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T A B L E O F C O N T E N T S

Introduction

Ten Stewardship Strategies that Work

1. Craft a Theology of Stewardship for Your Church

2. Connect Your Annual Giving to a Bigger Vision and Mission

3. Develop a Ministry of Giving for Financial Leaders

4. Intentionally Invest in Your Core Leaders

5. Create “On Ramps” for New Givers

6. Share Testimonies and Stories Regularly

7. Be Transparent

8. Know Your Congregation (and Their Giving Habits)

9. Maximize the Opportunity around Planned Giving

10. Provide Ongoing Stewardship Education

Conclusion

Next Steps

About the Author

Recommended Resources

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I N T R O D U C T I O N Cultivating a culture of generosity in your church is one of the most valuable things a church leader can learn to do. However, it’s a lot like running a marathon―it takes a lot of hard work and time to develop. Many leaders give up before they ever start realizing the outcomes of their efforts.

There are no shortcuts…

I ran a marathon in 1994 and the training booklet presented a six-month process that started with, “People die running marathons.” The idea is that you can’t cut corners; it takes a minimum of six months to learn to run a marathon. Shortcuts can have tragic consequences. The idea is that incremental changes over time produce outstanding results. This principle applies to growing a culture of stewardship.

Changing a church culture requires focused intensity over a long period of time. There are no shortcuts. If you do the little things right, the big things will happen. If you’ll put into practice the ideas below, things will begin to change. Be patiently intentional.

Be encouraged… the hard work will pay off.

Paul’s words in Galatians 6:9 are a great encouragement. He said, “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” In other words, you can’t grow tired; you have to keep moving forward.

If you will be intentional about developing a strategy for these 10 areas, you will grow your giving base, encourage existing donors, and strengthen the financial foundation of your church.

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C R A F T I N G A T H E O L O G Y O F S T E W A R D S H I P F O R Y O U R C H U R C H

Everything you do in the church that relates to giving must be grounded in the biblical teaching of stewardship. Each of the subsequent steps is based on communicating and teaching whatever you believe about giving. That starts by developing a Theology of Stewardship.

Why does your church need a Theology of Stewardship? First, church members today don’t give like they did in the past. Many churches that depend on cash offerings each week are realizing that many people don’t use cash for anything. Without creating a theology of stewardship, your church will continue to struggle to cultivate generosity in a new technology-driven world.

Second, churches are not as willing to use debt as they were in the past. Church members know the struggles excessive personal debt can create. They, therefore, are less likely to support a church’s efforts to advance its ministry by leveraging debt.

Third, younger believers are giving, but they are giving to other causes. Millennials view the church as one of the organizations that makes a difference in the world, but not the only one. Without a Theology of Stewardship your church will struggle to provide the evidence people need to prioritize giving to their churches.

In Matthew 6:33, Jesus said, “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” Seeking first God’s kingdom means making most important in our lives those things God says should be most important.

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How to Create a Theology of Stewardship that Leads to a Culture of Generosity

A Theology of Stewardship does five important things:

1. Connects our faith and our finances. Some people today disconnect their relationships with God from their personal finances. The Bible, however, doesn’t support that disconnect. Jesus had a lot to say about money because He understood its power.

2. Reminds us of the relational nature of stewardship. Giving isn’t just about paying the operating expenses of the church, though those are necessary. Giving empowers life-changing ministry to people in need.

3. Influences decisions related to financial planning. A Theology of Stewardship aligns with God’s Word and the church’s vision. Those filters help guide decision-making so that financial resources are faithfully distributed and utilized.

4. Provides biblical basis for preaching and teaching. If you don’t have a Theology of Stewardship in place, you won’t have a communication plan that helps simplify what the Bible has to say. The preaching and teaching ministries of the church touch more adults than most any other ministry. They are powerful tools when it comes to helping people understand what the Bible says about money.

5. Reminds us that stewardship is transformational. There is something counterintuitive about the blessings associated with giving. Our society promotes selfishness and skepticism. A Theology of Stewardship includes a plan to tell the stories of life change among those who give and those who are the beneficiaries of the ministries giving supports.

If you want to learn more about how a Theology of Stewardship can help you cultivate generosity within your church, check out the eBook, Crafting a Theology of Stewardship. After reading it, you and your team will be prepared to effectively cultivate generosity within your church despite all of the challenges you’re facing.

TAKE ACTION: Spend some time with your leadership team discussing a Theology of Stewardship. This is the first step in putting on paper the key components that undergird your ministry.

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C O N N E C T Y O U R A N N U A L G I V I N G T O A B I G G E R V I S I O N A N D M I S S I O N

One of the greatest ways to begin building your culture of stewardship is to develop specific strategies around annual giving. Annual fund giving is the only area of funding the church focuses on every week of the year. If you want to grow your culture through annual giving, you have to focus in on people and relationships. This means teaching people in the pew the idea of giving “through” the church rather than giving “to” the church. It also means challenging your staff to set goals and objectives and equipping them with tools to grow givers.

Vision must be funded. Otherwise, it is just a list of good ideas. When your church’s vision is effectively communicated, it will invite people to differing levels of participation. Some will give for the first time; others will increase their giving.

Funding your annual campaign is critical to bringing vision to reality. With a renewed passion and effort, your annual campaign can become a catalyst for local church ministry and a launching pad toward sustainable ministry funding year after year.

When people know the vision and needs of the church, they are much more likely to invest their time, talent, and resources. Take a look at 12 Tips for Better Annual Fund Campaign Results to motivate your congregation to invest their time, talents, and resources for an even greater Kingdom impact for the coming year and beyond.

TAKE ACTION: Work together with your leadership team to craft three versions of your vision statement: a full explanation, a two-minute summary, and a 30-second elevator speech. The process of articulating the vision will make it easier to connect your annual fund to the overall impact of your church.

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D E V E L O P A M I N I S T R Y O F G I V I N GF O R F I N A N C I A L L E A D E R S

One of the steps in growing your stewardship culture is develop an intentional strategy for engaging financial leaders. It’s important to overcome your fears and realize that financial leaders still have ministry needs.

In 1 Timothy 6:17-19, Paul wrote, “Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.”

Developing a ministry to financial leaders can be a challenge. You must keep in mind that God placed those people in your church for a purpose. Like everyone else, they want to know their resources are being used for God’s glory.

Here are a few things to keep in mind about the ministry to financial leaders:

• It is often the most neglected area of ministry. Some church leaders are not sure they have what it takes to communicate with financial leaders. Though they understand how important it is, they lack the courage to take the first step.

• It is hindered by two primary fears: the fear of knowing who the financial leaders are and the fear of having a conversation with them. These two fears will paralyze your efforts to reach this important segment of your congregation.

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• People with high capacity still have ministry needs, but their needs might be different. Like with anyone else in the church, you must discover what their needs are and how you can help meet those needs.

• People with capacity desire to make a difference. They want to give in ways that make a positive impact on the world. Many financial leaders already are giving away significant amounts of money. You must help them see how they can give through the church to support kingdom initiatives.

You can learn more about cultivating a ministry to financial leaders by reading Don’t Let Excuses Stall Your Ministry of Giving and The Ministry of Giving: Fund Your Vision by Developing Financial Leaders.

TAKE ACTION: Work with your leadership team to develop a list of potential financial leaders and make appointments to meet with each person individually. Let the first meeting be more relational, but be prepared to share the vision using the vision statements you previously created.

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I N T E N T I O N A L L Y I N V E S T I NY O U R C O R E L E A D E R S

In every church, there is a group often identified through the “Pareto Principle” that says 20 percent of the people do 80 percent of the work. If you want to grow your culture of stewardship, you have to have a specific strategy for those people. You know who those people are because they are involved in multiple leadership roles within the church. Their activity says they are committed to the mission of the church.

Core leaders might lack the financial capacity of financial leaders. However, their most valuable resources are their time and influence. You must have a plan to express appreciation to them for their dedication to the church and highlight the value of their ministries. Gather them together and share with them your vision while inviting them to join you on the journey toward the future.

Proverbs 15:22 says, “Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.” Core leaders should be viewed as critical advisers and a valuable commodity.

TAKE ACTION: Within the next three months, plan a “Thank You Banquet” for the purpose of expressing appreciation to the key leaders within your congregation. Work with ministry leaders to identify those who should be extended an invitation to attend.

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C R E A T E “ O N R A M P S ” F O R N E W G I V E R S

If you want to develop a culture of stewardship, you’ve got to be strategic in how you engage new members or givers. It’s not enough to ask people to give; new givers must be mentored through the process.

Here are a few ideas that will help you invite new givers to invest in your ministry:

• Help people know the vision, values, and ministry opportunities within your church. People typically give to perceived need. When they know what your church is all about, they will be more willing to become a part of the financial base.

• Help new members see how their giving is connected to ministry and how money connects to people. Share stories in your new member classes of lives that were affected through your church.

• Share with them all on-ramps for giving. Don’t assume people know you have online giving or remote kiosks available.

• Be sure to send a “thank-you” note to ALL first time givers! This might be the most important step in the process. The more grateful you are toward givers, the more invested they will be in the overall ministry of your church.

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Offering Multiple Giving Methods is Essential for Creating New On-Ramps

How many of the following giving methods does your church offer? Here are five methods every church should offer:

• Offering Envelopes. Some churches have given up on this traditional method of giving. However, for some people, physically placing an offering in a plate or bucket each week is a part of the worship experience.

• Electronic Funds Transfers. There are people within your church who want to give on a regular basis. Giving them the ability to have their tithes and offerings transferred electronically will give them that option and can also help your church project and forecast its budget.

• Online Giving. People want to give when they are paying their bills and want to do so in the same way they pay their bills. More and more people are using online bill payment, so why not allow them to give online as well?

• Giving Kiosks. Giving kiosks are here to stay, and their use will continue to grow in the digital age and our increasingly cashless society. As technology has advanced, giving kiosks are more simple and affordable than ever, allowing churches of just about any size to find an option that is right for them.

• Mobile Giving. Today, one in seven people on the earth have a smartphone. By offering mobile giving through a mobile-friendly website or custom-built app, your church has an unprecedented opportunity to unleash generosity through technology and make what people want to do, easier and more compelling.

It’s easy to assume that everyone knows how things work in your church. After all, that’s all you think about. However, churches do things differently and people who are new to your church feel awkward asking questions. Don’t wait for the questions. Pretend you’ve never been to your church before and start answering every question newcomers might have. You’ll be surprised at what you aren’t communicating clearly.

TAKE ACTION: Identify the message you want to share with new people about how they can get involved in the giving ministry of your church.

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S H A R E T E S T I M O N I E S A N D S T O R I E S R E G U L A R L Y

Layering testimonies and stories into your offertory messages is another valuable tool. Highlight opportunities to give, share testimonies or stories of life change, and connect the dots by explaining how life changed happened through specific ministries. Point out that the ministries are possible because people give.

Some people are reluctant to give. In fact, there are certain things every church member wants to hear before they will give to your church.

Four Principles to Cultivate Generosity Through Testimonies and Stories

The Psalmist said, “...things we have heard and known, things our ancestors have told us. We will not hide them from their descendants; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, His power, and the wonders He has done” (Psalm 79:3-4). How can you do that?

Here are some things you can do immediately:

• Connect money to ministry. Help people understand how their money energizes ministry.

• Connect giving to transformation and life change. Show people how lives are being affected through the ministries of the church.

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• Say “thank you” when not attached to an “ask.” Some people only hear “thank you” when someone is about to ask them to do something else. Find ways to say “thanks” without asking people for more.

• Never forget that resources follow relationships. People invest in things they believe in and trust. No matter how large your church is, you must be in the business of building relationships and encouraging people.

You might not see the connection between these actions and developing a culture of generosity. But, if you’ll do them, you’ll see the results.

TAKE ACTION: Work with your leadership team to identify three to five stories of life change that you can incorporate into your worship experiences.

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B E T R A N S P A R E N T If you want to develop a culture of stewardship, you need to have a high level of accountability and transparency. This goes beyond being above reproach. It also means showing church members you are being wise with their investment and there is alignment between ministry and vision. Make sure there are checks and balances in place to protect the integrity of the ministry and its handling of money.

Four Things Church Givers Want From Church Leaders

People will give if they feel they can trust church leaders to manage money according to the stated vision. They will stop giving if they ever suspect that money is being misappropriated or not used the way leaders said it would be used. Here are four things people want to see:

• Return on investment (ROI). Is the money people invest doing what you said it would do?• Vision and ministry alignment. Is the money being allocated along the lines of your

vision and mission statements?• Constant evaluation. Is someone monitoring expenditures and making future

recommendations based on previous outcomes?• Transparency and integrity. Do people know what’s happening with the money they

give to the church?

Now, more than ever, church leaders can’t afford to let down their guards. A failure to communicate about finances is often interpreted as an attempt to cover up something. Don’t let that happen in your church.

TAKE ACTION: Use the four points above to grade your financial transparency and accountability. Take whatever steps are needed to correct any weaknesses or deficiencies.

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K N O W Y O U R C O N G R E G A T I O N ( A N D T H E I R G I V I N G H A B I T S )

You can’t manage what you don’t measure. If you want to develop a culture of stewardship, you must identify what to measure and analyze the data to better lead people in growing in generosity. Numbers can be incredible indicators of growing in generosity or a pressing ministry need. This is one time when you can’t really afford to trust your intuition. “It seems to me” isn’t a good way to evaluate your church’s giving habits.

Four Keys to Cultivate Generosity by Knowing Your Donors If you want to effectively create a culture of generosity by knowing your congregation and their giving habits, here are four things you must do with regularity:

• Analyze giving data and trends. This should be easy to do with most any church financial software package.

• Know your first-time givers. Ask your finance team to provide a list of people giving each week who have never given before. Send them a personal note thanking them for investing in the ministries of your church.

• Look for movement up and down in giving. Trends in finances can indicate trends in other areas of ministry. Watch what is happening week to week and compare the same week year to year.

• Provide multiple giving options. As previously mentioned, people need options for giving. Make sure you have options available and continually promote the options.

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You can learn a lot about your congregation by paying attention to the things you can track and measure. Attendance and giving are two of the most easily tracked and measured statistics. In John 10:14 Jesus said, “I know My sheep and my sheep know Me.” Though you aren’t Jesus, you certainly have a responsibility for knowing the people He entrusts to you so you can better help them know Him.

TAKE ACTION: Take a look at the giving and attendance data from the past six months. What conclusions can you draw from the data? How do your conclusions compare to your anecdotal observations?

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M A X I M I Z E T H E O P P O R T U N I T Y A R O U N D P L A N N E D G I V I N G

One of the most significant opportunities for a church to raise funds and create a culture of giving is to maximize the opportunity for planned giving. If you don’t have a strategy in place, your church might miss a huge opportunity to make the church one of the beneficiaries.

But why is planned giving such a valuable opportunity for creating a culture of generosity? Here are a few important statistics every church leader should know:

• Ninety-one percent of Americans’ wealth is in the assets they have to pass along to others.• Over the next five years, 11,000 baby boomers will sell $4.6 trillion in family-owned

businesses.• Over the next 15years, nearly $41 trillion in wealth will be transferred to the next

generation.• All these statistics present a great opportunity for the church to find additional funds

and resources.

Planned giving should be part of your strategy just as much as all the other elements. If you don’t have a mechanism in place, you might miss the opportunity to help people see the church as a viable way to support the church without sacrificing personal benefits.

TAKE ACTION: What are three things you can do to be more intentional about tapping into the availability of funds being passed from generation to generation? How can you help people make wise decisions about the money they will inherit?

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P R O V I D E O N G O I N G S T E W A R D S H I P E D U C A T I O N

The person on the platform must lead and teach church members in the biblical principles of stewardship. What gets preached gets valued. If they don’t hear it from the teaching pastor, it diminishes its importance and priority. This is done in two ways: from the platform and in small groups. If money is spiritual before it’s financial, it’s the responsibility of the church to teach stewardship and generosity to our members.

• Platform presence. The person in the pulpit must be the primary communicator of stewardship education.

• Small group presence. This is where adults learn how to apply God’s Word to their lives. Without the Bible study piece, the message will lose some of its impact.

• It is the responsibility of the church to teach responsible money management strategies. You must encourage people to live with margin, get out of debt, and to honor God with their resources. You must lead by example!

Calling people to a lifestyle of biblical stewardship through their time, talents, treasures, temples, and testimonies is an important part of discipleship. It will also allow you to define why funding local church ministry is essential to building the Kingdom. If you want to learn more about how to provide ongoing stewardship education for your church members, you won’t want to miss our resource, 46 Things Every Pastor Should Know About Church Giving.

TAKE ACTION: Schedule a sermon series and small group study on church finances and stewardship. Carefully consider how to approach the subject in ways that will invite people to join a movement rather than funding an organization.

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C O N C L U S I O N

Leading church members to live generously and encouraging them to give sacrificially is not an easy task. It takes time, energy, and effort. But more importantly, it takes vision and relationships.

Experience tells us that people invest their resources in things they believe in. When you connect your vision to the things your church members care about, their resources will naturally follow. you haven’t been able to change the stewardship culture in your church, it’s probably because the vision you’re casting isn’t as compelling to your members as the current reality.

It’s equally important to realize that resources follow relationships.

Giving is not as much of a financial transaction as it is a relational transaction. The act of giving is an emotional response―not a pragmatic one. If someone doesn’t feel valued or connected, they won’t be willing to give. Giving is first about making a human connection.

Whether you’re encouraging a new church member to consider giving or asking a financial leader to make a significant gift, it’s important to connect the resources people give to the tangible impact it will make in the life of someone else.

Are you ready to create a culture of generosity in your church? Take the first step today.

While these ideas are by no means an exhaustive list, if your church will have an intentional strategy in these 10 areas, it will grow your donors and create a culture of generosity.

It will take time. It will be difficult. But whenever you’re tempted to give up, remember Galatians 6:9...

“And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.” (ESV)

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N E X T S T E P S :

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2. Subscribe to our blog on rsistewardship.com.

3. Sign up for our e-newsletter.

4. Call us at 1.800.527.6824.

5. Contact us to discuss your church’s needs.

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A B O U T T H E A U T H O R :

Joel Mikell is president of RSI. With more than 25 years of local church ministry experience, he brings a passion for helping churches cast their vision to reach people for Christ, as only a pastor can. He has helped church leaders raise more than $500 million for Kingdom projects and has had the privilege of working with some of the most well-known churches and church leaders across the country. Joel can be reached at joel.mikell@rsistewardship.com, Twitter (@joelmikell), or Facebook.

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R E C O M M E N D E D R E S O U R C E S :

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R E C O M M E N D E D R E S O U R C E S :

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