Navigating the Annual Great Decline
Get ready for The Annual Great Decline. You are probably still basking in the glow of Easter, a packed house filled with promise and potential. Then, this past Sunday brought you back to reality. The typical church will not see any better attendance and engagement until sometime next fall. I call this the Annual Great […]
The 15 Offerings of Summer Playbook Plan
Use the chart to plan out your 15 offerings. The Who, How, What, When, Why column helps you decide the best way to communicate the story you are focusing on. Each offering is about connecting your summer vision to life change! Date Focus of Offering Who, How, What, When, Why? May 26th June […]
7 Reasons to Make Summer Giving Plans
As we continue this Journal about summer giving plans, we bring you a previously posted article by Mark Brooks. Originally, it was published before Easter. We have changed the first sentence to reflect that we are now post-Easter. You can find the original post linked at the bottom of the article. As we post this, […]
The Generosity Lane: Using Gratitude to Increase Generosity
What do you do on Monday after Easter? The tendency after Easter is to pass out on the couch to rest up. Yet, if you want to keep your giving tank full, you must continually think about your generosity lanes. I’m continuing my series on the key generosity lanes you need to increase giving and […]
Key Pointers for Expressing Gratitude
Years ago, I wrote a post on the key pointers for expressing gratitude. I’ve edited it down through the years, but the points remain good thoughts. Pastor, this would be a great discussion starter for your staff or Finance Team. So, here are my thoughts about crafting a thank you card, email, letter, or text… […]
5 Reasons Pastors Should Attend Summer Camp
Easter is over, and it’s time to think summer, as in summer camp! The Journal will soon turn to summer issues, but we think it is good stewardship for a pastor to attend summer camp. We say the Amen to Kyle Cravens piece below, originally posted in the Baptist Press BP Toolbox. We are honored […]
How to Make Appeals Appealing
The typical church in America today seldom, if ever, talks about money for fear of driving people away. Jesus said, “You have not because you ask not.” I realize he was talking about prayer, but people will respond when we ask correctly. It is not that we ask for financial support that drives people away; […]
The Coach’s Appeal Tip Page
Appeals, written correctly, are one of the best ways to increase giving at your church. The key is writing them well. Here is my one-page summary of tips for making your appeals appealing. First, we must understand that vision drives dollars. The reason most direct appeals fail for churches is not that they are not […]
Reengagement With CP Expands Impact, Brings Churches Out of Isolation
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (BP) — Michael Cabell’s position is heavily tied to helping churches reengage with the Cooperative Program. However, giving through CP isn’t the first thing he preaches to those congregations. “Southern Baptists are a family, and there are various aspects to that,” said Cabell, assistant to the executive director for Convention Relations with the […]
How to Use Social Media to Advance Generosity
Should your church have a social media strategy for increasing generosity? Consider these statistics: After reading these statistics, the answer to my question is yes! If we want to engage our communities, we must be on social media. This Coach is entitled How to Use Social Media to Advance Generosity. When it comes to increasing […]