The Way Forward is Back
Remember when our Christian leadership was telling us that we cannot “go back” to our pre-COVID world because it no longer exists? In this issue we will examine how The Way Forward is Back. During the height of Covid, it seemed that was all we heard. We were told to prepare for a future with […]
Avoid the Low Attendance Lag
Pastor! Do you know what is your lowest attended weekends? I recently read a Thom Rainer article that helped me think through low-attended weekends and what strategically you need to do to avoid a lag in your momentum. I wrote the following blog post that I wanted to share with you. This is an inside […]
From the Desk of Our Executive Director
Welcome to another Stewardship Journal. Do you remember that old line, “I have good news and bad news?” That is how I felt when I read the Lifeway Research report1. showing increases in attendance and baptisms in the SBC. Yet, at the same time, our membership has dipped to the lowest number since the late […]
Using the Power of Vision
How do you recover lost offerings? For one thing, you can’t merely sit around wringing your hands about the decline in giving. You must act. However, your actions can’t come off as looking desperate. Ultimately, that will not make a difference. You need to use the connecting power of vision to see an increase in […]
The 2023 Come Back Offering Edition
It’s the middle of summer, your members are on vacation, and I have a question for you: how is giving going? Summer is the most challenging time for giving, with July being the lowest offering month of the year for the typical church. The irony is that summer is the most active time of the […]
Yes, You Can Make Up Lost Giving
When it comes to giving, can you make up lost ground? Yes. Every summer, I encourage what I call a come-from-behind giving strategy. My goal is to help you close whatever giving gap you are currently experiencing. Desperate appeals versus decisive appeals. First, let me explain why you should consider closing any giving gap you […]
From the Desk of Our Executive Director
How is giving going at your church? That’s the question we want to ask with this edition of the Stewardship Journal. Summer has traditionally been one of the most challenging times for churches in terms of making the budget. We want to help you close any giving gap that might be threatening your current and […]
Six Key Points on Vision Crafting Your Church Budget
How do you avoid an emotionless presentation? You make your appeal appealing! Not everyone in your church has reached their fullest giving potential. Those new to the faith or new to your church need inspirational education about where the money you are asking for actually goes. Our challenge is to explain something that seems so […]
Coach’s 2023 Budget Training Camp
Football season is just around the corner, and NFL teams are heading to their training camps in preparation for a winning season. The work they do in July/August will pave the way for success or failure once the season begins. At the same time, churches all over America are beginning their preparations for their budget […]
Three Leadership Landmines That Can Derail Your Budget
“The Senior Pastor won’t be in the meeting.” That was the reply a lay leader shared with me once when his church wanted my help. I replied that the meeting would be worthless unless the pastor showed up. That wasn’t the answer they were looking for, and I never heard from the church again. You […]