If you are already behind budget you might be in trouble. If your churches piggy bank is running on empty that is the bad news. The good news is you can reverse that decline but you need to act NOW!
So, let me ask you, “Are you behind budget already?” We are only five months into the year and across America many churches are already way behind their budget. At the same time we are entering into summer when most churches have major missions and ministry initiatives happening. You can’t afford to NOT fully fund those key initiatives. I have helped scores of churches reverse giving declines. Let me lay out what you need to do RIGHT NOW!
Don’t panic! When churches panic they get desperate. They send out appeal letters or emails begging for financial support. Rather than building confidence in your donors such appeals actually do more long term harm than the short term relief they might produce. So, before you panic you need to…
First, evaluate the state of your giving by asking these…
Key questions about being behind…
- Are you more than two weeks offering behind? If you are then you possibly need to be concerned.
- Do you have strong 4th quarter history? Knowing your giving trends can keep you from panic. Often the 4th quarter’s giving makes up the rest of the year’s shortfall.
- Are you having trouble paying the bills? Budgets are estimates of where you want to be. If you are current on all your bills and have money to fuel all you do being behind budget might not matter.
- Do you have future plans that could be impacted by being behind? Being behind budget going into summer is different than being behind at years end. The reaction to being behind should be based upon what lies in the future, not some arbitrary line item on a sheet of paper.
Next, know the typical reasons why churches fall behind budget…
- Too aggressive of an increase in the budget that is not matched by growth and giving. If this is your case then it might be wise to readjust your budget.
- Inclement weather causing low attendance or cancelled services that resulted in lost dollars.
- Hopeful negligence. Hoping that next week will be better and that somehow you will catch up.
- Having no plan to increase giving and givers which exacerbates falling further behind.
Don’t ignore why you are behind. The lessons you learn might not help you reverse the decline this year but it will help you avoid making the same mistake next year.
Finally, DO SOMETHING!
- The sooner you act the better your chances are of closing the gap. Too many churches wait until they are so far behind that it is almost impossible to catch up. Then desperation sets in.
- Be positive not negative.
- Make your appeals about missions and ministry NOT making budget!
- Don’t stop evaluating and acting! You can’t keep doing what you were doing. That is what got you into this mess. Craft a positive plan of action so that you can reverse your decline NOW!
Your church does what no other church or organization does. Therefore, it deserves to be fully funded! Start today working on reversing your decline before matters get worse.
Mark Brooks – The Stewardship Coach