Take the Giving365 Plan challenge

Take the Giving365 Plan challenge

One of the things that concerns me about many stewardship firms today is the whole marketing vs. ministry approach to doing business.  I started my first company, The Charis Group, because I grew tired of the sales techniques used by many firms, including the one I worked for, to get dollars from churches.  I would sit and listen to sales people tell what were obvious fabricated statements only in an attempt to get the churches contract.  Sadly in the rush to make a profit too many forget that our Christian companies exist not for us be we for them.

My call to every stewardship related company is that we never forget ministry as we market the tools we have created to help churches.

So, am I talking to any one specific group?  No, all in our industry, including me, must continually evaluate what we do and even more importantly why we do it.  When our passion becomes more about making money than ministering to churches then we do need to move on.

For the past ten years I have written critical posts about this issue.  Recently someone tweeted to me in the open, “just found your twitter account today and felt like there was a lot of attacking.  I could be misreading.”  He had read my response to someone making this comment, “I am getting out of the church market as churches are broke.  It is one of the worst markets to sell to.  You don’t want to be selling to churches if you are wanting to go to the next level.”  My other negative comment was to offer a challenge for people to try my Giving365 plan to one of the major plans out there.

So, I am being criticized for giving a challenge to churches to try our plan as opposed to another out there?  Is that negative?  It is a simply challenge.  There are several out there who have done good work and if that works for you stay with them.  My difference is this…

  • I personally engage with clients answering their telephone calls, emails, editing their letters etc.  Others simply have so many churches they cannot personalize their delivery.  They don’t even try to its set up to be as automated as possible.  If that works for you stay with it.  If however you want to try something different for $1 you can look my site over.   Go here to try Giving365 out  https://thestewardshipcoach.org/2015/06/15/giving-365-introductory-special-14-days-for-1-00/
  • We work with fewer clients so that we can work better for those we do work with.  Some of my competitors have well over 1,000 churches.  How can you get personalized help when you are one of 1,000?  Again, if that works for you stay with it.  If you need more give us a look.
  • Our systems are designed to be cost effective so any church can participate.  $1 a day as opposed to $100 a month or more?  You decide what is the better value and investment.
  • I am more concerned with content rather than the look and feel of the material.  Their website looks better than mine.  Their material probably looks slicker.  Now you know why you fee is higher.  What do you want more great workable content sent directly to you or cool graphics?
  • I believe that any church can increase their giving.  They are not broke they simply need help getting the money their attendees have in their pocket into the offering plate.  Our goal is to create such a compelling story people will gladly give to support it.
  • I don’t care whose plan you follow or if you don’t follow any of us.  Just get a plan and work your plan!  Do you have a plan?  If not get one.

So in the effort of being fair to those that think I am attacking here are links to some giving plans that might work for you.  Compare and choose.

Church Fuel – http://churchfuel.com/

Nelson Searcy’s Church Leader Insights – http://www.churchleaderinsights.com/

Brian Kluth’s Maximum Generosity – http://www.briankluth.org/3-Brian-Kluth-Books-and-Products.htm

Giving Rocket – http://therocketcompany.com/giving/

So, just compare.  If you are OK with what you have then I am OK with that.  One thing you can be assured of, my passion is to help churches increase their giving!  I will be your personal giving coach.  For all you competitors reading this, why don’t you figure out how to do the same thing?  Let’s all of us do our best to help churches increase their giving!

Mark Brooks – The Stewardship Coach

PS.  Tell me which plan you like better even if it is not mine and tell me what you like or don’t like!