Churches that have relied on the builder generation to finance their ministry, face a financial crisis in the near future, if it hasn't arrived already. Because the silver-haired saints who learned good stewardship and practiced it for decades are now a diminishing source of funds for churches.
Those who follow the "greatest generation" have different stewardship habits. Statistics show that the succeeding generations tend to be less faithful to tithing, more prone to give their "fair share," and more responsive to special appeals. Biblical stewardship is less likely to be understood or practiced by these generations.
At the same time the cost of ministry has increased even faster than the rate of inflation. Providing the witness and ministry of Jesus has become very expensive. There are good reasons for this, but it still remains a fact of church life.
And one more issue - the younger the church member, the more they dislike appeals for money. Again, we can study the reasons prompting this, but it does not change the reality that expanding the giving base in our churches is very challenging.
Enough of the "doom and gloom" message! These trends and practices can be changed! Here are three effective keys that have been gladly received among churches to encourage giving:
1. Project stewardship as a Christian or spiritual discipline for growing Christians. To this end engage the total church body in daily and weekly reading/learning habits of Scripture study and personal prayer. Giving is best learned in the context of sharing and studying with others.
2. Understand that stewardship is practiced best in the context of warm, open Christian fellowship. This is implemented through small group discussion and prayer for several weeks.
3. Invite growing believers to "try God," that is to begin the practice of stewardship for a brief time. We have found that people respond well to a six-week period where they are challenged to give above and beyond their present level. By offering a weekly gift that is both sacrificial and in faith, church members can deepen spiritually. This brief time enables the believer to see what God can do through them. It may encourage them to continue giving, through tithes and offerings, because they know it is possible.
When people understand that giving is a great spiritual experience of growth they are drawn to it. They understand that real growth comes from sacrifice. When congregations learn about stewardship and practice it in their weekly habits, churches grow in the grace of giving.
Dan Hall is the President of Oncourse Solutions, a business consulting firm based in the New Albany, Ind. He has served in full-time ministry for 20 years in Dallas, Jackson, Miss., and now in the Louisville, Ky. area. Dan conceived the Church Health Series after developing a mentoring relationship with Bob Russell and a partnership with Church Central Associates.
