I came across an interesting article about the TOP 10 New Year's Resolutions to Make Giving Go UP in a Down Economy. As I read the list, I was encouraged that 9 of the 10 suggestions from generosity guru Brian Kluth are already present in Fairhaven's approach to stewardship and generosity. Here's the list:
- Emphasize generosity not because of what the budget says but because of what the Bible says.
✓ We talk about vision for the work of the Kingdom, not the need of the budget... - Share a generosity Scripture verse when receiving the offering.
✓ No, but we do consistently connect the offering to generosity and our faithful response to God's kindness and His vision for Fairhaven... - Give people a Bible devotional to help them in their finances and generosity
✓ We've used the Kluth 40-day devotional and others... - Preach a sermon series on finances and generosity
✓ Wow, we hit this one with a hammer: we had a 6-week all-church series on money called "Financial U." Take a look... - Help create more ways for people be more faithful in their giving
✓ We offer envelopes, online and EFT options, automated check processing, stock brokerage accounts, gifts-in-kind, and estate gifts. - Teach our children Sunday school lessons about being generous
✓ The financial U series included both children's and student's curriculum, so it was an all-church experience... - Provide online video seminars and resources to our church members on generosity
Missed on this one: we had it, but I just found out it's gone in the quest for a website, not an online encyclopedia... - Offer financial classes and seminars in our church or tell people where they can attend them in our community
✓ Not to be redundant, but we offered a wide array of seminars during the month of February... - Empower people to include God in their asset and estate giving
✓ We provide this information and inspiration both to the congregation and specifically to our senior adults... - See generosity as a vital issue of spiritual transformation more than financial transactions
✓ If you relate stewardship to transformation and discipleship, you won't be afraid to preach, teach and talk about it...
Not to imply that these 10 things will automatically help your giving increase, but they will certainly create an environment where generosity can grow. Tomorrow I'll add a few of my own list...
