From My Desk to Yours
Are you actively preparing for the future of giving? Or is it a thought that’s been pushed aside by the daily demands of ministry? The truth is that the urgency of the present often overshadows the importance of future planning. However, as you’ll discover in this week’s Journal, the future of your church’s stewardship depends on it. Here’s a glimpse of what’s inside this week’s Journal.
Preparing Now for the 2030s is our lead post. Mark Brooks, The Stewardship Coach, starts his column by writing, “I’m focused on helping churches be financially secure by 2030. For years, I have marched under the motto, “Reversing Giving One Church at a Time.” With the decline of giving picking up speed and endangering the future of thousands of churches, there is never a better time to prepare for the future than now. Remember, one of my key Brooks mantras, “The Church that exists in the future is the church that prepares for the future today.” In my lead column, Preparing Now for the 2030s, I want to explain why and how to be financially secure for this coming decade.” Mark’s column is your starting point for planning for the future.
The next two Journal posts focus on preparing for the future. We are facing an aging donor base, so we must build up the next generation of stewards. Recent studies have shown the importance of staying engaged with your members/donors. How to Engage Younger Donors speaks to this issue with easy and practical ideas.
Have you seen a surge in attendance? Sometimes, it takes until the leaves turn for people to return. Fall, and the upcoming holiday season, will mean guests and new donors to your services. Our final post, Turn First-Time Givers Into Lifelong Givers, stresses the importance of responding to new donors in the first ninety days. Do you have a plan for new donors? This is a must-read for those who don’t have a plan and those who want to improve their plan.
As always, all articles can be found at https://stewardshipjournal.com. The Stewardship Journal exists to help local churches build a culture of generosity built upon biblical principles for Great Commission work.
In Jesus’ name!
Dr. Shawn Parker