“We hope to increase our budget from 800K to $1 million.” That was what a person told me their pastor stated recently at a congregational meeting. Hope? The saying, “hope is not a strategy,” first came to my mind. When churches use the word hope it is far different than when the Bible talks about hope. Hope in the Bible is a firm confidence. Hope when used by a church about giving means, well, maybe, perhaps.
I have a question pastor, how do you plan to make that hope a reality? That would have been my question. I would not have raised my hand to ask that as I would not have wanted to embarrass anyone. The truth is in the illustration above the church has no plan. How would I know if I was not there?
The person who related this to me would have told me about the plan. Not mentioning a plan means none was shared. The vast majority of churches have no plan for how they will increase giving and givers. None! Do you?
I write giving plans. I have a plan for every season a church faces. I have a plan for the end of year giving to make up for any giving deficits. I have a start the year right plan. I have an Easter offering plan. I have a weather cancellation plan. I have a summer giving plan. I have a plan… You get the point. These plans work. Do yours? Oh, you don’t have one do you.
I am available for my members to interact with me whenever they have a need. Several times a month I hold a webinar and teach giving basics where afterwords members can ask any question they want. They get instant help.
I also answer every email. All of them. No other plan available does that. None. Zip. I wish they would. Personal interaction is the difference between a program and a partnership. In these trying times you need more than a program. You need a partner.
Churches across America are making budget presentations to their members hoping they will meet that budget. I can tell you right now that most will fail simply because they don’t have a plan. Do you?
Try my plan for 14 days for only $1! Try My Plan Here!
Using my plan and me as your Stewardship Coach will move you from hope to confidence about your 2017 budget. Let’s get started planning NOW!
Mark Brooks – The Stewardship Coach