Church Giving: Church Giving: The rules have changedThe rules have changed

““People no longer give to People no longer give to the church simply the church simply

because it is the church. because it is the church. The church must prove it The church must prove it

is worthy of donations is worthy of donations through the mark it through the mark it

leaves on the world.”leaves on the world.”-- George Barna-- George Barna

Americans spent nearly Americans spent nearly twice as much on first-day twice as much on first-day

sales of the video game sales of the video game “Grand Theft Auto IV” as the “Grand Theft Auto IV” as the SBC and the IMB would need SBC and the IMB would need to share the Gospel with all to share the Gospel with all

the world’s unreached the world’s unreached people groups by 2010.people groups by 2010.

-- Empty Tomb-- Empty Tomb

Charitable donations as Charitable donations as measured by per capita measured by per capita

giving of disposable giving of disposable income has remained the income has remained the same since 1967 – 2.5%.same since 1967 – 2.5%.

-- Giving USA-- Giving USA

““At least one out of five At least one out of five American Christians – 20 American Christians – 20

percent of all U.S. percent of all U.S. Christians – gives literally Christians – gives literally nothingnothing to church, para- to church, para-church, or nonreligious church, or nonreligious

charities.”charities.”

-- Passing the Plate-- Passing the Plate

What does this mean?What does this mean?

The individualistic, The individualistic, independent American Spirit independent American Spirit

has influenced our has influenced our perspective on church perspective on church

giving. Churches risk losing giving. Churches risk losing the funding necessary to the funding necessary to

carry forward the work it has carry forward the work it has been given to do.been given to do.

What’s our next move?What’s our next move?

The Church can’t fail.The Church can’t fail.

There is no “Plan B.”There is no “Plan B.”

Our next move is Our next move is to understand…to understand…

the view from the pew.the view from the pew.

The habits of giving begin The habits of giving begin with the worldview of the with the worldview of the

giver.giver.

Two shifts have taken Two shifts have taken place within American place within American

Christianity.Christianity.

Critical Shift #1Critical Shift #1

The tithe is no longer The tithe is no longer solely reserved for the solely reserved for the

church.church.

In 1995, there were 600,000 In 1995, there were 600,000 nonprofit organizations and nonprofit organizations and

370,000 churches. In 2005, there 370,000 churches. In 2005, there were over 1.8 million nonprofit were over 1.8 million nonprofit

organizations and 370,000 organizations and 370,000 churches. churches.

-- Not Your Parents’ Offering Plate-- Not Your Parents’ Offering Plate

The Church is a nonprofit The Church is a nonprofit organization that exists organization that exists through the donations of through the donations of

its membership.its membership.

Critical Shift #2Critical Shift #2

Christians want their Christians want their tithe to count.tithe to count.

Before change can take Before change can take place, we need to agree place, we need to agree

on a few principles.on a few principles.

Churches have an Churches have an advantage over every advantage over every

other nonprofit: weekly other nonprofit: weekly interaction with interaction with

membership.membership.

Churches are the WORST at Churches are the WORST at capturing the dollar and capturing the dollar and

fail to consistently fail to consistently provide a “call to action.”provide a “call to action.”

If churches continue to be If churches continue to be silent, the giving levels silent, the giving levels needed to operate this needed to operate this complex organization complex organization

will not exist.will not exist.

Giving is an outward sign of Giving is an outward sign of an inward commitment. an inward commitment. Measuring giving is one Measuring giving is one

way to measure the way to measure the health of your church and health of your church and

your membership.your membership.

Church giving is connected Church giving is connected to your ministry plan. to your ministry plan.

People want to support a People want to support a cause or organization that cause or organization that accomplishes something accomplishes something

they can’t do on their own.they can’t do on their own.

The more we remain The more we remain silent with respect to the silent with respect to the subject of money in the subject of money in the church, the more likely church, the more likely someone else’s budget someone else’s budget

will be funded.will be funded.

What’s your plan of What’s your plan of action?action?

Establish a systematic Establish a systematic strategy.strategy.

Start talking about it.Start talking about it.

Set expectations.Set expectations.

Make the ask.Make the ask.

Measure and report the Measure and report the results.results.

““Funding a Sustainable Ministry”Funding a Sustainable Ministry”

Ben StroupBen Stroup

Blog: domoreministry.comBlog: domoreministry.com

Twitter: @domoreministryTwitter: @domoreministry

Facebook: Ben StroupFacebook: Ben Stroup