WHAT DO YOU DO IF YOU WANT PEOPLE TO GIVE?

            I was reading an article the other day and I was struck by the phrase: “if you want people to give, the last thing to do is to seek their giving.”[1] Instead, Matthew 6:33: seek first the kingdom.

            When we “do” stewardship and ask for financial support, we always ask for people to prayerfully consider what they are able to give. Problem is this article goes on to say that people don’t give out of what they have but out of what they feel they have. It all hinges on the feeling of security or lack thereof.

            So, when we start our discussions of giving with the words “we need”, then that upsets folks’ internal sense of security.

            I have to admit, I’m not sure how good I am at this. I do try to discuss giving to God, instead of giving to the church, and that giving changes lives. Also, God has given us enough, but the article says we need to focus on:

• ·         God’s provision for our lives is enough
• ·         We must preach this with conviction

            When we are happy, we are happy to give. 

           When we have enough, we are happy to share. 

           When we believe in God’s provision, we know that we have a loving provider.

            Share your story of God’s provision in our life, and others will feel that in their own lives as well.

 

Please feel free to contact me at (315) 427-3668 or susanranous@unyumc.org

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[1] Giving, published by Ecumenical Stewardship Center, 2006, page 36.

 

                                        WHO ARE YOUR GIVERS?

 

            There’s talking about money, about fund-raising, about stewardship, about generosity. We talk about our folks and how we’re serving them best, our relationship with them as disciples and as stewards. Here’s another consideration. Who are they? In other words: (a) how do they give; (b) how have they given; and (c) how should they be asked?

            First-time givers – Give them information, show the impact your ministry has had. They may be new, but giving definitely implies that they think you’re doing something important. Focus on their gift and its impact!

            Inconsistent givers – Be welcoming; you may not be as welcoming as you think, both in person and virtually. A workshop I recently took talked about guests not visitors. The difference? Guests are invited and you are looking forward to being with them. Visitors are those who aren’t expecting and you may hide from. Don’t hide? Act as a good host would. Provide resources, but be welcoming to them.

            Changed givers – I am convinced that pastors of churches need to know the giving levels of their folks; not to treat them differently or roll out the red carpet for the big givers, but because the first thing affected by a life change is money. Job loss, new job, death, illness, move, children, retirement, college, etc. Any or all of those, and many others affect how much money someone has, how much is available to spend, and how much is available to give. There may be a change in their budget or there may be a change in their priorities. Maybe they have a concern about the church itself. Of course, you’re not going to send them collection letters, but you should be inquiring if everything is okay; do they need prayers or assistance, and if they increase their gift, say thank you, and ask what led them to that decision.

            Consistent givers – These are the folks that are self-motivated and most engaged. For them, generosity is an intrinsic part of their worship. Do not neglect them. Listen to them. Call them. Listen for their concerns and ideas, and offer them prayer and ministry.

            Lapsed givers – Determine what you would consider lapsed. If someone has consistently given weekly, and they haven’t given for a month, they may be lapsed. But someone that only gives once or twice a year, lapsed would mean something different. Check around and see if people have seen them; have they been at worship, at an event? Connect with them personally, not to discuss their giving, but to explore their needs.

            Top givers – Demonstrate the impact their funds have had. “Because of your gift of $10,000, we were able to ____.” Ask them about volunteering if they aren’t already. Their gift is already having a significant impact, they could personally as well.

            Did you notice that you approach each type of giver differently? It isn’t a one size fits all. Giving is important; generosity is important, but relationship is even more important. Be in relationship and be aware!

 

                 RELATIONSHIP OF STEWARDSHIP TO DISCIPLESHIP #3

 

I’ve been talking the last couple of weeks about the relationship of stewardship to discipleship, talking about the mission statements of churches, church windows and doors and reaching outside our buildings.

How often do our mission states talk about our core values? We are loving, Bible-based, welcoming, diverse, open-minded. None of that is bad, of course, but it is not our mission. They hopefully describe our church but those words don’t explain what God is calling your church to do and to be.

In working with some churches, I’ve taken the time to ask some questions, like:

What does the community think about when they think about your church?

Does the community even know you’re here?

If I were to ask you what is your church about, what would you say?

 

            Most importantly, I think, is the question, what is God calling your church to do? To be?

            So…what is your church called to be by God?

a.    Does your mission statement reflect that?

b.    Does everyone know?

c.    If everyone were asked what the mission state is, could they answer?

So, from our conversations about mission statements, I hope you’re able to take these things away with you?

1.    Your mission statement needs to have an action/an outcome. In other words, is there a so that what???

2.    People need to know what your mission is, and be part of articulating it as well.

3.    People don’t respond, either through prayer, mission or giving, if they don’t know it, don’t embrace it and don’t share it!

So, what is God calling your church to be? How is that happening? What is the outcome that God wants to see from your church?

            When your disciples are able to talk about their discipleship, then they are also stewards, and everything will work together to fulfill God’s mission for your church.

 

            RELATIONSHIP OF STEWARDSHIP TO DISCIPLESHIP #2

 

Last week, in talking about the relationship of stewardship to discipleship, I talked a little about the mission statements of churches. Even once you have a mission statement you’re happy with, you need to review it regularly to make sure it still “fits”. Things change: people, membership, community, world…when these changes happen, the mission statement may need to change too.

When I spoke about mission statements answering the question of “so that… what?”, I encourage you to consider if your mission statement takes you outside the church walls.

When I’ve talked about discipleship, I sometimes focus on our church windows. Some of us have stained glass windows, and they are gorgeous; great bits of history from the past. But…you can’t see through a stained glass window, can you? Sometimes I think discipleship is like that. We are focused so much on ourselves and our churches, that we don’t see around us.

We need to throw the windows open, the doors open! But… not just stand in the doorway and say “come on in.” We have to go outside too, once the doors are open and encounter others, see others, listen to others. In fact, others need to become us. There has to stop being an “us” and “them.” And this type of discipleship is intricately woven into the fabric of stewardship. You cannot have one without the other.

So…does your church’s mission statement take you outside? Just as you must look outside, so must your mission statement. Where is your church’s mission field?

 

                  RELATIONSHIP OF STEWARDSHIP TO DISCIPLESHIP

 

I’ve spoken about stewardship and discipleship together before. Have you? How many of you have participated in the “See All the People” resources from UMC Discipleship? This is an excellent resource, so if you have not seen that resource or used it, I encourage you to do so. One of the excellent links and resources from that program contains examples of intentional discipleship plans. They all seem to have a part that talks about “giving” or “generosity”. Too many discipleship plans don’t seem to include this in their foci.

See All the People talks about determining what your church’s mission is. I know many of us have mission statements. A good mission statement should include a statement of what, but also a form of action, a “so that…” moment.

In a recent article by Ken Sloane of Discipleship Ministries[1], he shared a quote from the book, Generosity, Stewardship and Abundance” by Ann Michel and Lovett Weems, which said:

“Principle 1: Never talk about people’s money apart from their discipleship

Principle 2: Never talk about the church’s money apart from its mission.”

Reading that quote, my first gut reaction was “obviously!” But, the more I thought about it, the more I wondered if it is obviously. Ken had this to same about what a good mission statement is. “It comes from within your church, built on things like scripture and what your church really values, as well as the context in which you do ministry.”[2]

I encourage you to consider Ken’s thoughts and look at your own church’s mission statement. Has it outlived its life? Does it come from your church, include your church’s values, and work in the context in which you’re doing ministry?

Your mission statement is the way you communicate what your church is called to do to everyone and anyone. You won’t be able to talk about money, or stewardship, or even discipleship, until that

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[1] 10 Questions to Ask about  Your Church’s Mission, by Ken Sloane (Discipleship Ministries of the United Methodist Church, May 9, 2022.

[2] Ibid.