Do More Ministry

Interview with Ken Hemphill:
Ken Hemphill talks about Making Change

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May 15, 2008

An important church giving statistic

I read this on Generous Giving this morning.

Then and Now: Giving by North American churchgoers was higher during the Great Depression (3.3 percent of per capita income in 1933) than it was after a half-century of unprecedented prosperity (2.5 percent in 2004).

Maybe the connection between the strength (or weakness) of the economy and rise (or fall) church giving is different from what we might think. It seems that there is an inverse relationship rather than a direct one.

This statistic tells me that when we can't depend upon our own abilities, God seems to be a reasonable alternative. When we can seemingly generate the lifestyle we want, God seems to be a passing thought.

Instead of fearing the worst in the midst of a struggling economy, we (church leaders) would do better to focus our attention on maintaining a conviction in the Lordship of Christ in the midst of despair and prosperity and providing people a practical plan to deal with money and debt that ultimately provides for sustainable Kingdom advancement.

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May 14, 2008

The Church emerging from a spiraling economy

With any sense of economic hardship, the doomsday point-of-view seems to rise to the top. And, in turn, our conversations are consumed with fear. This fear leads us to a point of "group think" were we actually begin to create what we fear. In psychological circles, they call this self-fulfilling prophecy.

The Church exists upon the donations of its members. That means if the people in the pew don't have any money then neither will the person in the pulpit. But what confuses me is that we act like we've never been in this situation before. We allow this "group think" to erode our confidence in an institution that has existed since Pentecost and has emerged time and time again from good and bad economic conditions.

I found Churches Caught in Economy's Grip when googling on the subject today. I read the article from beginning to end and thought this was an accurate description of our present economic situation--tough economic conditions and church leadership wondering how it will impact the ability of the church as an organization to fully fund and sustain its current processes, professionals and programs.

I scrolled back up to the top looking for a "2008" date. I was shocked to see "1991" instead. Yes, back in 1991 we were facing the similar conditions, and (believe it or not) we survived (again) to face the same conditions.

Maybe the best answer we can provide to the fear looming in the minds of the people in our pew is for church leaders to become strategic in their stewardship efforts to ensure organizational vitaility in both good and bad times as well as an expression of confidence that we will emerge from this tough economic situation again (and again and again) until Christ's return.

Tough economic conditions are perfect opportunities to lay your entire organization on the table of evaluation to ensure that every dollar is being spent to advance the Kingdom. We may have to get a little leaner, a little more intentional and a little more results-oreinted. Of course, this is what the people in our pew are already doing with their personal budgets. Why shouldn't we as church leaders be doing the same?

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May 9, 2008

LifeWay Research looks at the economy and giving

Church leaders are quietly wondering how the present state of the economy will impact church giving. A recent study conducted by LifeWay Research discovered that Southern Baptists are continuing to give in spite of rising costs of goods such as food and gas.

A new study by LifeWay Research shows that 72 percent of Southern Baptist pastors indicate difficulties in the U.S. economy are affecting their churches negatively, yet 76 percent say offerings are at or above levels they had expected when drafting budgets several months ago.

Read the entire story here.

This is encouraging news. Those churches who have been strategic in their stewardship planning will most likely see a large "pay-off" for their efforts in consistent giving from their membership in the midst of tough economic times.

If your church doesn't have a strategic stewardship plan, then get moving. You can't afford to just sit and wonder what will happen next.

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April 30, 2008

Planned giving for church, Conclusion

I thought the Eleven Commandments for Planned Giving in the Local Church was a very creative way to present the concepts we've briefly discussed over the past few posts.

It's easy to forget about the future when you're simply trying to manage today. And even though the concepts of long-term sustainability are unlikely to become a new concentration of any Masters of Divinity degree program, it doesn't remove our responsibility to ensure the long-term viability of the churches that we have been called to serve.

Just as we expect financial planners to increase our net worth over time, so do our churches need our assistance in doing the same. And for what purpose you might ask? Perhaps the greatest of all: to ensure the work of the Church continues as God intended until Christ's return.

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April 28, 2008

Planned giving for churches, Part 3

Let's assume that you've been thinking about how to begin implementing a planned giving strategy in your church. What's the next step?

I believe there are four critical steps to making planned giving work in your church.

1. Communicate with your church. I know this sounds like a basic concept. Sometimes it's easy to forget that we must involve the church in our decision making. Even though you've presumably spent hours thinking and planning a planned giving strategy, you need to allow time for your congregation to process this concept too. (Remember, the giving part of "planned giving" will be ultimately determined by your congregation.)

2. Get support from key influencers. You know who they are. (If you don't, then you're in trouble.) Spend time cultivating the support of those who can help you influence the church body. Church members need to hear an idea validated from the pulpit and from their peers in the pew. Use this dynamic to your advantage. Meet with these people one on one or in a special leadership meeting.

3. Involve the subject of planned giving in your education plan. Hold seminars or informational meetings throughout the year. Designate one Sunday every year to focus on the need to sustain the ministry of the church beyond today. Place informational flyers in the church foyer. Include the concept in your New Member class materials. Whatever you do, find ways to educate your members over time. Any planned giving strategy will take time, but the rewards are well-worth the effort.

4. Tell your story...over and over again. Every church has a story, a history of events and human interaction over time. Knowing that people give to organizations they are emotionally connected to, it's vital that we find ways for people to experience your church emotionally. And there is no greater tool in communication to convey emotions than the gift of story. This can come in the form of written or verbal testimonials, special services celebrating the past, present and future of the church or even visual displays in the Welcome Center. Legacy decisions are built upon the context of our collective past and our understanding of our individual role in the present. Never underestimate the power of story.

I'm sure there are other critical steps that I have not identified above. The most important legacy that we can leave as church leaders is our ability to provide for the future and continue ministry of the churches we serve beyond our seasons of service.

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April 24, 2008

Planned giving for churches, Part 2

We've discussed planned giving and related subjects on the blog in the past. I'd like to give you the opportunity to review some of the related posts that have been the most popular. I think they will help contribute to our current conversation on the role planned giving plays within life and ministry of every church.

New Day Emphasis includes Estate Tithing
A Christian View of Financial Planning
To give of to serve: that is the question
Philanthrocorp
Investing for eternity

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April 22, 2008

Planned giving for churches, Part 1

Each week I receive a report from Google Analytics that tells me lots of information about the visitor activity on this blog. One piece of information that I'm always interested in is what are the "keywords" that people type into search engines that lead them to this blog.

One subject that keeps rising to the top is planned giving. Since more than 50% of the people who visit our blog for the first time find it organically by searching for specific phrases or words, it tells me that churches and church leaders are beginning to understand the need to see beyond today. Or at least we can be confident that it's a subject more and more are wanting to explore.

I think most churches are comfortable meeting the immediate needs of today. But we have to realize that the cost of doing ministry is increasing just like everything else. That means it will cost more in the future to do the same ministry we are doing today. Thus, the need for planned giving becomes even more important if we hope to achieve any level of sustainability moving forward.

That being the case, I'd like to take the opportunity to open the dialog on the subject to understand why this isn't a more familiar subject to church leaders and how can planned giving benefit every church.

Let's begin with trying to understand why church leaders are reluctant to think about long term sustainability of the church as an organization through planned giving. John Foster and Derek Davis write in Planned Giving for Church: The Last Frontier?:

Unfortunately, part of the blame for this planned giving blind spot rests with clergy and their stewardship committees. While ministers may think about spiritual matters in the framework of eternity, they are often more comfortable asking for money that will be used immediately to relieve human needs ─ and letting providence provide for the long term. They were not trained to be fund-raisers or tax-planners, and are reluctant to preach about topics with which they’re not familiar.

The assumption behind this statement is that church leaders are responsible for the long term spiritual and financial viability of the churches they serve. Do you agree with that assumption? Has your opinion changed since seminary? If so, why?

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April 16, 2008

4 tithing questions from a seminary student

John, a Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary student, recently e-mailed me some questions he was working through for his research paper on titihing. I think they are questions that many of us are asking too. I thought I'd share his questions and my responses below.

Feel free to hit the "comment" button below and answer John's questions yourself too.

John, good luck on your research paper and keep thinking about Stewardship and Giving!

1. What is your opinion on the issue of the tithe being for the New Testament church?

Please see my recent post about Ken Hemphill's latest article from Baptist Press. I would concur with him.

2. Do you believe there is a biblical mandate for Christians today to tithe?

Again, tithing is just one piece of the pie. Stewardship means acknowledging that everything we have - our time, money, and talent - are assets given to us by God to be managed for His glory and the advancement of the Kingdom.

3. What differences do you see between stewardship and tithing?

Just like Baptism, giving or tithing to the church is an outward sign of an inward commitment. Stewardship is a lens through which we interpret the world around us--one that believes Jesus is Lord and that all we have and are is a gift from God to be managed for Kingdom growth.

4. If churches were to begin teaching a free-will giving concept what do you foresee could be the possible ramifications (positive or negative)?

The debate on free-will giving vs. tithing is just that--a debate. Both sides can equally defend their position. In the end, we have to believe that the church is only the entity empowered by God at Pentecost to carry out the Work of Christ until His return. There is no plan B. That means it's of paramount concern to every church leader that the Church as an entity and organization be fully funded and sustainable to ensure that we have more money for more ministry. And I think we can do that in many ways.

I can say this with confidence: No Money. No Ministry.

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April 10, 2008

Update to recent visit to SWBTS

I had a great time with students from Southwestern Seminary last week. I was very encouraged to know that we are preparing church leaders to address the concerns of stewardship and giving.

I recognize that church leaders are trained very well when it comes to parsing the Greek language and learning to accurately interpret Scripture. This is absolutely fundamental and must not be ignored or diminished in any way. However, I do think we have inadvertantly overlooked an area of church life that is absolutely vital to providing a place for people to hear, learn and be changed by the message of the Gospel.

As we discussed, our ability to fully fund and sustain the ministry of the local church is a direct result of our commitment to and belief in the purpose and ministry of the local church.

If the church fails, there is no "Plan B."

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April 7, 2008

8 qualities of church financial health

When an organization is new, strategy is everything because everything is on the line. As an organization grows, the temptation to stay the same grows too. Established churches are no exception to this rule. Sometimes it's easier to keep what we know--even if it's less than what we want--rather than exchange it for something that's not certain.

Church Financial Health Can Reduce Skepticism and Cynicism in an Older Church reminds us that church leaders must be willing to see the connection between church spiritual health and church financial health.

The operational decisions we make on behalf of the church are a direct result of what we believe about the purpose and mission of the church.

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February 18, 2008

10 Ways to Prevent Embezzlement of Church Funds

I know it's hard to imagine that anyone would steal money from the church. In some ways that seems worse than stealing from anyone or anything else. But the reality is that it happens more often than we might want to imagine. It happened at the church I attended while I was in high school. The church secretary who had become a personal friend and trusted administrator of day-to-day office management skimmed money right off the top. It wasn't noticed until more than $30,000 in total had been stolen.

Part of a healthy stewardship plan is not only fundraising and money management but also loss prevention. Since so many churches have volunteers who count and deposit the weekly contributions, it's absolutely essential that even the small church take a hard look at what they are doing today to prevent themselves from becoming a victim.

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February 5, 2008

Evangelicals tithed three times national average

I can't believe it. Barna says that evangelicals tithed three times the national average in 2002. I feel proud to know that I'm counted among a group of people so committed to the Lordship of Christ that we feel compelled to give.

But then I re-read the statement. Only 9% of evangelicals tithed which was three times the national average. 9% is hardly something to be proud of. In a way I feel a little "underwhelmed" and disappointed by it all.

I'm not sure what to be more concerned about--the 91% of evangelicals who don't tithe or the fact that 9% was three times the national average.

What do you think?

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January 24, 2008

Free Article on Church Budgeting

Don't know where to begin when it comes to church budgeting? Click here to read an article that covers the basics. Let's call it "Church Budgeting 101."

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January 23, 2008

Budget Resources

Here are some great, inexpensive resources to assist you in the church budgeting process. These practical guides were put together by the SDA--people who are professional coaches to church leaders all over the country in the area of church financial matters.

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January 22, 2008

Budget Time

For those churches who've adopted a fiscal year that matches the calendar year, you're new budget just went into effect. Or if you're like most churches, you're still working hard to put together and approve the current year's budget before February 1.

Since the church budgeting process is fresh on your mind, I'm curious what that process looks like in your church:

(1) Is everything left to the finance committee or business administrator?
(2) Does each individual ministry have an opportunity to request funds in the new budget?
(3) How do you know what to allocate the funds for?
(4) Who is involved in the decision making process?
(5) ??--What did I miss?

Send me your (war) stories.

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January 16, 2008

Wanted: Church Management Professionals

Churches are becoming more sophisticated in their structure and operational behavior. In fact, most larger churches are hiring skilled business professionals from the secular world to do what they do in the church world.

There is nothing wrong with this. In fact, I think this is a good step. We need this skill set. And it's rarely found in just one person (the pastor). This individual helps to round out the necessary business leadership to effectively and efficiently operate the ministry to its potential while the pastor has the ability to do what he does best--shepherd his people.

To help prepare these church business leaders, Villanova School of Business has developed a Masters of Science in Church Management degree. It's designed to mix business and church management theory to prepare people for positions such as Business Administrator and Executive Pastor.

If we agree that this is a good thing, how do we make a person who would complete this degree available to the small church? Even though the issues are not as complex, making sound organizational and business decisions is just as essential to ministry impact in smaller churches as it is in larger churches.

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January 15, 2008

Overcoming Your Church's Financial Crisis

June 18 was the first Sunday Brother Randy Smith noticed the offerings starting to drop. As the church treasurer, the decline in offerings did not seem like a big deal, but now, a month later, it was becoming more difficult to pay the church bills. Brother Randy did not want to do anything to harm the recent church growth of young believers. However, if something did not change, the church would not be able to pay its bills.

Read the rest of the story here.

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January 14, 2008

When did stewardship become a negative word?

Communication is a fascinating subject. Deconstructing how we create a message, send a message and receive a message is a complex process. I'm also very interested in how words, specific words carry with them a perception that colors not only the message but the messenger.

Let's take stewardship for an example. Most of the people I talk to about stewardship have great hesitations on the subject. They have visions of someone beating the pulpit and demanding a tithe. Somewhere along the way the word stewardship evolved into something negative--a subject no one wanted to deal with or talk about or even discuss. And if you did speak of the subject you were considered old, outdated and definitely "uncool."

If I'm honest, I've thought the same things myself. But there is a larger reality that I think most people miss: No Money. No Ministry.

Stewardship is the life-blood of all that we do. It's the oil that keeps the machines runnings. It's the resource we use to supply the needs of the ministry we have been called to do.

That being the case, how can we begin to "re-seed" the story of Biblical stewardship so that it becomes more of a holistic approach to the Christian life and less an irregular fund-raising and capital campaign program?

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January 2, 2008

Function Precedes Form

Don Campell is the Director of Stewardship for the Virginia Baptist Mission Board. He can be reached via phone at 1.804.672.2100 or via e-mail. After visiting with Don in his office one afternoon, he told me about his theory of "function precedes form" and how that impacts our strategic approach to stewardship and giving. I asked him to expand on that idea. Below is his response.

Imagine my disappointment when, as a young boy in my elementary school shop class, I discovered that you couldn’t just pick up wood and create something. It was a hard lesson to learn that I had to sit down, draw my ‘ship’ and then carefully print my plans for building it step by step. Later in high-school I hit the same snag when in Algebra I had to learn ‘how’ to arrive at the correct answers. I could figure the problems out but when I couldn’t demonstrate how I got to the correct conclusion I had to listen to my teacher’s counsel.

Through many years of formal education and working through many tasks those lessons from my early education have rung true time after time. An important part of stewardship development for the Baptist General Association of Virginia is writing and speaking with many about the need of going back to basics in the area of Stewardship Education and practices.

In architecture it is my understanding that "function precedes form." Knowing the function of an organization will inform the architect who will then go to the drafting board to design a building that will address the issue of function. The problem in much stewardship education over the years is that we have been designing programs (buildings) without considering the total picture (function) of stewardship addressed in the scriptures.

Douglas John Hall sees man as a steward from the onset of creation. Indeed the Genesis account of man’s placement in Eden’s blessed environment record’s his creator’s conferring responsibility on him for caring for all that we was being given. If this pattern is accepted then it means that the whole of man’s stewarding responsibilities have been wrongfully boiled down to tossing “coins in the coffer” not to build a cathedral but many times to make up for a shortfall or fix a leaking church roof.

It is as if stewardship has been compressed to a convenient, non-threatening brass container that is rubbed (gently) when things and money gets tight. Stewardship has been held captive, in too many churches, by the "tyranny of the urgent."

Hall’s thesis in Imaging God is that man is the image of God. As the image of our God we are to reflect what kind of a God we serve. A God concerned for sinful ancestors, a God concerned for a brother’s killer, a God concerned for wailing prophets and ailing mother’s in law. We have a God who gave everything and asks very little in return.

A steward is a metaphor, the image of his creator. As human stewards of all that our Lord provides we are to be as caring for creation as our Lord was. We are to be as loving in our living as our Lord was. We are to be as giving in our spiritual living as our Lord was. As the voluntarily connected children of the living God we are to be as committed to missions as our Redeemer was.

Someday the Lord will return after travelling on a “long journey” and he will summon a grand meeting of all living stewards. The tragedy for some will be that they will have lived with a misunderstood and imperfect view of stewardship as an annual response to urgent need fund-raising.

Back to basics is to go back to the book of beginnings (Genesis) and relearn the original assignment to mankind to be stewards, caring and tending for God’s creation. Real stewarding grows out of obedience, is strengthened by faithfulness and becomes motivating by the love of God recognized in a believing steward.

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January 1, 2008

Happy New Year!

Just wanted to wish everyone a Happy New Year! May the blessings of God Almighty go with you in 2008.

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December 28, 2007

Technical Issues

We're experiencing technical difficulties. None of our content has been deleted. It just isn't showing up when you come to the main page. If you're looking for something specific, the search and archive funtions still work. Both are found in the right-hand column of your screen.

Thanks for your understanding.

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December 19, 2007

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! In the words of Michael Card,

"Celebrate the child who is the light. Now the darkness is over. No more wandering in the night. Celebrate the child who is the light."

In observance of the season, I'm taking a few days off from blogging. Check back after the Advent becomes the Incarnation.

Blessings to you!

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December 6, 2007

Who's writing about stewardship and giving?

Something has been bothering me for a while. So I'm just going to say it. Who's writing about stewardship and giving?

I'm always looking for related news stories on the subject. When I go to traditional, denominationally affiliated new sites, what I find is often 3 or more years old. That's a problem. If we haven't had a newsworthy conversation or event on Biblical Stewardship since 2004, does that mean that we've been ingnoring the issue?

When I type in "stewardship and givng" into Google, I find many sites on environmental stewardship and other philanthropic endeavors. But the topics of Biblical Stewardship and Church Giving are almost non-existent.

So please give me some help. Can you point me to who's talking about Biblical stewardship and giving today?

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December 3, 2007

Southeastern's Akin writes about Stewardship

Paul understood how important Christian stewardship was to true and genuine Christian discipleship. He knew that giving cannot help but reveal the spiritual life of those who call Jesus Lord. He knew that how we give is a commentary on our love for Christ, His Church, and the lost.

Read "The Bible and giving" here.

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November 15, 2007

Happy Thanksgiving!

Just wanted to wish everyone a wonderful Thanksgiving celebration. I'll be taking the week off from posting. My next post will be on Monday, November 26.

Let us hear the words of Psalm 118 as we remember that everything is a gift from God himself and our response should be one of thanksgiving:

1 Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good;
His faithful love endures forever.
2 Let Israel say,
“His faithful love endures forever.”
3 Let the house of Aaron say,
“His faithful love endures forever.”
4 Let those who fear the Lord say,
“His faithful love endures forever.”
5 I called to the Lord in distress;
the Lord answered me
[and put me] in a spacious place.
6 The Lord is for me; I will not be afraid.
What can man do to me?
7 With the Lord for me as my helper,
I will look in triumph on those who hate me.
8 It is better to take refuge in the Lord
than to trust in man.
9 It is better to take refuge in the Lord
than to trust in nobles.
10 All the nations surrounded me;
in the name of the Lord I destroyed them.
11 They surrounded me, yes, they surrounded me;
in the name of the Lord I destroyed them.
12 They surrounded me like bees;
they were extinguished like a fire among thorns;
in the name of the Lord I destroyed them.
13 You pushed me hard to make me fall,
but the Lord helped me.
14 The Lord is my strength and my song;
He has become my salvation.
15 There are shouts of joy and victory
in the tents of the righteous:
“The Lord’s right hand strikes with power!
16 The Lord’s right hand is raised!
The Lord’s right hand strikes with power!”
17 I will not die, but I will live
and proclaim what the Lord has done.
18 The Lord disciplined me severely
but did not give me over to death.
19 Open the gates of righteousness for me;
I will enter through them
and give thanks to the Lord.
20 This is the gate of the Lord;
the righteous will enter through it.
21 I will give thanks to You
because You have answered me
and have become my salvation.
22 The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone.
23 This came from the Lord;
it is wonderful in our eyes.
24 This is the day the Lord has made;
let us rejoice and be glad in it.
25 Lord, save us!
Lord, please grant us success!
26 Blessed is he who comes
in the name of the Lord.
From the house of the Lord we bless you.
27 The Lord is God and has given us light.
Bind the festival sacrifice with cords
to the horns of the altar.
28 You are my God, and I will give You thanks.
[You are] my God; I will exalt You.
29 Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good;
His faithful love endures forever.

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November 14, 2007

Wikipedia on Stewardship

The word "stewardship" has an entry in Wikipedia. Check it out. I found it interesting that alongside a theological position on stewardship, secular organizations and environmental groups have also adopted the same basic premise: what we have is not our own and should be protected from exploitation and nurtured to advance "the work" to ultimately benefit the greater good.

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November 7, 2007

Alarming Trends in Church Giving

I found an interesting article today. It's from 1996, so it's a bit dated. However, it's a futures trend analysis on church giving, specifically money set aside for mission work beyond the operational and ministry expenses of the local church. The article defines this as benevolence giving which is a wider definition than most of us hold on the subject.

I think we are beginning to see the realization of some of the author's predictions and conclusions.

1. We must acknowledge the decline in church giving as a trend.

Benevolence monies consist of funds earmarked for church activities whose focus lies beyond the congregation, such as support for denominational work at regional and national levels and funding for seminaries and international and domestic mission programs as well as local mission projects. In 1988 we noticed that of the two categories, giving to benevolences declined faster than giving to congregational finances for the period from 1968 to 1985...Giving to church benevolences as a percentage of income, for example, has been in a fairly regular decline for over two decades. Through what statisticians call linear regression analysis, we combined the past 26 years of data and then developed a trend line based on the accumulated information. What this trend shows is that in 1968, church members in the denominations we studied gave 0.66 percent of income to their churches' benevolence funds. By 1993 this number had declined to 0.43 percent, a decline of 35 percent in the portion of income directed beyond the congregation's own needs. At this rate of decline, by the year 2049 zero percent of church member income will be going beyond the congregation to benevolences.

2. We must consider the connection between giving and membership trends.

Some observers suggest that such membership trends represent a swing of members away from mainline churches and into conservative and evangelical ones. If that were true, conservative and evangelical membership statistics ought to be reflecting an increase that roughly corresponds with the decrease within the mainline. The numbers do not support that conclusion. It is true that a group of 15 conservative and evangelical denominations increased as a percentage of population between 1968 and 1993. However, between 1985 and 1993 this group's rate of growth slowed and the portion of U.S. population they represented declined...Data for 37 communions allow us to perform a trend analysis for a wide spectrum of American Protestantism. The group includes the 11 mainline denominations considered earlier, as well as 15 conservative denominations, some of which are among the fastest growing in the U.S. The trend suggests that historical Protestant Christianity as represented in these 37 communions will fall to zero percent of the population in less than 100 years.

3. We must have a strategic plan to ensure the the trend does not continue to it's logical end.

It is reasonable to propose, therefore, that the answer to declining giving, and perhaps to declining membership, will not be found in requests to help maintain institutions, whether those be local congregations or denominational offices. A much larger vision is required to capture the imaginations of church members living in this communications-rich society. A conclusion of the 15 denominational officials and one seminary vice-president who served on the Stewardship Project National Advisory Committee was that the church needs to offer its members a constructive agenda for deploying their affluence.

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November 5, 2007

Stewardship Cartoon

I think we take stewardship way too seriously sometimes. And it's Monday! So I'm giving you a reason to smile and laugh.

Enjoy!

(By the way, this is our 100th post!)

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November 1, 2007

Microfinance and churches

I googled microfinance and churches. I thought it would be interesting to see if any churches/denominations were already using microfinancing as a model to accomplish their global missions strategy. I found this press release that announces a denominational relationship between Opportunity International and the Presbyterian Foundation Group.

The Presbyterian Foundation of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) has named Opportunity International a validated ministry mission, which will increase the opportunities for Presbyterian churches to work with the world's largest Christian microfinance organization in efforts to help the poorest of the working poor around the world.

The press release also outlines specific churches and how they are already working with Opportunity International.

I think this is a pretty cool way to tie stewardship directly to ministry. And it helps those who are giving to see a measurable impact which is something more and more people are requesting. They don't just want to give money to a machine who will in turn decide how to use their money. Those who give want to be able to have a say in where the money goes and how it's used.

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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

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 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.”

W