Would you like to know how recurring online giving can help you avoid the summer slump in giving? A few years ago I began to write about the importance of having online giving for a church. At the time, 2011, LifeWay Research had just published a report that showed that only 14% of American churches had online giving. I have long contended that in order to increase giving at our churches we must make giving easy. There is virtually no easier way to give than through online giving.
Here is a real life story of a pastor reading my blog, taking my advice and raising significant funds!
Jerris Duncan is the lead pastor at Grace Community Church of Champaign, IL. Grace is an affiliate of LifeChurch.tv. While small, about 150 members, this church is making a significant impact in the Champaign area. As you might imagine with a small membership and a budget of $250K a year making ends meet is difficult. That is especially true when it came to the summer months. Don’t take my word for it listen to what Pastor Jerris said…
“Often during the summer we as a staff would gather on Monday mornings to get the report of how much came in the offering the day before. It would sometimes be about half of what we typically brought in. We would have to decide which bills we could pay and which had to be put off.”
Does that sound familiar? How many times have you had to delay paying a bill or doing ministry simply because the funds were not there?
Everything changed for Grace Church when they implemented online giving! Then one day Pastor Jerris read a blog of mine where I talked about the need for online giving. His church initiated online giving. What happened was truly amazing. Members signed up for recurring giving through their online partner.
So how did this help summer giving? In the summer when they went on vacation or to the lake for the weekend their offering still showed up. Instead of spending God’s money on vacation Grace church members had their gift automatically withdrawn from their bank accounts. This eliminated the temptation to spend tithe or giving money on their vacation. It eliminated forgetting to send the check in ahead of time and then forgetting to make up the missed offering. It is just that simple!
“Online giving took the worry out of Monday mornings in the summer for our church,” said Pastor Duncan. What happened was their giving became steady and consistent. For the first summer since they were founded they had a good handle on what would come in weekly as a result of recurring giving. Suddenly bills were paid on time and ministry could move forward! It was and continues to be for Grace Church a game changer.
Let Jerris Duncan’s story be your story! I have helped large churches and churches the size of Grace Church raise more money using online giving. I can help you. Whether you already have an online partner or you need one I have the tools that will help you increase your giving.
Check out my manuals that will help you increase online giving and thus increase summer giving! Giving Manuals
Let me help you be fully funded this summer utilizing all my plans and manuals!
Mark Brooks – The Stewardship Coach