STEPS IMPORTANT TO YOUR COMMITMENT CAMPAIGN #4

          I’m continuing the blog series I started three weeks ago based on the “Ten Commandments for Commitment Campaigns” found on the United Methodist Stewardship Foundation of Michigan website. We’ve talked about not waiting until Labor Day to start; being clear about what the outcome of the campaign should be; recruiting people to assist with the campaign; making the campaign about commitment rather than budget, being as personal as possible; focusing on the campaign only; establishing God’s abundance as focus of campaign and encouraging proportional giving.

          There are two “commandments” left.

          The ninth recommendation is to follow up assertively. The word used by the Michigan foundation is to follow up aggressively. I don’t know, but that seems like a negative work. I get the point, following up is vital. If you don’t follow up, you lose the change to thank the givers and follow up with others that haven’t yet given. But aggressively sounds a little like banging on a door and yelling for admission. Assertively is still strong, but not as negative (to me). See, the thing is, no matter how good your campaign, no matter how many ways you make contact, some people will be missed. Some people will need a little encouragement. Follow up quickly.

          The tenth recommendation is praying for guidance, before, throughout and even after the campaign. It’s not about us, it’s about what God is calling us to be and to do. Stop what you’re doing and pray for God’s guidance in what you’re doing. While it’s important to plan and have good leadership in a commitment campaign, it’s even more important to realize that God needs to direct your efforts and how your folks will respond.

          If your campaign is to fund the ministries that God is calling your church to do in the upcoming year, involving God in that campaign only makes sense!

          That is ten commandments. But I want to make an eleventh:

          Thank people. Thank them for their attention, their prayers, their gifts, their leadership. No matter how well-run our campaigns are, this is the step most of us don’t do well. We’ve planned, we’ve asked, we’ve reaped the benefits. Now we’re able to do budgeting work and “get to work”, but we don’t thank the people whose gifts are making it possible for the ministries of God to be done through your church.

          Be thankful! Thank people! In person, in writing, every way you can.