To ensure pastors understand the changing shape and scope of church giving in local church ministry. Most pastors are so close to the situation that it's difficult for them to pause, recognize the changes, and mark the shift in the assumptions and behavior of the person in the pew. My hope is that by highlighting these realities and providing a plan of action, we can ensure the money God intended to fund the work of the church doesn't end up funding someone else's budget.

1. Church Giving:
The rules have changed

2. People no longer give to the
church simply because it is
the church. The church must
prove it is worthy of
donations through the mark it
leaves on the world.
-- George Barna

3. Americans spent nearly twice as
much on first-day sales of the
video game “Grand Theft Auto
IV” as the SBC and the IMB
would need to share the Gospel
with all the world’s unreached
people groups by 2010.
-- Empty Tomb

4. Charitable donations as
measured by per capita giving
of disposable income has
remained the same since
1967 – 2.5%.
-- Giving USA

5. Billionaires are the least likely to
donate money to the church.
-- Empty Tomb

6. More than $500 million was
raised for Haiti in three weeks.
The number continues to rise.
-- The Chronicle of Philanthropy

7. At least one out of five
American Christians – 20
percent of all U.S. Christians
– gives literally nothing to
church, para-church, or
nonreligious charities.
-- Passing the Plate

8. What’s our next move?

9. The Church can’t fail.

10. There is no “Plan B.”

11. Our next move is
to understand…

12. The habits of giving begin
with the worldview of the
giver.

13. Two shifts have taken
place within American
Christianity.

14. Critical Shift #1
The tithe is no longer solely
reserved for the church.

15. In 1995, there were 600,000
nonprofit organizations and 370,000
churches. In 2005, there were over
1.8 million nonprofit organizations
and 370,000 churches.
-- Not Your Parents’ Offering Plate

16. The Church is a nonprofit
organization that exists
through the donations of
its membership.

17. Critical Shift #2
Christians want their tithe
to count.

18. Before change can take
place, we need to agree on
a few principles.

19. Churches have an advantage
over every other nonprofit:
weekly interaction with
membership.

20. Churches are the WORST at
capturing the dollar and fail
to consistently provide a
“call to action.”

21. If churches continue to be
silent, the giving levels
needed to operate this
complex organization
will not exist.

22. Giving is an outward sign of an
inward commitment.
Measuring giving is one way
to measure the health of your
church and your membership.

23. Church giving is connected to
your ministry plan. People
want to support a cause or
organization that
accomplishes something they
can’t do on their own.

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

25. What’s your plan of action?

26. Establish a systematic strategy.

27. Start talking about it.

28. Set expectations.

29. Make the ask.

30. Measure and report the results.

31. “Accelerating Generosity”
Ben Stroup
E-mail: ben@generis.com
Blog: churchgivingmatters.com
Twitter: @ben_stroup