Author - Mark Brooks

Our Story is Eternal

The following “talk” will require some work on your part to make it compelling and effective. Find some story of life change that you can tell and then link that back to the generosity of your members. If you can’t find a story, give statistics showing the impact that can...


The Anatomy of the Offering Time

Remember what it was like that first shut down Sunday in March 2020, and your offering went to practically zero overnight? That is your future if you don’t do something quickly. If you doubt me, have your financial person give you a listing of the top ten donors in your...


How I Write Offering Talks

At 500 offering talks, I stopped counting how many I have written. Suffice it to say; I know a thing or two about offering talks as I’ve seen a few. I wrote a blog post on this topic a few years ago.1. Here is what I wrote: First, let me state...


What’s Love Got To Do With It?

Are there any classic rock and roll fans here? Who let the Boomers in? Seriously, the approach of Valentine’s Day led me to think about love songs, and I wondered if any of you remember the song, What's Love Got to Do With It? (Some or, Wow!, a lot.) Does...


Does $164.76 Say I Love You?

Last year, the average American spent $164.76 on Valentine's Day cards, candies, and flowers. As a nation, we spent almost $22 billion all in an attempt to say; I Love You.1. All those flowers wilted, the candy was eaten, and most cards were thrown out. Is it worth it? We...


How to Make Your Offerings 24/7/365

If there were any doubts about the impact of online giving on offerings, those doubts vanished with the rise of COVID-19. I hear continually from pastors, “We will never pass an offering plate ever again.” Commerce had already moved to become digital. The pandemic forced churches to finally adapt. Now...


Let’s Change the Conversation About Money and Giving

A few years ago, I asked a pastor what my biggest obstacle was in helping him increase giving at his church. He replied, “My staff.” I thought he was kidding until I held my first meeting with his staff. I walked into the room to bored looks, and everyone had...


Dreams Matter

Dreams matter. Tomorrow's holiday honoring Martin Luther King is proof of that. On August 28, 1963, Martin Luther King Jr. delivered the iconic "I Have a Dream" speech in front of over 250,000 supporters gathered at the Lincoln Memorial. The speech was ranked the best American speech of the 20th...


Practical Ideas to Take Your Offering to the Next Level

Ideas to take your offerings to the next level – Since even my stellar offering talks can become routine, causing members to tune you out, let me give you some ideas on how to take your talks to the next level. You must keep changing what you do during the offering...


Everything Rises and Falls With the Offering

“Just when we really get going in worship, then it is time for the offering, and it interrupts the flow of worship!” I actually had a staff member tell me that once when I was attempting to help their church reverse a decline in giving. That statement sums up most...