3 steps to increase giving

Statistically 20% of the congregation contributes 80% of the operational funds for the church. So with that, the other 80% of the congregation only contributes 20% to the overall budget of the church. Keep in mind, this is a statistical market generalization of churches nation wide. I have done a limited review of this information with the churches I work with and find the numbers to fluctuate between 25/75 and 10/90. So this seems to be a good estimate of the national climate. 

 

The question remains, for many pastors, “how can I increase the giving in my church?” Quite often, many pastors spend hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars on books, CDs, DVD series for Sunday school and Discipleship training to no avail. Some pastor go to the extent of having a guest speaking address the church or hold financial consulting seminars to stimulate giving in the church.

 

There are 3 easy steps to stimulate giving in a church.

 

Step 1: Address the issue outside of the pulpit

 

Don’t use the pulpit as a platform to address the financial faithfulness of a congregation. Churches have gone through this type of battering for decades and turn a deaf ear to this type of confrontation. Talk directly to the church: letters, emails or during a business meeting—any forum other than the pulpit.

 

Step 2: Be honest about the topic

 

Do not use Bible verses or address the congregation’s faithfulness to the church or God. This is a matter of financial imbalance. The issue is not about faith or love for God. Make the topic business not biblical.

 

Step 3: Challenge those who feel they cannot afford to give

 

Challenge those who do not tithe to bring one dollar for offering each week. What is the reason for one dollar? If there are 50 or more people in the church not giving any money toward offering, this will increase church income by 50 dollars a week or 200 a month—think of what the church could do with 200 dollars more a month.

 

The key to this challenge is to have those individuals ask, “Did I miss that dollar this week?” If the individual cannot pinpoint a specific occasion where that dollar would have made a difference in there life during that past week, you demonstrate that they can afford to give some portion of income to the offering every week. If those individuals are successful, increase the challenge by a dollar every week until they reach a threshold of giving. When they reach that threshold, ask them to look back over their period of giving and have them give or write a testimony to be used in a special service to praise an honor God for His faithfulness.

 

Always remember people want to give but do not always see the opportunities to follow through with those intentions. As pastor, our job is to meet people where they are and equip them in the faith. Our responsibility is to love and equip the person. The Holy Spirit will convict and convert the Heart.  

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