general

“Blocking and Tackling” Fundamentals of Facility Stewardship

By Tim Cool Facility stewardship is crucial for any organization that manages physical spaces—be it commercial buildings, educational institutions, healthcare facilities, or industrial sites. Just as in football, where mastering the basics like ‘blocking and tackling’ is key to winning, effective facility stewardship hinges on core practices that ensure the efficient,...


Cards Are Cool, But Cash Builds Buildings

Cards Are Cool, But Cash Builds Buildings is the title of this Coach, and it's a truth you can't afford to overlook. Having a stack of pledge cards the day after your campaign commitment is a good start, but what really matters is turning those pledges into tangible donations to...


The Coach’s Quick-Step Follow-Up Plan

One important thing for churches to understand is that when the commitments are in, the campaign is not over. One phase is completed, and now you are in another. I believe the first 30 to 60 days after the Commitment Weekend are crucial. So, let me outline what I recommend...


Eagle Saints

One key way to fund future building needs is through estate planning. We will be writing more on this topic soon. For now, we wanted to share this post by Dr. Bruce McCoy, written specifically for the Journal. Dr. McCoy helps us identify what he terms Eagle Saints. Nearly two out...


It’s Not Fund Raising It’s Faith Raising

Last week, I told a story of a pastor I once worked with who explained to his leaders that the upcoming capital campaign wasn’t a fund-raising campaign but a faith-raising campaign. I want to further flesh that out in this Coach, entitled It's Not Fund Raising It’s Faith Raising. Last week,...


Pray the Money In!

Several years ago, I wrote the following blog post on praying in money. While the thrust was for the weekly offering, the principles I laid out will also work for praying for a capital campaign. Do you regularly pray for a full offering plate each Sunday? Isn’t it amazing how little...


How To Integrate Prayer In A Capital Campaign

We are thrilled to have Dr. Ronnie Floyd write on the importance of prayer in a capital campaign. Dr. Floyd has recently published a new devotional for leaders called Day by Day and Night by Night: 365 Morning & Evening Devotions for Leaders. You can find the devotional at all...


The Power of the Pulpit

The average church member spends one and a half hours at church, including worship. I remember seeing that statistic a few years before the Chinese virus hit our shores. Post-COVID studies are showing an even greater decline in church engagement and attendance. This is why, when raising capital dollars, one...


A Sample Capital Campaign Preaching Schedule

One of the greatest challenges I face is helping pastors plan their preaching for a capital campaign. I’m often asked how long a sermon series should run for a capital campaign. The answer depends upon many factors, but I have found that four to six weeks is the best length. The...


Attracting the Next Generation of Donors

The following is reprinted with permission and can be found at https://www.onlinegiving.org/support/attracting-the-next-generation-of-donors The future of church giving is at a crossroads, demanding a strategic shift. Currently, most churches in America are heavily dependent on financial support from Baby Boomers, a generation that is now entering retirement. But what happens when...