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Download the 2013 Congregational Impact Study

Download and share the 2013 Congregational Impact Study from the Indiana University School of Philanthropy in partnership with the Lake Institute on Faith and Giving. You’ll find much of interest about congregational giving trends and more.

Basic Instructions for Asset Mapping

In our culture of scarcity, many folks focus on what they lack. Asset mapping starts by focusing on what you have! Here are some tips for leading a workshop to help a church determine its assets. From Pastor Dave Daubert of Day 8 Strategies.

5 Golden Rules of Church Finance

Church scandals involving mismanagement of money not only generate headlines, they also erode trust among the people needed to support our ministries. Here are some tips for building and maintaining trust. From LifeWay resources. (Photo by Mark Willylis, used by Creative Commons license)

Signs You Have a Bad Disciple-Making Strategy

How do you know you have a bad strategy for making disciples? Just look at the results. Remember, “your ministry is perfectly designed to produce the results you are currently experiencing.” This article from Pastors.com gives some good insight into how to change course. (Photo by David Joyce, used by Creative Commons license)

Changing Your Stewardship Culture

Most of our congregations function with a single team of people who are responsible for all conversations, leadership, implementation, and oversight about everything financial. This is a mistake. Here are some tips on how to do better, from the Center for Faith & Giving. (Photo by d-olwen-dee, used by Creative Commons license)  

Easy Answer for Church Survival

As American churches face the future, they increasingly realize that if something doesn’t change, they won’t survive. But what is it that must change? How they answer that question actually predicts their future, says Thom Schultz of Holysoup.com. (Photo by CarbonNYC used by creative commons license)

Should a Pastor Know Who Gives What?

Although many churches shutter to think that their pastor peeks at the offering records, there are some solid reasons why a good congregational leader should be aware of the level of giving that people make. Here are some guidelines, from the Lewis Center for Church Leadership. (Photo © Michael Nivelet – Fotolia.com)

Fostering an Attitude of Gratitude

As we grow beyond the narrow understanding of stewardship as an annual fundraising exercise – or as the late Terry Parsons used to call it, the “annual beg-a-thon” – God begins to reshape our concept of what “gift” and “giving” actually mean. From the Episcopal Church Foundation. (Photo by Tiger Girl, used by Creative Commons license.)

Introducing Stewardship with Children

Children are naturally curious and generous, so why not teach them to be good stewards of their gifts? This PDF brochure from the Presbyterian Church in Canada offers a number of ideas for how to help children understand Christian stewardship. (Photo by Richard Wagoner, used by Creative Commons license)

10 Questions First-Time Visitors Are Asking

For most of us walking into the sanctuary on Sunday morning is as familiar as walking into our living room. But it’s not that way for many of our congregations’ first-time visitors. The more you can anticipate visitors questions, the better the chances that your first-time visitors won’t be your last-time visitors. From ChurchLeaders.com. (Photo […]