February 21, 2008
3 observations about the SDA Winter meeting
The more time I spend with these guys, the more I appreciate the complexity of the work that they do. Three observations that I made during our two day meeting are:
First, they are asking questions. More importantly, they are asking the right questions. In each State Convention there is someone assigned with the responsbility of working with churches in the areas of Stewardship and Cooperative Program. The number of questions they were asking of themselves and each other was astonishing. Questions like: How can we help churches do ministry and fulfill the Great Comission? How do we connect with younger pastors? What have we missed that we need to address? , etc.
I think a lot of people have the impression that the State Convention guys are just doing the same old, same old. And perhaps there is good reason to think that--that is of another group. My experience has been just the opposite with these guys.
Second, they are listening. There was a lot of discussion about taking their materials and making them available on the Web and in digital form so that it could be easier, cheaper and faster to get this information into the hands of pastors and church leaders.
Don't get me wrong. I don't think they're ready to stop printing resources. And there will always be room for printed resources. But pastors are going to Google and other seach engines first--even before they even search their own physical libraries. And they get that.
Third, they are open to new ideas. There is a wealth of information contained within each of these guys that only comes from the "school of hard knocks." They have tried, failed and learned how to succeed time and time again. The problem is that it's difficult to find a traditional way to express and communicate that experience outside of one-on-one conversations. And one person can have only so many conversations and relationships and influence. But Web 2.0 allows us to multiply that effort and connect with people outside of our own spheres of influence.
Before the meeting was over Tuesday, there was a general concensus that everyone would make an effort to involve themselves in sharing their wisdom through this blog. This not only validated the work that I've been doing, but it strengthened their ability to reach across State lines and communicate to people anywhere, anytime and any place.
It was said more than once. "These are exciting times." We are on the cusp of a stewardship awakening as our denomination realizes that more money really does mean more ministry. I'm just happy to be along for the ride.
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February 19, 2008
Stewardship Development Association - Winter Meeting
Today begins the Winter meeting for the Stewardship Development Association - the professional and publishing organization of State Convention Stewardship Executives. I'm looking forward to listening to the thinking and dreaming of this group whose daily responsibility it is to help churches do more ministry by being good stewards of the resources God has given--this includes fundraising, church giving planning, church budgeting, stewardship and giving education and more.
More information to come...soon.
By the way, how has your State Stewardship Executive helped your church do more ministry? If by chance you don't know whose responsible for stewardship and giving in your State's office, you'll want to introduce yourself and get to know each other. You'll be glad you did.
Posted by bstroup at 1:53 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
July 20, 2007
10 ways to increase your giving
Denny Wright is the one responsible for stewardship and giving for Arkansas Baptist Convention. (He is also the new SDA president!)
He put together a PowerPoint presentation entitled "10 Ways to Increase Your Church Giving" that he shares with the churches in his state. I thought it was very well-done, so I asked if I could share it with everyone else through this blog.
He agreed. (Thanks Denny!)
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July 19, 2007
Everything is on the table
The SDA summer meeting could easily be described as being inspiring and overwhelming all at the same time. There is definitely a consenus that the teaching of Biblical Stewardship has all but evaporated from church discipleship programs. Further, it is often reduced to fundraising and capital campaigns.
I sensed that many in the room understood the need to revisit and redefine the role of Biblical Stewardship in the life of the church and in the life of the believer. The question is how do we go about doing that.
As a professor once told me, the worst thing you can do when asking questions is to try to find an answer before you have lived into the question.
We are asking the questions. Now we must live into those questions. In doing so, we'll find our answers. But it may mean that change must take place within how church leaders approach stewardship too. It may mean that we start from "square one" and lay everything on the table.
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July 17, 2007
Colorado is a mission field
The keynote address at last night's dinner was given by Mark Edlund, Executive Director of the Colorado Baptist Convention. He shared about his background in foreign missions. He said that when he left the mission field, he left a part of himself. (At least that's what he thought.) He discovered that Colorado is just as much of a mission field as was Japan.
Colorado is very different from the culture of the Bible Belt. He shared the complexity of the population. I think it's indicitive of our culture. The "mass market" approach to church is over. It time to begin thinking about reaching people groups in a variety of ways.
Let's focus on results.
What I found most inspiring in his address was that he never said he had "figured it out." In fact, he admitted trying some things that worked and others than didn't. This transparency is refreshing because we all feel like this. We simply aren't as honest with ourselves and others as we should be. But this is the spirit we need to carry us through as we work to restore the relevancy of the church.
Planning is good. Strategy is important. But nothing suprasses action.
Posted by bstroup at 7:30 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
July 16, 2007
SDA summer meeting this week
I'm attending the Stewardship Directors Association of the Southern Baptist Convention summer meeting this week in Colorado Springs, CO. The SDA is the professional association of all the State Convention Executives responsible for assisting churches in the areas of stewardship and giving. (In other words, these are the go to people for church leaders in each respective convention.)
I'm giving a presentation about LifeWay Envelope Service tonight. I'm excited about the cooperative and collaborative efforts that I'll discuss. Working together--LifeWay, the SBC Executive Committee, and the SDA--is a win-win for everyone, especially the local church.
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