I’m a young pastor serving my first church. We’re slipping financially. How can I encourage our members—nearly all of them older than I am—to keep up with our budget?
Your question brings back memories from my first pastorate and my first adventure in the budgeting process. One of the budget committee members said: “Ten percent to the Baptist General Convention of Texas seems like a lot of money. Why do we need so send so much? We might be better served to cut that number in half.”
In reply, various committee members described the BGCT’s numerous mission efforts, how the convention trains ministers, and how we were blessed to live near the campus of Wayland Baptist University.
Time for a missions sermon
After the meeting, one of the Woman’s Missionary Union ladies said, “Stacy, it is time for a missions sermon to remind everyone where our cooperative money goes.” Without any hesitation, I extolled the mission and educational efforts of the BGCT the next Sunday morning. As the inquisitive committee member walked out the door, he said: “Preacher, all I did was ask a simple question. I did not need an entire sermon. ”
But the truth of the matter was the question did require an entire sermon. If one committee member is asking a question of the budget, others in the congregation are asking the same question. If we are not careful, we can allow our tithes to feel like paying taxes or think of our offering as simply one more bill we pay every month.
I would offer this advice: Positively remind your church of the ministries it provides and supports. Remind them of the local ministries and needs met by their tithes and other offerings. Extol the various ministries of the BGCT and its work across our state and around the globe. Help the people recognize the maintenance, utilities and insurance of the church property enable the worship and ministries of the church. Guide them to remember the money spent on church staff helps support the ministry of the church.
The tithes and offerings of your church support the music ministry, which opens our mind to the worship of God, for example. Your church has many helpful ministries; so, remind the church of the good their tithes and offerings are accomplishing.
Ministries, not just expenses
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I used this approach a few years ago, and it proved to be a very effective stewardship sermon. People commented: “When I look at the budget, all I see are expenses. I never think of the ministries.” Or they said, “I had no idea we do as much as we do.” Click here to hear the sermon, “Is the Offering Plate a Black Hole?”
Tell the people all of the good ministries their tithes and offering support, and remind them tithing is an act of faith in the promised care of God. Financial stewardship is not a gimmick to raise funds. It is God’s chosen method to enable the ministry of the church.
Stacy Conner, pastor
First Baptist Church
Muleshoe, Texas
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