CHANGE YOUR FOCUS!

 

          I don’t know about you, but my eyesight has changed over time. I used to be able to read anything, no matter how small, and I could read something written on a sign across the road. Now…I can still read stuff, but sometimes it’s a struggle…so I have reading glasses. Now…I can still read signs, but by the time I’m able to focus on it, the time has passed for that sign to be at all helpful. So glasses it is. I don’t wear them all the time; my eye doctor actually felt that my eyesight was good enough (even though I’m of an age) that I didn’t really need glasses. But I knew that my eyes get tired faster, and it takes me longer to focus on stuff that I used to be able to read.

·        In my case, focus is the issue. I have to really make a point to focus, and focus differently on what I’m trying to read or see.

·        We have to focus differently in our churches as well!

          How many of your finance committee meetings, or stewardship conversations start with what the church needs: more members, more tithers, more money, a new roof, a youth director. The list can go on and on, and, while all of or some of it may be true, this list and these conversations are focused on what the church needs. And that leads to asking, or begging, folks for money to be able to allow the church to… 

·        These discussions focus on what we don’t have, giving a sense of scarcity.

·        These discussions ignore the ways God has blessed us, making us blind to God’s abundance.

          We have to be careful that this focus on scarcity instead of abundance doesn’t spread throughout the entire congregation. Focus has to change from scarcity to abundance and the importance of generosity must be shared boldly. To do this, our mission may need to be clarified in a way that gets people excited about giving. We should be brave and challenge ourselves to make the Christ we profess in our words the priority in our finances.

          Our focus on stewardship must shift from a model that is Church-Centered and Budget-Driven to one that is Donor-Centered and Mission-Driven.

          Check your eyesight; what are you focusing on? Are your glasses only showing the scarcity and not the abundance? Is your stewardship Church-Centered or Donor-Centered? Is your stewardship Budget-Driven or Mission-Driven? While there isn’t an eye chart like at the eye doctor, there are ways to test your focus. Do it now!

 

 STRENGTHEN YOUR CHURCH COMMUNITY’S FINANCES

          My last blog talked about things to do to strengthen your church’s finances, which included being bold and honest. This blog will talk about strengthening your church community’s finances. This isn’t about your church’s budget, or ministry shares, or direct bills, or raising funds. This is about helping your church’s community instead.

          As churches, and as disciples of Jesus Christ, we have a responsibility to assist our members. It’s not about us; it’s about God; it’s about Jesus; and it’s about our community – whether it is the community that sits in the pews (when we are doing that again), or the community that participates virtually with us, or the community that is “outside the walls”.

          You should consider starting a  stewardship ministry, if you don’t have one; or should expand your stewardship ministry, if you have one.

          These stewardship ministries should address the areas of need that we encounter. They could include:

1.   Unemployment – Particularly during this time of COVID, and shut downs and reduced hours, and closed business, there are people looking for work, or looking for help in how to apply for unemployment, or prepare a resume, or apply for jobs. There may be groups in your community you could partner with. Perhaps someone in your community has this insight.

2.   Reducing debt – Many of us have debt, ranging from credit card debt to mortgage debt to student loan debt to… The problem becomes apparent to folks when paying only minimums on debt doesn’t decrease it, but actually increases it. When debt prevents you from being comfortable with your financial life, then this is an issue that needs to be worked on.

3.   Estate planning – We have a responsibility to make sure that our folks have wills, or trusts, powers of attorney, living wills, etc. You would be surprised how many haven’t made plans for any of this. You could host wills workshops, or provide webinars, or have attorneys or accountants share information to assist our folks in doing this work. It’s not about getting the church named in a will, but about getting folks to do what needs to be done to care for their families, themselves, and of course, their churches. It’s not the point of this work, but it should be discussed. If the church is important enough to support while you’re alive; wouldn’t it still be important after?

4.   Investing – It might be a good time to introduce folks to a biblical approach to investment.

5.   Budgeting – No matter how much or how little money someone has or earns, a budget is important. It helps everything we’ve talked about so far:

a.   Planning for times when our income changes (up or down);

b.   Making the necessary payments to reduce debt;

c.   Determining what can be left once we no longer have need for assets for ourselves;

d.   Setting aside funds for emergencies, and for long-term needs;

          We have responsibilities as a church to care for our folks. It isn’t only about prayer and meetings, or about church dinners; it’s about helping folks in their path to discipleship and in discipleship.

 

           STRENGTHEN YOUR CHURCH’S FINANCES

 

          Did that title get your attention? Maybe you’re thinking that I’m going to share in about a page and half the golden ticket that will help your church survive and thrive during and after a pandemic, and make everything “all better”? Am I right?

          Well, keep reading, and see what I’ve got to say.

          All of us need to strengthen our church’s finances. How do we do that?

·        Be bold about sharing what your church is doing to help people in the church and your community. What are you doing now? Just because our church buildings may be closed or we may have fewer people in the building, we are still the church! Maybe you’re feeding people; maybe you’re teaching people; maybe you’re counseling people; maybe you’re helping people, or maybe you’re…. Fill in the blank and then be BOLD about sharing with others what you’re doing

·        Be able to receive gifts and offerings online. Make it as easy as possible for people to give. Some people are still sending you checks that’s okay. But have some people stopped giving, or have some stopped giving regularly because they’re not in a pew and they’re not seeing those offering plates or baskets? Have a way to give on smart phones, or on your website, or a link on Facebook. There are so many ways to do this. Don’t make it hard for folks to give!

·        Be honest about how the church is doing. No one is going to be surprised if giving is down; but share how you’re managing what you do have wisely. Don’t just continue using funds the way you always have; look at your spending plans; look at your reality, and make the change or changes that you need to make to use those monies well, and then let people know how you’re doing.

 

·        Be bold (yes, I know, I already said that), but it bears repeating. Be bold. If you ask someone and they say no, then they’ve said no. But if you ask, and explain HOW you’re going to use their gifts and show WHAT you’ve already done, then they may say Yes! But…if you don’t even ask, then it’s as good as telling them that their gift isn’t important, and we’re not going to even spend the time to talk with them and ask them. Sorry that you can't just check a box or buy a book; but, together, we can make a difference in our churches and in our communities!

S