Browsing by Rob Blezard
A Guide to Parish Stewardship
This introductory booklet elaborates the three main themes of a recent Diocesan stewardship effort: Sacrificial Giving, Prayer and Ministry of Time and Talent. It gives practical advice on how to start and follow through on a successful stewardship campaign. Geared to the Diocese’s effort, it nonetheless offers practical advice and inspiration to any congregation’s plan. (Photo © Elena Schweitzer – Fotolia.com)
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So You’re the New Stewardship Chair!
You have agreed to lead the stewardship effort this year? Congratulations! If you’re wondering what to do now, here are some GREAT ideas on how to build your committee, recruiting people with the skills needed to bring your congregation the results it needs and deserves. Good advice for a stewardship newbie and veteran alike. (Photo […]
How to Create a Culture of Generosity in Your Church
Our friends at Evangelical Covenant Church have put together this wonderful flyer that details three steps a congregation can take to help create a culture of generosity: Preach Generosity, Teach & Train Generosity, and Celebrate Generosity. It takes time and diligence, but it sure pays off in the long run. (Photo © laurent hamels – […]
The Measure of Our Wealth
Every month I receive statements detailing to the penny the balances in my checking, savings and retirement accounts. Also without fail I receive statements detailing to the penny my liabilities in credit cards and other debt. Then I use a household accounting software program to put all this information together. The result? I know exactly how much money I have month by month. We do a good job of tracking how rich we are in worldly wealth. But we are not so good when it comes to knowing how rich we are in God. (Photo © Borys Shevchuk – Fotolia)
Clergy Health: Who Cares for the Caregivers?
Clergy’s practice of putting others first can be detrimental to their own health, say researchers at Duke University. Pastors have been found to have higher-than-average rates of chronic disease and depression. But it may be difficult to get pastors to seek care because they typically default to caring for others first. (Photo by Doug McCaughan, used […]
Hope and Action: A Small-Church Growth Strategies Handbook
Across the Episcopal Church, a number of small congregations are finding strength and growth. Close examination revealed they have some common characteristics: They are ‘spiritually vital and alive,”‘ they have a “strong mission and purpose,” they are ‘moral beacons in their local communities,” and they are “willing to change to meet new challenges.” The free 100-page booklet reveals their successes and strategies — and provides extensive resources for further study. (Photo by Navdeep Raj, used by Creative Commons license. Thanks!)
Bill Hybels: The Work Habits of a Leader
Here is some important leadership advice from the founder and senior pastor of the Willow Creek Community Church. In contrast to what most people think, Hybels says the most important asset is not time, but rather the ability to energize and motivate others. Good watching, from churchleaders.com.
The Wonder Organizer
Time – the final frontier! Manage time well, and you’ve got it licked. As for me, I used to forget stuff, important stuff, on a regular basis. But I’ve discovered a low-tech wonder tool that has made my life a LOT easier. (Photo by Justin See, used by Creative Commons license. Thanks!)
Churches Spend 97% on Those Who Give It
Do you think this is about right, or is it outrageous that, by one estimate, churches spend 96 percent of their money on the folks who give it? The writer of this column found it discouraging. The problem is that we have constructed massive organizations that require huge amounts of money to sustain. (Photo © […]
Are Your Stewardship Leaders Leading?
Many churches are now firming up their plans for the fall stewardship program and who will lead it.  The leadership you engage will set the bar for your parish. For your parish to fulfill God’s vision for ministry, your leaders need to fully understand the roles they have been asked to fulfill and given clear […]
