Developing a Developing a Strong Stewardship Strong Stewardship

SystemSystem

Goal:Goal:

To develop and To develop and cultivate first-time cultivate first-time giver into lifetime giver into lifetime

stewards and stewards and generousgenerous donor.donor.

““For where your treasure For where your treasure is, there your heart will be is, there your heart will be

also.”also.”Luke 12:34Luke 12:34

Myth: Myth: The unchurched don’t want to The unchurched don’t want to

hear about money. hear about money.

TruthTruth::

Unchurched people are not Unchurched people are not afraid to talk about money. afraid to talk about money. Only Christians will have a Only Christians will have a problem with money issues.problem with money issues.

Focus for this seminar:Focus for this seminar:MONEY!MONEY!

If you think nobody cares if you're alive, try missing a If you think nobody cares if you're alive, try missing a couple of car payments... couple of car payments... AnonymousAnonymous

Every day I get up and look through the Forbes list of the Every day I get up and look through the Forbes list of the richest people in America. If I'm not there, I go to work...richest people in America. If I'm not there, I go to work... Robert OrbenRobert Orben

Money can't buy friends, but you can get a better class of Money can't buy friends, but you can get a better class of enemy...enemy... Spike Mulligan Spike Mulligan

Money can't buy you happiness but it does bring you a Money can't buy you happiness but it does bring you a more pleasant form of misery...more pleasant form of misery... Spike Mulligan Spike Mulligan

I made my money the old fashioned way. I was very nice to I made my money the old fashioned way. I was very nice to a wealthy relative right before he died.a wealthy relative right before he died... Forbes.. Forbes

Focus of this SeminarFocus of this Seminar1.1. Regular church giving.Regular church giving.

- Not about Building campaignNot about Building campaign

- Not about Fund raising campaignNot about Fund raising campaign

2.2. Stewardship as discipleship.Stewardship as discipleship.- This is a full-on discipleship issueThis is a full-on discipleship issue

- Never seen a disciple who isn’t a giver”... Randy AlcornNever seen a disciple who isn’t a giver”... Randy Alcorn

3.3. Being a fully resourced church.Being a fully resourced church.- Ministry is expensive!Ministry is expensive!

- How do we set appropriate budget? How do we set appropriate budget?

- Every dollar you need to do ministry is in the pockets of Every dollar you need to do ministry is in the pockets of your people.your people.

- Satan wants to keep money issues in the dark.Satan wants to keep money issues in the dark.

We can talk about everything We can talk about everything in the church but money!in the church but money!

• Major assumptionMajor assumption– It is impossible to become a fully developed It is impossible to become a fully developed

follower of Jesus unless you become a fully follower of Jesus unless you become a fully developed steward of personal resources.developed steward of personal resources.

• Minor AssumptionsMinor Assumptions– Our members are poorly trained on issues of Our members are poorly trained on issues of

financial stewardship. Most don’t get ideas from financial stewardship. Most don’t get ideas from church.church.

– There is a difference between stewardship and There is a difference between stewardship and donor development. (Not a campaign!)donor development. (Not a campaign!)

What is A Stewardship What is A Stewardship System?System?

Begins when an Begins when an identifiedidentified person gives a person gives a first-time gift and seeks to move them in a first-time gift and seeks to move them in a three-step process.three-step process.

First-time giver

Regular Giver

TitherExtravagant

Giver

Step #1Step #1 Step #2Step #2 Step #3Step #3

ClarificationClarification

• Not everyone moves at the same pace.Not everyone moves at the same pace.• Many will move through these steps Many will move through these steps

rapidly, others will not.rapidly, others will not.• People will move in and out of the People will move in and out of the

process.process.• Definitions of these steps will vary Definitions of these steps will vary

from church to church. Set your own from church to church. Set your own numbers.numbers.

5 Types of Givers5 Types of Givers

1.1.Non-givers - High percentage of Non-givers - High percentage of attendeesattendees

- Don’t give because they haven’t Don’t give because they haven’t been told Why.been told Why.

2.2. First-timeFirst-time

3.3.Regular / Systematic GiversRegular / Systematic Givers

4.4.Tither - proportionate giversTither - proportionate givers

5.5.Extravagant Givers - Goes beyond the Extravagant Givers - Goes beyond the tithe. tithe. (Every Christian should move here)(Every Christian should move here)

Step # 0Step # 0Cultivating First-time givers?Cultivating First-time givers?

First-time givers are recognized an First-time givers are recognized an identifiableidentifiable gift is given. gift is given.

– If you are not using offering If you are not using offering envelopes you will never be able to envelopes you will never be able to intentionally move people through intentionally move people through the giving process.the giving process.

– Don’t be ashamed of building Don’t be ashamed of building intentionality. intentionality.

Education is key!Education is key!

• Preach on it at least four-times a year.Preach on it at least four-times a year.– Two important times of the year.Two important times of the year.

a.a. Jan - Budgeting and debtJan - Budgeting and debt

b.b. Sept - Managing moneySept - Managing money

• Short personal testimonies about giving.Short personal testimonies about giving.– Find good givers and let them shareFind good givers and let them share

– Find those who have found peace through givingFind those who have found peace through giving

• Giving challenges at least twice a year.Giving challenges at least twice a year.– Challenge first-time giversChallenge first-time givers

– Challenge regular givers to give at another level.Challenge regular givers to give at another level.

• Provide ongoing resourcesProvide ongoing resources– getting out of debt CD’s and etc...getting out of debt CD’s and etc...

• Create a giving brochureCreate a giving brochure

Help people know that the Help people know that the church is supported by its church is supported by its

members.members.Life change happens through everyone’s Life change happens through everyone’s giving. giving.

- Baptisms, Salvations, Community Baptisms, Salvations, Community outreach.outreach.

- Giving is about life-change not stuff!Giving is about life-change not stuff!

- Celebrate the purchase of things as a Celebrate the purchase of things as a way to enhance life-change.way to enhance life-change.

Educate people on multiple Educate people on multiple options for giving.options for giving.

• Weekend Worship - Don’t “Take” offering. Weekend Worship - Don’t “Take” offering. “Give” offering. - “Give” offering. - (70% give this way)(70% give this way)

– Envelopes in bulletin every week.Envelopes in bulletin every week.

• On-line - On-line - (Paypal)(Paypal)

• Send giving envelopes home. Send giving envelopes home. – Make envelope self addressed/stamped.Make envelope self addressed/stamped.– Many will take it home and put it in their bill Many will take it home and put it in their bill

stack and pay it when they pay monthly bills.stack and pay it when they pay monthly bills.

• Automatic bank draftsAutomatic bank drafts

Why Multiple ways?Why Multiple ways?

1.1. Cultivate new giversCultivate new givers

2.2.Give options to those who Give options to those who forget to give at weekend forget to give at weekend serviceservice

3.3.Help those who are gone for Help those who are gone for extended periods of times.extended periods of times.

Check giving records Check giving records every week!every week!

• It’s your responsibility to know.It’s your responsibility to know.• It may help you find potential It may help you find potential

problems with regular attendees.problems with regular attendees.• Helps you adjust monthly Helps you adjust monthly

budgets.budgets.• Allows you to track giving with Allows you to track giving with

topics and seasons of the year.topics and seasons of the year.

First-time Follow-upFirst-time Follow-up• Follow-up with every firt-time giver.Follow-up with every firt-time giver.

– Send a thank you letter and another envelope to Send a thank you letter and another envelope to give again.give again.

• Explain what you money did. (Cast Vision!)Explain what you money did. (Cast Vision!)• By wednesday of every week.By wednesday of every week.

– Email to giversEmail to givers– Thank you packetThank you packet

• LetterLetter

• Auto-debit formAuto-debit form

• Financial teaching CD.Financial teaching CD.

• giving envelopegiving envelope

• postcard on present teaching series.postcard on present teaching series.

On-going follow-upOn-going follow-up• Quarterly giving statementsQuarterly giving statements

– Thank you letter - With VisionThank you letter - With Vision– Postcard on present seriesPostcard on present series– Financial CDFinancial CD– Auto-debit enroll form.Auto-debit enroll form.– Giving envelopeGiving envelope

• Giving encouragement letter to all those Giving encouragement letter to all those who haven’t given lately.who haven’t given lately.

Step #1Step #1Cultivating Regular GiversCultivating Regular Givers

• Educate - Give tools and understanding.Educate - Give tools and understanding.

On the first day of every week, each one of you On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income, saving it up, so that when I come no his income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made... collections will have to be made... 1 Cor 16:21 Cor 16:2

• Utilize an annual giving challenge. Utilize an annual giving challenge. (2 to 3 month challenge)(2 to 3 month challenge)

– Put a commitment card in the bulletinPut a commitment card in the bulletin

– Follow-up with those who accept the challengeFollow-up with those who accept the challenge

– Layer the challenge to help people move in the Layer the challenge to help people move in the process.process.

• Provide one stewardship small group each year.Provide one stewardship small group each year.– Good SenseGood Sense– Crown MinistryCrown Ministry– David Ramsey David Ramsey – Randy AlcornRandy Alcorn

• For every person involved involved in a giving For every person involved involved in a giving small group giving will increase by $1000 per year.small group giving will increase by $1000 per year.

• Use membership class to support the importance of Use membership class to support the importance of giving.giving.

• Use a membership covenant that includes giving. - Use a membership covenant that includes giving. - (Don’t be shy!)(Don’t be shy!)

• Regularly remind people of the importance of Regularly remind people of the importance of giving.giving.

• Monthly Newsletters about good things Monthly Newsletters about good things going on in the church.going on in the church.

• Thank everyone for being generous.Thank everyone for being generous.• Annual Budget meeting. Vision Cast.Annual Budget meeting. Vision Cast.• Look for those who are stepping up to a Look for those who are stepping up to a

higher level of giving and send out a higher level of giving and send out a personal letter to thank them for their personal letter to thank them for their generosity.generosity.

Step #2Step #2Cultivating TithersCultivating Tithers

• If you get the first-time system in place, this If you get the first-time system in place, this comes natural.comes natural.

• Educate regular givers why they need to tithe.Educate regular givers why they need to tithe.– Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my

house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that

you will not have room enough for it...you will not have room enough for it... Mal 3:1o Mal 3:1o– Tithing is an act of worship. Tithing is an act of worship. (Full tithe! Don’t teach tithing (Full tithe! Don’t teach tithing

through increments or steps.)through increments or steps.)

• Challenge attendees to test God by tithing.Challenge attendees to test God by tithing.– Consider that no one really knows what to do.Consider that no one really knows what to do.

Leadership IssuesLeadership Issues• People won’t do what your staff doesn’t do.People won’t do what your staff doesn’t do.• If staff isn’t giving, they shouldn’t be staff If staff isn’t giving, they shouldn’t be staff

members.members.• Teach your staff on tithingTeach your staff on tithing• Hold every staff member accountable.Hold every staff member accountable.• Pastors, if you can’t be a good steward of your Pastors, if you can’t be a good steward of your

own money, you can’t raise up good stewards.own money, you can’t raise up good stewards.– Become a theological expert on giving.Become a theological expert on giving.– Decide to family finances under control.Decide to family finances under control.– Decide to hold staff and family accountable to bring Decide to hold staff and family accountable to bring

whole tithe.whole tithe.– Make annual progress toward becoming E.G.Make annual progress toward becoming E.G.

Step # 3Step # 3Cultivating Extravagant GiversCultivating Extravagant Givers

• Move people to give sacrificially on a regular Move people to give sacrificially on a regular basis. basis.

• Teach that the tithe is a minimum.Teach that the tithe is a minimum.– Tithes go to the churchTithes go to the church– Offerings are above the tithe to other opportunities.Offerings are above the tithe to other opportunities.

• Do an annual special offering. Do an annual special offering. (Christmas offering)(Christmas offering)

• Do one-on-one vision casting with extravagant Do one-on-one vision casting with extravagant givers. Throw an annual dinner for top givers givers. Throw an annual dinner for top givers in church.in church.

• Don’t be afraid to cast vision with big donors.Don’t be afraid to cast vision with big donors.

Continue to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Continue to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”Savior Jesus Christ.” 2 Peter 3:8 2 Peter 3:8

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

““But just as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in But just as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us see knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us see that you also excel in this grace of giving.”that you also excel in this grace of giving.” 2 Cor 8:7 2 Cor 8:7