One year ago, we asked long-time MBC pastor, Richie Rhea, to write a post about the importance of partnering together in the aftermath of a contentious Southern Baptist Convention. Given the nature leading up to the Convention in Anaheim, we thought his words were worth re-posting. Here is his original...
Welcome to another Stewardship Journal! Another Southern Baptist Convention has come and gone. I have been blessed to serve these many years as the Recording Secretary of the Convention. Serving for this last time was one of mixed emotions for me. I have loved my time serving and it has given...
Today is Father's Day! Thank God for fathers! Some of you have fathers still living, and for others of you, your father has gone. Yet, living or passed, we celebrate their lives today. What gifts do we get for our fathers? Traditionally, it has been ties. Given the pandemic, I am...
In my over twenty years of helping churches hold capital campaigns, I have found that the majority of mistakes made, happen BEFORE the campaign even starts. To help you avoid these mistakes let me show you what you need to know and do BEFORE your next campaign. So, let’s get started...
Most churches doom their capital campaign long before they even unwrap it before the congregation. That has been my experience in the last twenty-plus years of working with top 100 churches and churches running 100. Church leaders inexperienced in the process of project development often make critical mistakes early in...
The following is a personal opinion piece by Mark Brooks “How will that impact giving?” That is the question I always ask as a stewardship minister. When the economy goes south, I ask this question. When weather cancels a service, I ask that question. When a crisis such as Covid-19 appears,...
Welcome to another Stewardship Journal! All of us as Southern Baptists grieve the findings from the recent Guidepost report. We as a Convention have some difficult decisions to make in the coming days. I am confident that we will do the right thing and I am prayerful that it will bring...
"All the church ever talks about is money!" Have you ever heard that? If you regularly attend Church, you know that is not true. Yet every week, we focus on the offering. So, we do, at least for a few minutes, talk about money here. Have you ever wondered what we...
The answer to how long it takes is always, it depends. For most campaigns, the average time is at least six months from initial planning to completion. In some situations, it can and must be done sooner but they are the exception rather than the rule. Those campaigns typically never...
How old is your newest “new” building? I once joked with a pastor that he probably had a building that his members referred to as “The New…” yet it was years old. He looked shocked and said, “Our “New Fellowship Hall,” is twenty years old!” It was the newest of...
