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What’s Up: Most churches are begging for dollars instead of developing donors. That’s a poor church giving strategy.
So What: If your giving is stagnant, it’s probably because your people aren’t seeing transformation, hearing stories, or catching a vision worth funding.
The Point Is:
Share Real Transformation Weekly
Social proof drives generosity. Donors give when they know lives are being changed. Tell stories every Sunday that prove your church is making a difference.
Keep the Vision in Front
Donors give to the future, not the past. Cast a clear, compelling vision and tie every ask to how it will transform lives going forward.
Tell Stories That Inspire
Budgets don’t move hearts. Stories do. Celebrate weekly wins, hunt down testimonies, and use your platform to stir faith, hope, and generosity. And keep your budget out of the narrative.
Ditch the Iceberg Narrative
Nobody invests in a sinking ship. Stop leading with deficits and start leading with purpose. Paint a picture of progress, not panic.
And … ?
I once asked a university development officer what made her fundraising successful. She said, “I’d give anything for a captive audience like yours every week.” When I asked why, she laid it out: donors respond to stories, to vision, and to tangible evidence of transformation. And churches? We’ve got the best message on earth, the clearest mission, and the most powerful change-agent known to humanity. But we rarely act like it.
If you want your church to stop limping from offering to offering, stop making spreadsheets the centerpiece of your stewardship strategy. Inspire people. Give them a reason to believe their giving makes an eternal difference. Share the wins. Tell the stories. Cast a bold vision for the future. Make hope visible. When you do that, people will do more than give. They’ll invest. So leverage that captive audience effectively!
Action!
Grow your congregational giving with The Missing Piece to Spiritual Maturity: The Stewardship of Money. https://shop.effectivechurch.com/product-details/product/66a98f15c394ce60ba005743
