I’m gathering thoughts, ideas, insights and stories on contextualization in ministry. Nelson Searcy shared some thoughts in THIS article recently. I’d love to hear your thoughts on what this means to you where you serve. Please comment!
The following blog post was written by Brian Kluth and posted on ChurchCentral.com. I’m starting to work with churches as a financial consultant through The Change Group and thought this article was worth reposting. Check it out:
In our national www.STATEofthePLATE.info survey research among churches, we discovered that giving is declining in 37% of the churches and is flat-lined in another 24% of churches. In this new economic climate, here are 10 ways that a church pastor and leaders can inspire generosity and increase giving so their church can focus on thriving instead of just surviving.
1 – INTENTIONALLY focus on stewardship as a matter of Christian discipleship
If we do not teach our people that Christ is Lord of ALL, is He really someone’s Lord at all? While a Christian cannot serve God AND money, that must be taught to serve God WITH their money. Don’t preach and teach on finances and giving for institutional survival, aim for transformed lives. No one is born generous. Generosity is something that must be taught and caught. I don’t believe the heresy that God wants everyone to be rich, but I do believe that God wants everyone to LEARN to become more generous with whatever God has given them.
2 – INSPIRE people’s generosity through true stories
The Bible is filled with stories of people’s generosity – - the little boy with the 5 loaves and 2 fish, the Macedonians who gave in the midst of their poverty, the former slaves who gave their riches to build the tabernacle, David who shared his wealth to build the temple, the widow that fed Elijah from the little she had, the widow’s mite, and many more. But also share true generosity stories from your own life and the lives of those you know. If you need ideas for true stories, check out the 40 true stories in the free eDevotional at www.GiveWithJoy.org or search google for “stewardship stories, tithing testimonies, generosity illustrations.”
3 – INCLUDE financial/generosity teaching opportunities in the church worship service and annual calendar
In the worship service share an offertory verse or video. In your church calendar, consider sending out a 40 day generosity devotional that couples and families can go through together. Offer financial classes, Sunday school, and/or seminars throughout the year. Put generosity and financial literature/pamphlets/articles in the lobby literature racks, bulletin, newsletters, and giving statement mailings.
4 – IGNORE the doom and gloom the-sky-is-falling media headlines
Yes, we live in the midst of some challenging times. But when the headlines says unemployment hits 10% that means that 90% of our people are working! When the headlines indicate the stock market stumbles, the reality is that many of our people aren’t dependent on the stock market for their weekly or monthly income. We are not to operate in fear, but in faith in a God who is bigger than the latest media headlines of our day. The reality is that if someone makes more than a $1000/year, they are richer than 80% of the world’s population. We need to teach our people to be faithful stewards and generous givers with whatever they have.
5 – INVESTIGATE best practices and materials that can be adopted or adapted for use in your church
Don’t try to reinvent the wheel. There are a lot of proven resources available for your church to use. Start by downloading the free national report on the“50 Best Practices and 80 Best Websites to Increase Giving” at www.annualstewardshipprogram.org.
6 – INCREASE the number of ways you allow people to give
For a number of years the debate has been should a church pass the plate or have a box in the back for offerings. Today, the answer is both and more! Pass the plate, have a box in the back, offer online giving, electronic check processing, stock transfers through a brokerage account, gifts-in-kind, and estate gifts.
7 – INSTRUCT people from the Scriptures about finances and generosity
We need to teach people to be faithful givers, not because the budget says so, but because the Bible says so. Our focus needs to be to teach people to be faithful givers to God, not to the church budget. Our goal is that our people please God, not the church finance committee. Church budgets are spending plans, not the giving goal. It is the Scriptures (all 2350 verses on finances, generosity, and material possessions) that will help people become faithful stewards and givers.
8- IGNITE people’s faith in God as their Provider
I like to ask people, “What would you rather have – - what your company can pay you or what God can provide for you?” God is bigger than a paycheck or a pension. We need to teach people that their company may be their employer, but God is their Provider. He is bigger than stock markets, housing markets, and job markets. Too many people have had a Tom Cruise theology of “show me the money” attitude. In the www.GodsProvisions.org website, there is a list of over 40 ways God provides for His people. He can use paychecks and pensions as part of His provisions, but He is not dependent on them.
9 – INVOLVE people in giving opportunities beyond the general operating budget
In addition to people’s regular giving, churches can mobilize resources for benevolence needs, building projects, mission projects, crisis/relief ministry, camp scholarships, and special designated needs. Different people are motivated by different things. Wise churches know how to invite people’s “over and above” giving to tap into the God-given desires people have to feel they are meeting a specific need. The www.STATEofthePLATE.info View from the Pew personal surveys identified 14 different areas at church and beyond the church where people give their donations.
10 – INFORM people of how their gifts are being used and helpful financial websites
When you send out giving statements, include some type of financial newsletters that highlights church giving, special projects, missionaries being supported, and financial websites that can be of help to them.
About the author: BRIAN KLUTH is a pastor, speaker, radio teacher, and bestselling author. He is the founder of www.MAXIMUMgenerosity.org website and free eNewsetter for pastors and leaders. His www.GenerousLife.org 40 Day Bible devotional has been ordered by 1300 churches to give to every family in their congregation to inspire generosity and increase giving. Kluth’s annual www.STATEofthePLATE.info research surveys monitors church giving, budget, and generosity trends.
Today and tomorrow, I’ll be attending the Velocity ChurchPlanters.com conference in Cumming, GA at Mountain Lake Church. Speakers include Rick Warren, Steven Furtick and Dave Gibbons! If you’re there, I’d love to meet you. Should be fun. You can follow the action on Twitter.
I met with a church leader yesterday and we were discussing ideas for this year’s Easter service at his church. I’m curious about you and your church. Please share what you guys are working on for Easter.
Greg Atkinson is a consultant, friend and partner with a select group of strategic partnerships. Greg works with these partner companies (listed in alphabetical order) and encourages you to contact him at greg@gregatkinson.com for more information on how we can be a resource to your church. Click on the logos to go to the company website.
Recently, I spoke with my friend (and Center for Church Communications Executive Director) Cynthia Ware. She asked me to be a Regional Network Coordinator for the Center for Church Communications and I agreed. Last week she announced this on the CFCC website. Below is what she said:
Building a Team
In my own personal ministry experience I have found that I’m happiest when building and launching a team. It’s always fulfilling for me to gather a group of like-minds and harness their collective resource. The greatest thrill comes from discovering the distinctive talents of each individual—while all working together towards one common goal.
That’s why I’ve decided to establish a collective of Regional Network Coordinators for CFCC. These are simply friends and colleagues who we feel have something to offer as we identify, celebrate, inspire and resource a growing contingency of church communicators. They are diverse, some are well-known voices, others offer a unique perspective, etc.
What They Do
Our network of coordinators will simply function as eyes and ears on the ground in their respective areas of the country. They will help CFCC with behind the scenes projects and will point us to their favorite/most inspiring communicators and campaigns.
We have carefully selected these 18 individuals to act as local resources so that if anyone in their area needs communication resources they can point to CFCC. Likewise, we can learn from them what’s happening in their area and share those lessons, resources and ideas with the broader community. The goal is to offer some back and forth and ensure that CFCC is better plugged into the church communications community. This isn’t an exclusive club—we hope it will grow (especially in areas where we lack representation) and benefit the entire community.
As we all continue to improve our communication skills, we hope these coordinators will inspire us by pointing us to that which is good, true and beautiful in church communication.
Here is the list of Regional Network Coordinators:
CFCC 2010 Regional Network Coordinators
We hope you know some of these people and can be a support to us by directing them to examples you may know of that reflect excellence in church communications. If you’re part of our community, please visit their sites, familiarize yourself with their work and welcome them with comments.
*** So, like they asked, if you would: please feel free to direct me to examples you may know of that reflect excellence in church communications. Thanks!
As I watched the Super Bowl I couldn’t help but be struck by the boldness and guts it took to do the onside kick at the beginning of the second half. I applauded New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton for having the idea and nerve to go for it. For me, I think that recovery of the onside kick changed the rest of the game – there was a momentum shift and the Colts never recovered.
As you know, I’ve been traveling the country for the last 2 years speaking on the subject of innovation. I’ve taught on innovation at several conferences, schools and to regional meetings of Church leaders around the country. After the past 2 years of studying, reading and forming my thoughts on innovation, I’ve come to realize that innovation and risk go hand in hand.
A lot of churches want to be “innovative”, but don’t have the guts or faith to take strategic risks. Hear me Church leaders: sometimes you must be willing to risk it all – that means your organization’s culture has to have a freedom to fail. Successful and innovative organizations and businesses actually reward failure because they realize it’s necessary for breakthroughs in innovation.
I’m working on a book on innovation in which I’ll go into much more detail, but for today I encourage you to chew on this notion of risk and being willing to fail – it just might lead to something amazing in your ministry.
Let me know: When was the last time your church took a risk?
The following post is from Herbert Cooper’s blog. Herbert Cooper is Senior Pastor of People’s Church in Oklahoma City. I thought it was worth reposting. I’m working with the staffing company he mentions (HelpStaff.me) as a consultant and strategic partner. Take a look at his tips and add your own in the comment section.
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Over the past year, I have learned so much about hiring the right people. Here are some things that I have learned.
1. Take your time. Seriously, be patient. Don’t settle! It really is best to leave the position unfilled than to fill it with the wrong person.
2. Look inside your church for the person. After you’ve looked hard, look again because the right person could be sitting in your church every Sunday.
3. Ask the sharpest and most qualified people in your church to join your team. If they say no, ask them again and again. We do! 
4. Bring on a firm that can help you find the right person for your team. I have used Helpstaff.me, and they have been awesome to work with. Justin and his team have helped us fill two positions. Justin has become a good friend of mine. Let him know that I told you to contact him and he may show you some extra love.
5. The best predictor of future performance is past performance.
6. If there is a sign of a lack of integrity, steer clear. You can’t teach integrity. Trust me, I’ve tried before and it didn’t work.
7. Figure out if you need a starter or a maintainer to fill the position. Most, maybe all, of the leadership positions at PC require starters.
8. Figure out if you need a leader or a manager to fill the position. PC thrives with leaders, not managers.
9. Test people. We give lots of tests to people to figure out as much about them as we can. This has been very helpful to us.
10. Have multiple people interview a person.
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If your church is searching for a new staff member, contact me and let us help! If you’re a church leader looking for a new position, same thing – contact me and I’ll take care of you. I’m here to serve the Church.
I promise (I think) this is the last one. I do have a blog prepared on a totally different subject tomorrow (leadership). The last 2 posts (Lifehouse and this one) have come from your comments. I thought your suggestions were too good to go unnoticed.
In today’s video/song, one of my favorite bands, Death Cab for Cutie, ends their live concert with Transatlanticism. Thanks to Michael for reminding me of this piece of musical genius. Notice that the electric guitar plays his first soft strum at 1:50 in. The drummer sits with his arms in his lap for the first 3 minutes! At 3 and 1/2 minutes in he starts to lighting play his cymbal and kick.
At about 4 and 1/2 minutes in, the lead singer (Benjamin Gibbard) switches from keys to guitar. At about 5 minutes in you get to experience a band truly letting a song breathe – it’s wonderful. If you’ll notice: from about 4 minutes to 6 minutes there are no vocals – just instruments building (this is what I was referring to in my post about Owl City and the future of worship music – Selah moments).
At about 7 minutes in the drummer builds to where he’s beating the fool out of the drums and then right at 7:36 he drops out – again reinforcing what I said here about players knowing when to drop out. Watch and enjoy!
My hope is that worship leaders will drink this (and the last 4 posts) in. Wrap your brain and heart around the philosophy of letting music build, breathe and taking dynamics seriously. Send my blog links to your band members. Ask them to watch the videos, take notes and use it for a launching pad of discussion that you can have at your next rehearsal.
If you’re a band member in a local church band, show this to your worship leader and other band members. If you’re a pastor or church leader, pass this on to your worship pastor. Let’s raise the bar in our worship leadership and strive for a creativity and beauty that is worthy of our Creator.
Today’s example of great musicianship is brought in part because of one of the comments made by Trae earlier in the week. I absolutely love this song and love using it in worship, but it had slipped my mind. Trae brought it back to my attention.
This will close this week out. This is Lifehouse singing/playing “Everything” live in Amsterdam. Please notice how long the song takes to build. The band doesn’t come in strong until 4 minutes in!
As Trae said, one of my friends and favorite worship leaders, Michael Bleecker of the The Village Church (where Matt Chandler is Lead Pastor) does this song the best of anyone I’ve heard lead it. I used to play this song with a band I was in every Tuesday night that led worship for 20 somethings/singles and college age. I would often request that we play this or just start playing the intro and let the band jump in with me. Enjoy!
Not sure how this translates to worship? Watch this video of a drama performed to Lifehouse’s “Everything”. I’ve blogged about this before. I can not watch this without crying every time – it’s amazing.
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