If you want your church to be fully funded you need to let your members give at the office. I gave at the office used to be something you would tell someone who knocked at your door asking for a donation. Many charitable drives were held in offices. How could they prove otherwise? Today if you want to increase your offerings you need to give people the ability to give at their office. In fact you need to give them the option of giving 24/7/365.
Studies are consistently showing that the more options you give people the more likely they will give. I have said for years that we must make giving easy. The easier it is to give the more people will give.
Wise churches provide multiply ways to give. While studies are showing a rise in online giving, the old fashioned offering plate or basket still ranks as the highest and best way to capture gifts for churches. Yet I have many clients that are near a 50/50 split. 50% comes from the traditional offering and 50% comes in some form of electronic giving.
So, how would you set up the offering where you could focus upon all the various platforms of giving available to members. Here is an offering talk that illustrates how this might be done.
I Gave at the Office
How many of you have ever heard the phrase, “I gave at the office?” A few of us. Years ago you used to hear that phrase a lot. Often major charities would work through offices encouraging employees to give while at work. So, when the same charity knocked on your door you could slough off any request by saying, “I gave at the office.” How could they prove or disprove that?
So the term came to be known as an excuse to simply get rid of someone asking a donation of you. I did read a joke that tells of a man who was lost on a camping trip. Rescuers searched the wilderness until a medical team finally spotted a solitary figure across a wide chasm. “Charlie Smith,” someone shouted at the man, “is that you?” “Yes, it is,” came the reply. “Who are you?” “We’re from the Red Cross.” “I gave at the office!” Charlie shouts back.
You might think I am crazy but I want you to be able to say, “I gave at the office,” AND it be the truth! Here at YOUR CHURCH NAME we give you multiple ways in which you can give. Many of you set up your giving to be recurring. In fact about XX% of what we bring in comes in some electronic format. You can give at the beach, in the mountains, at the ball game or wherever. You can also give at the office or place of work.
Here at YOUR CHURCH NAME we really don’t care how you give. We care THAT you give. We care because first and foremost giving is an act of obedient worship to God. It is one way we show our gratitude for all he has done for us. The other reason we care about your gift is that we depend upon generous people like you to fund all the missions and ministry we do here. Without your faithful generosity we would not be able to do what we do.
So thank you for your gift whether you give from your office, your house or right now as we pass the plates YOU are making a difference for the Kingdom!
The offering isn’t dead but it has changed. Give your members multiple ways in which to give but don’t forget the importance of continuing to teach the importance of the offering in your services. Using an offering talk like the one above is one way to put a positive focus not just on the means of giving but the importance of giving.
Spend some time today planning our your next offering!
Mark Brooks – The Stewardship Coach