, I fear that we have not always taught the full counsel of God’s Word in relationship to money and thus we behave like the world because of our ignorance of God’s Word.

Ben: Why are many pastors not already teaching this material?

Ken: I can speak for pastors but I know that many have been frightened away by some of the church growth “gurus” who said you can’t reach “boomers,” or “busters”, or whatever the current group under discussion, if we talk about money. It is significant that some of the more recent research has actually refuted this original claim. Yet beyond that, we cannot teach or refuse to teach certain biblical principles based on research data. We must teach the whole counsel of God’s Word. I am sure that other pastors may not teach this material because the issue of money tends to be a “somewhat sensitive” issue in most churches. The “sensitivity” is often related to our own disobedience to God’s principles for managing His money. This is the area where we can provide the greatest release for our people.

Ben: Is there room within the role of the church to define for its members how they should spend their money? Or is that role better left with financial planners?

Ken: First, I would say that we must speak clearly and forcefully where Scripture speaks. When you look at the outline of Making Change, you will find that I have a chapter on spending money. The average couple today spends $1.20 for every $1 they earn. You don’t have to be a certified financial planner to figure out that won’t work. In short, we must address spending from a biblical perspective. The fact that we speak to this issue does not mean that some persons in our church would not greatly profit from seeking advice from a financial planner. I have friends who feel called to be financial planners and I have great respect for their work. I would suggest that people choose financial planners who have a Christian worldview. If your financial planner does not share your kingdom perspective, it is unlikely that they will have your heart for giving and advancing the kingdom.

Ben: What would you say to someone that says, "I give my 10% to the church, so leave me alone!"?

Ken: Very candidly I would tell you that you would have very few persons to make such a comment. According to recent studies by George Barna, less than 3-5% of persons who give to church actually tithe their income. If you couple this fact with the fact that about 37% of regular church attenders do not give at all, you will see how seldom you might receive that response. Yet if someone did respond as you have indicated, I would say to them that God is concerned about how we manage all of His money not just the tenth that we are privileged to return to Him to participate with Him in advancing His kingdom. Further, I would suggest that Scripture teaches a progression in our giving so that the maturing Christian can move beyond the tithe to hilarious giving and then to “grace” giving which involves the supernatural work of the Holy Spirit.

Ben: What would you say to someone that says, "Giving of service and giving of money are one in the same. And I serve the church faithfully, so that is my tithe."?

Ken: I would agree with their desire to give of their time, but would disagree that the gift of time negates the Scriptural demand to give money. Such an argument shows both a lack of faith and a lack of kingdom vision. Our goal is not to see how little we can give but to see how much God will enable us to give. I find it exciting to think that all I can use all my earthly resources in such a manner that they have Eternal Impact.

Ben: When teaching someone about giving to the church, what's more important: amount or behavior?

Ken: We must always focus on attitude of the heart in relationship to every area of Christian living. The Pharisees tithed of their mint, dill, and cumin and yet did so out of legalistic pride. Jesus indicated that they should have mastered such a trivial matter as the tithe and yet have progressed in their spirituality enabling them to consider weightier matters. Based on Jesus teaching, I would suggest that when we deal with behavior we cannot neglect amount. I find it difficult to think we should ever suggest that people should disobey a basic teaching of Scripture.

Ben: Knowing what you know now, if you could go back in time to when you pastored your first church, what would you tell yourself with respect to money and giving?

Ken: I would certainly want to teach all that the Bible teaches on this matter. I would want to provide seminars, personal counseling, and other opportunities to help people deal with the whole range of spending, debt, investing, and giving. I would approach the whole issue with a sense of excitement about the tremendous investment the King has made in us, enabling us to serve with Him to advance His kingdom. Now, that’s exciting!

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August 13, 2007

Spending habits of church and non-church members

Just for kicks I went looking for some stats on consumer spending and how it impacts church giving. I read this desciption under LifeStyle Spending at EmptyTomb.org.

The Potential

If church members in the U.S. had tithed (given 10%) in 2003 (latest year available), there would have been an additional $156 billion available for the mission of the church. Rather than reach their potential, church member spending is similar to that of Americans in general, such as the following.

Click Here to read more.

The part that bothers me the most is not the $156 billion (yes BILLION) that they estimate the church missed out on. The statement that "church member spending is similar to that of Americans in general" is absolutely chilling.

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August 8, 2007

Salvation through stewardship

I had the opportunity to sit down with some people from Crown Financial Ministries for dinner last night. (Crown is the founding partner of the "It's A New Day" campaign.) This really is an amazing organization that believes financial integrity begins with a relationship with our Creator.

During our conversation, they shared with me that more than 17,000 people became Christians last year while going through the Crown program. I was completely surprised. This number absolutely jumped out at me and grabbed my attention.

As I've been reflecting on our conversation, I wonder if the issue of personal finances and debt are the next great vehicle for evangelism for the modern-day church and if this our opportunity to represent not only our beliefs and values but demonstrate behavior that is shapped by our beliefs and values.

Everyone struggles with money: both Christian and non-Christian. But it's how we deal with it that makes us different. Just about everything in life can be dealt with in a positive, healthy way or in a negative, destructive way.

I believe too many Christians and non-Christians are dealing with the issues of personal finance and debt in negative and destructive ways. And for the most part the church has offered no alternative.

This is where "It's A New Day" and the partnership with Crown become so important. This partnership offers churches a way to present an alternative to the negative and destructive behaviors that are--in many ways--shapping and shrinking our lives.

In doing so, we expose those who choose to listen to another way of living. And in turn offer them a chance to change and live differently. Isn't that the heart-beat, the core of the Gospel message?

Financial freedom is just the beginning. True freedom, ultimate freedom only comes through Jesus Christ.

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August 6, 2007

Tithing: Should we be worried?

I'm the first to say that tithing only speaks to 10% of the picture when it comes to stewardship and giving. What about the other 90%? That's the question that I don't think is asked often enough. However, tithing is still a subject worth exploring.

Here is an article from Beliefnet.com that exposes for us a reality that is swelling beneath the radar screen. It's my parents and grandparents generation that are the backbone of the church when it comes to giving. These are the people who give sacrifically. But their children (my generation) doesn't seem to be as quick to donate to the church.

While I don't believe it's a crisis yet, I do believe that its one of those "brutal facts" that we can't affort to ignore. My generation has been labeled Generation Debt. And debt erodes disposable income--income that the church depends on to exist.

For many people, tithing has become another line item in the budget. And one that easily cut out as an "extra." Personally, I'm less concerned with the amount of money my generation gives. (Not to discount its importance.) I think the big picture is the fact that what's missing is the behavior of tithing. This is most alarming.

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July 30, 2007

New Day Pastor's Conference - San Antonio

This will be the last Pastor's Conference for 2007. If you're even remotely interested in the "It's A New Day" campaign this is a great plunge into what it's all about. Then you can decide if it's a program that would make sense for your church.

And you can do this for only $89 until tomorrow. Not a bad deal. More information here.

If you already know you want to go but haven't sign up, you can do that online.

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July 23, 2007

Get rich slowly

Get rich slowly is a blog that I read almost every day. It examines personal finance issues within the context of every day life events. The post today I thought was very fitting for our collective conversation on personal debt and how it affects church giving.

What makes the SBC It's A New Day campaign so important is that peoples' ability to give generously to their local church is directly related to their level of debt. That's a fact. We, as church leaders, must demonstrate or offer an alternative to the debt-driven lifestyle the world says is acceptable.

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July 10, 2007

It's A New Day

If you're not already familiar with this new inititative from the Executive Committee, then I would encourage you to visit the official site for more information.

The tag question that you first read is "It's A New Day. How Will You Spend It?" (That's great writing...with multiple meanings.) I think it speaks to the fact that stewardship is larger than just money; it impacts every area of our individual and communal existence.

The one responsible for the design and implementation of this campaign is Ashley Clayton. He is someone that I've had the opportunity to spend some time with recently. (We're working together on a project that I'll tell you more about in an upcoming post.) He is deeply passionate about helping Christians free themselves from debt not to simply give more money to the church but to be available to be obedient to the call of God--whatever that may be.

It's a New Day is a breath of fresh air in the stale conversation on stewardship and giving.

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