TIME FOR A NEW YEAR DECEMBER 2011

Last Sunday was the first Sunday of Advent for many of our liturgical churches. It was the first Sunday of the new Christian year. For a great many, however, they are not thinking about the new year, but the old year and how to finish in the black. Treasurers are cranking up numbers, pastors are writing congregational letters and some are even having announcements made in worship to encourage families to give a little extra to finish the year. I have written too many times about how I feel about these "end of the year" panics. I am not a big fan, as you know. What I am a big fan of is using a part of this season more as a beginning than an end. This is the time you should have your stewardship plan for the new year laid out and in place. If not, then spend a bit of time looking forward versus backward and maybe this time next year you will not have to write letters or make announcements.

 
The plan you lay out should be comprehensive. It should take in the entire year and focus on how you can create a higher spirit of generosity among your congregation by working with them from multiple fronts. The following questions need to be answered in your plan:

1. On what Sundays will sermons be delivered specifically on how to overcome the love of material things? I recommend four a year. Date these Sundays now.

2. When will we begin having lay testimonies on Sunday morning on how Christ has worked in that person's life? I recommend every Sunday, but at least 26 times a year for three minutes each.
Is this a year to seek capital gifts to advance our vision? If you have not sought capital gifts in at least six years and have real needs in facility or debt that accumulated assets could address then get this set right now. Your campaign would not be until fall, but a decision needs to be made in January.

3. What sort of study will you do during Lent to help your people grow in discipleship and have an understanding of sacrifice? I recommend Enough or Money Matters or Fields of Gold. All are easy studies and can be adapted for worship and classes.
What is the plan to market for planned gifts (estate gifts)? Every church should be marketing for these gifts four times a year with letters, a program, and educational material.
4. What are the dates for our annual fund campaign and what plan shall we follow? Depending upon what may be happening capital-wise, I like October or early November.
What is the pastor's plan to visit persons individually to thank generous persons for their gifts, cultivate new persons to generosity, or seek a planned gift? I recommend that at least two visits a month be dedicated to one of these purposes. The power of relationship cannot be overemphasized. It is possible to include more than one family in the thank you meeting(s).
 

By: Phil Schroeder On 12/10/2011