If your ministry is to survive into the future you must know how your church can be prepared for the next generation of American giving.
A recent study by the Blackbaud Institute revealed the challenges that are before non-profits including the Church. The Next Generation of American Giving The bottom line is that giving is on decline and younger generations are not as engaged in generosity as their parents and grandparents.
Faced with an aging demographic and declining interest in younger generations the Church is in danger of not being fully funded in the future. So how can you be prepared to engage the next generation of Americans so that they willing give to support the work of your church? Here are some thoughts…
We must always, “Be alert, be on watch!” I Peter 5:8 from the Good News Translation. You can’t ignore what is happening around you. You can’t ignore that societal change and demographic changes in America will not impact you. It already is and it will only continue to get worse. Now more than ever we must be like the men of Issachar, “who understood the times and knew what Israel should do.” Understanding our world is a key to reaching our world.
Stay on message. We must keep the main thing the main thing. My friend and client Pastor Shane Bishop wrote this recently to his congregation. “I believe the best hope for our region, our state, our nation and our world rests in the church being the church! And for the church to exert influence in our manic culture, we must get our eyes focused upon our savior, our mission, our present and our future!” To that I say, Amen!
Focus on making disciples not attracting a crowd. I have always been amazed at the story of the Rich Young Ruler who came to Jesus looking for answers. When he did not hear what he wanted to hear he left. Jesus let him go. I fear today we would chase him down, water down our response in order to get him to join our tribe. Let’s stop worrying about our attendance and worry more about whether or not we are making disciples.
Crowds are fickle disciples are faithful. Crowds are not what funds your future. Disciples do. Disciples understand that a part of being a disciple is being generous. Jesus didn’t say, “Go ye therefore and attract a crowd.” He commanded us to, “Go ye therefore and make disciples.” Making disciples will increase your giving more than simply attracting a crowd.
Change your methodology not your theology. We serve in perhaps one of the most change adverse organizations on the face of the earth. Yet clearly we must change our methodology if we are to stay fully funded.
Work to close off the back door while at the same time working to encourage people to walk through the front door. One of the recommendations the Blackbaud report made was that we must get serious about donor retention. Here is their statement, “With a shrinking donor population and growing uncertainty about the stability of the primary donation channels, this is the time to get serious about keeping the donors you have.”
Do your own PR. Churches get a bad rap. Who responds first to a crisis in the world? Christians. Who built the schools, hospital and other agencies of care? The Church. Churches do amazing work day in and day out. Few give us credit and frankly we don’t do what we do for accolades. We do it because the love of Christ compels us. Yet it is important that our message doesn’t get drowned out by the forces of evil bent on our demise.
I believe we must make a case for what we do and why people should give to support what we do. When we do that it is easier to get someone to start giving to your church. Getting them started is half the battle. Remember, to be fully funded you need to get a story, work your story, tell your story and people will give to support that story! Keep working on your story!
Remember, the church that survives into the future is the church that plans today for tomorrow!
Mark Brooks – The Stewardship Coach