Why Didn’t Members at Your Church Give More on Sunday?

Squeezing coins. Photo courtesy of Jakub Krechowicz

I met a pastor recently who never discusses finances with his church. He believes the members of his congregation have been hurt so much by our culture, the constant asks of para-church ministry, and “money-grubbing pastors”, he doesn’t want to add to their pain.

How about you?

I was surprised by this pastor’s observation, but perhaps I shouldn’t have been. Itinerate pastor and author, Aaron Armstrong blogged about five reasons church members don’t give or give less. Here are two of his observations.

They’ve been hurt by the world
Some folks—maybe because of  a business deal going bad, poor life choices, or student debt—are in a really bad spot. They went to college, got a degree and are working at Starbucks or McDonalds while paying off $60K in student loans. Their business went belly-up and they’re stuck paying off the creditors while trying to avoid foreclosure. Their reasonably well-paying job was eliminated and so they’re scraping everything they can together to keep a roof over their family’s heads and food on the table. They might very likely have a desire to give generously, but the means simply aren’t there. They need time, assistance —maybe your church offers financial counselling and coaching?—and a great deal of encouragement as they strive to get onto solid ground.

They’ve been hurt by the church
Depending on your situation, you might be seeing a lot of transfer growth, people joining your church from other churches. While many people transferring are healthy and ready to serve—perhaps work, family, or other situations not related to some sin issue necessitated their leaving their previous church—others are coming in banged up, hurt and nervous. These people need time, love, and patience while they get things figured out, get the help they need, and eventually start to give.

Read his full blog post here.

What have you found in your church?
Why do your members hold back their generosity?
Please leave a comment below.

Anonymous Donor Gives $7 Million. In Other News, another Anonymous Donor gives $7.

from Mark Whitlock

USAToday reports:

An anonymous donor gave $7 million to the American Action Network, a conservative group that spent millions to aid Republicans in the 2010 midterm congressional elections, according to tax returns the organization is filing with the Internal Revenue Service.

That single donation accounts for 25% of the nearly $27.5 million raised by the group between July 1, 2010, and June 30, 2011. The organization, which touts its grass-roots advocacy efforts, showed contributions from just 34 donors during that period. Eight contributors accounted for nearly 90% of the group’s revenue.

Yes, this was a political donation, but be honest with yourself: did you feel a tinge of envy … and suspicion… when you read the headline?

In my work with non-profits and churches since 1991, every ministry and church has lived in the tension between major donors and daily contributions. There’s something “sexy” and powerful about major donor contributions. Why do we give ourselves freedom to dream, “If we received a major gift, we could…” but not, “If giving increases this year by X%, we could…”?

Seeking the gift—should we or shouldn’t we—becomes another tension. Once a donor of high net worth is identified, do you struggle with “the questions”?

• Should we approach him/her?
• How?
• Friendly lunch or phone call?
• How long should we cultivate the relationship before we ask?
• Won’t he/she suspect something?

At the heart of the tension is the truth that there are no right answers. Even if you follow Paul’s advice in Philippians 4:16–17, every donor is unique and requires a unique approach.

When I worked at Focus on the Family, Paul Nelson served as COO. (After Focus, he helmed the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability, a watchdog and advocacy group that ensures that para-church organizations hold to the highest financial standards and remain above reproach.) One day at an all-staff chapel, Mr. Nelson told us about a strange habit. Whenever he felt down or doubted God’s provision for the ministry, he would take a walk over to the mail room. He knew what time the mail arrived every day. He would get there a little early to greet and encourage the staff, and then take a vantage point near the bay doors where the mail truck backed in to unload the bags of mail. He quietly watched as the bags were unloaded, forms were signed, and the bags were placed at the head of the processing line. Then, he would try to hold back tears as the sorting staff got to work. There was a machine with rubber wheels and motors. It was quite loud. The sorting staff would drop envelopes into different chutes on the machine depending on what type of mail had been received. Paul knew which chute contained the donations. He would watch as envelope after envelope was sorted.

Mr. Nelson called these envelopes our daily manna. God was providing. Every day. If he lost sight of what God was doing, this field trip would center his soul.

In church stewardship, we sometimes lose sight of this, don’t we? We see the reports. We know the offering plate is being passed. We know how many are giving online or at our kiosks. We ask ourselves the questions above about major donors. But we can never forget that God works in the money sorting room, too.

I want to challenge you to find a way to place yourself in that room this week. While the offering is being collected, get on your knees in that room. Thank God for His provision. Thank God for the faithful men who sort and count the offering. Renew your commitment to let God be Lord over the finances of your church.

Then, be there when the deacons and ushers bring in the offering. Watch silently, like Paul Nelson, as the tangible reality of God’s provision comes in to stark focus. Worship.

A Cow and a Pig Walk into a Barn

from Mark Whitlock

A rich man complained to his friend: “People don’t like me. They say I’m selfish and stingy. And yet in my last will and testament I have donated all that I own to charitable cause.”

His friend said: “Well, maybe the story of the cow and the pig has a lesson for you.”

The pig came to the cow and complained, “People always talk about your friendliness. I know you are friendly, you do give them milk. But they get much, much more from me. They get ham and bacon and lard and they even cook my feet. And yet – no one likes me. Why is that?”The cow thought over it a bit and then said, “Perhaps it’s because I give while I am still alive!”

He Hid it in the Garage

from Mark Whitlock

Year’s ago, my wife and I were involved is a small group Bible study with a successful neonatologist at a leading children’s hospital. Only my wife’s father had a richer, gentler bedside manner.

One night, our group met at his home. As our wives caught up in the kitchen, my friend motioned all of us husbands to follow him. He took us into his garage. The lights were off and we were all disoriented. He flipped on the lights to reveal a gleaming new sports car painted in British racing green. High fives, oohs, and ahhs echoed off the concrete floor. One of our group grabbed the doctor and tried to wrestle his keys from him.

I remember thinking, “No one deserves this car more.”

The doctor, however, was embarrassed. He had ordered the car months before and was committed. He really wanted the car, but as the calendar flipped each month, he grew more and more convicted. He used the car as an object lesson that night in our lives. He said:

Guys, I’m glad you like the car. I do, too. I can’t wait to take you for a spin… one at a time of course. But every time I see this car, I think of something else. Five years ago, my wife and I decided to give more purposefully. We decided since God had blessed us so much, that we should give more. So, each year for the past five years, we’ve increased our giving by 1%. We’re now giving 15%. Plus, we’ve set aside another 5% of our income to give as the Lord leads… when missionaries come to town and we’re moved by their work… when a member of the youth group can’t afford to go on a trip… when we hear of a family who’s been impacted by a fire…

Men, I know we come from very different backgrounds. It doesn’t matter how much we make. What matters is what we do with what God has provided.

Oh that God would raise up more men like my friend, the doctor… not only to give, but to challenge others to give.

How do we teach generosity to ourselves? Our children?
What lessons have been effective in your church?

Please comment below.

I Like Giving

written by Mark Whitlock

Brad Formsma started MeadowGreen Landscapes, a landscape design and construction firm in 1989. The company continued to grow along with Brad’s passion to give. He graduated from Spring Arbor College with a BS in management. The Lord provided Brad with a flexible schedule that allowed him significant ministry opportunities throughout each day as the business grew. Brad loves to encourage and lives to give. He sold his business is 2007 to be available to serve with Generous Giving.

I heard Brad interviewed on “FamilyLife Today” and was very impressed.

As you and I grow to be more giving and teach those around us to do the same, having these stories handy will only fuel our abilities.

Check out “I Like Laundry”, a great story from a college student.

Then, check out this film, “I Like Military.”

Click on this image to start the video

Three Words that Will Refocus Your Church’s Fundraising

Written by Mark Whitlock

Twelve men and women crowded around the executive board room table. The rest of us sat in chairs along the wall or stuck in corners. Important people had flown in for this summit. Both coasts and three other states were represented. Body heat, the coffee makers, and the passions surrounding the round, glass top table taxed the air conditioning system. Men loosened ties. Women removed jackets.

FamilyLife was wrestling with donor development strategy. Wise men and women urged Dennis Rainey and the other leaders to leave behind the methods that had supported the ministry before the launch of the radio broadcast and the resulting explosive growth. A young, energetic direct-mail expert talked conversion rates, average gifts, and dunning. Another voice touted stratification and continuity giving. Debate rose and fell among these comrades. Anger never entered the room; only passion.

Dennis Rainey sat near the dry erase board taking it all in. He wrote notes on a yellow legal pad tucked in his brown portfolio. He asked probing questions. Every time, the person answering needed a few seconds before responding.

The day and debate wore on until Dennis stood and faced the group. The room grew quiet. Then he said three words which galvanized the future. He had said these words before, but we all needed to be reminded of them in that minute.

Money follows ministry.

I was on staff with FamilyLife at the time. All of us had become too concerned about whether or not the funds generated through our fundraising efforts would sustain the ministry. For a few hours, we had taken our eyes… and hearts… off of why we were there. The ministry had been blessed by God and was growing because husbands and wives were tearing up divorce papers… because father’s hearts were being turned toward their children’s… because pre-teens were being taught to live lives of moral and sexual purity… because moms with french fries ground into the floorboard carpet of their minivans were being encouraged every day… because God’s plan, purpose, and power for families was being taught.

If we forgot to build into the lives of our listeners, conference guests, Bible study participants, and product purchasers, we were going to flip the ministry upside down like so many others. We were headed toward the trap of raising money this month so we can be around to raise money next month. We were sliding downhill toward content being focused on the numbers and not on what God is doing.

As you look at your weekly financial needs for your church, are you risking the same fate? As you think about raising funds for a new building or remodeling, what is your focus?

At LifeWay, we don’t doubt that you have a funding priority at your church—whether you need to emphasize giving more or host a capital campaign. We’re not saying don’t hire LifeWay Stewardship to help. We’re not saying don’t pass the plate. We’re just urging you to remember what you are called to do. You’re not shoring up the budget; you are making ministry possible to infants. You’re not building a new building; you are following God’s lead to bind up the brokenhearted in your community.

Your fundraising efforts can never become the focus of what you do, say, broadcast, post, or preach.

Keep ministering. Keep following your calling.

The money will follow your ministry.

How have you learned to let money follow ministry?

Please comment below.

When Members of Leadership Aren’t On Board

One of the most common asked questions of our team is, “How do we find consensus among our leadership? If we’re not of one mind, we’re never going to move this project forward.”

I’ve spent time talking with leaders about the principles found in Philippians 2:3–4.

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.
– Philippians 2:3-4 ESV

So often we can only see our perspective. To gain oneness, we must see what others see. If he or she is a part of leadership, you have learned to trust him or her, you’ve marveled at the ministry accomplished. Now is the time to give him or her the benefit of the doubt. Try to see things from another perspective.

I also ask another diagnostic question: does your church have a culture of generosity? If giving isn’t a natural response to need, how can you move your church—especially your leadership—to that position?

On Christianity Today’s website, Brian Pipping writes:

So what should pastors do when they find that a key leader is not a stakeholder in the ministry? I would love to say that I knew the right call, and that I made it, that I was proactive and didn’t simply watch with disappointment as my friend finished his term and rotated off the board. But I can’t. While this episode remains in the column of missed opportunities, it did prompt changes going forward. We have since created tools to assist in the selection and development of real stakeholders in time, talent, and tithe. Here’s what resulted.

After that experience I began to communicate that anyone coming into leadership would be expected to be a personal model of generosity. We led our church through a prayerful time of refining our vision. The result is an important three-word statement that describes what our church will look like when our vision is fulfilled. We will be a “generous, life-changing, community.” Everything we do as a church is designed to drive us in that direction. So as a church we talk about generosity, model generosity, teach generosity, and celebrate it when it happens.

Each year, for instance, we use Memorial Day weekend to emphasize the discipline of generosity through an event that we call “Feed the Need.” On that weekend, following our worship time, we take the entire church family to a local discount grocer. We take over the entire store for two hours, and pay for and pack groceries. The following Saturday we go to an under-resourced neighborhood that our church has adopted and we personally distribute the boxes and pray with each of the hundreds of families we serve. It is a great exercise to help set a tone of generosity for our ministry season.

We’ve found that creating a culture of generosity ensures that future leaders often hear us talk about the generosity of our staff and elders.

If I learned anything through the pain of that early experience it was this: the “generosity conversation” needs to occur during the leadership development process rather than after someone steps into a position of leadership.

You can read the entire article here.

How do you lead those who won’t give? What do you think of Pipping’s suggestions?

What Are You Delegating?

Tony Morgan serves on the leadership team of West Ridge Church in greater Atlanta. He authored Killing Cockroaches for leaders. In his blog post today, he challenged his readers to NOT delegate these tasks.

How are you delegating? What do you wish you could delegate? Please comment below.

For an organization to be healthy, these are the seven roles of a senior leadership team that can’t be delegated:

1. Modeling team-based ministry from the top of the organization. It gets very difficult to challenge other staff and volunteer leaders to build and develop teams in the church if it’s not being modeled from the top. More important, the senior leadership team needs to model what “healthy” team-based ministry looks like. We’ll cover that more in future posts, but this includes both healthy conflict and unwavering unity. (You can have both.)
2. Identifying and implementing the strategy for accomplishing the vision.This, of course, assumes a clear vision for the church has previously been established. The senior leadership team, though, is ultimately responsible for identifying the strategies that will be used to accomplish that vision. They fill the gap between vision and execution.
3. Leading the staff and volunteers. Every person, whether they are in a staff or volunteer role, needs to be connected through your organizational structure back to someone on the senior leadership team. There shouldn’t be any staff members, volunteers or ministries floating out there without leadership and direction connected back to the vision.
4. Keeping everyone aligned and focused on the vision, strategy and execution priorities. In the early days of a church plant, this is much easier. Because there are fewer people initially, church plants stay very focused out of necessity. As churches grow, though, the senior leadership team will have to work hard to keep everyone focused on the church’s overall vision and ministry strategy. (As a side note, that means God may call someone in your church to launch a great ministry that’s not a part of the church’s vision and strategy. It just means that may be their personal mission, and not the church’s mission. When that happens, you need to encourage the individual but protect the church’s mission. We actually need more of that.)

Read the rest of his post here.