Reasons For Giving

Posted on October 1, 2017 by Servant | Reflections| Tags: , ,

Most Churches have an offering during the worship service. It is another way we glorify God, by giving to support the ministry of the Church. However, what do you put on the screen during the offering? In many Churches, the choir sings an offertory; other Churches have he musicians play an inspirational song. I have put up a slid with an offering plate that included checks and cash – a subtle suggestion to give. But that seems a little like strong-arming people into only giving money.

Recently in worship I saw a slideshow during the offering time. In it, there was a slide for every ministry of the Church. The idea was to celebrate all of the ways that God is putting your offering to work in the ministry of the Church. Why not let those slides also show ways people can give of their time as well as treasure? It should be inviting and winsome, not desperate calls to help some ministry before it collapses. But the slides can also show the joy of giving – in the faces of children who are having fun learning about Christ in VBS. Or how about the smiling faces of people that have been touched by the short term mission team. Or how about the joy of neighbors being helped in time of crisis.

The idea is to make the offering time more than just money to support the budget of the Church. It should present opportunities to the congregation to volunteer. It should present opportunities to serve in the various ministries of the Church. And I would suggest that the slide show should have a timeliness to it. So you would put up the slides about the Church Bazaar first in the weeks leading up to the Bazaar. That way, it becomes a way to enlist more participation by volunteers.

I have seen Churches where the offering was a time of celebration. And I have seen Churches where it was a distraction to worship – a necessary collection from the rich to keep the doors open. At it’s best, the offering should be a time to worship, to celebrate all of the good that God is doing through us, to praise God for life itself!

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Contribution Processing

Posted on July 8, 2011 by Servant | News| Tags: , ,

How does your Church process contributions? A bunch of men may do it in a back room. Or a staff person may be charged with the task on Monday morning. Either way, the process needs to be accurate and financially accountable. But how efficient is it?

One approach would be to automate the processing cycle. Checks could be entered into a system that knows your congregation, recognizing the frequent givers. Records could then be automatically posted to their accounts. Thank yous would be generated for new givers. And the deposit slip would be printed up, ready to take to the bank. This can be done, and it is more efficient. But you always need checks and balances when it comes to handling money. Good stewardship needs to be recognized and supported with financial integrity and certainty. If someone adds a memo line to a check for the youth summer event, then that money needs to go to the youth department for supporting that event. There is always a chance of making mistakes, but you need to find ways to catch those mistakes before the processing is done. What is your experience?

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