Stewardship

Graphic illustrating the interconnected efforts of a group of people

April 4, 2018 0

Episode 7: “Thinking Bigger About Stewardship and Crowdfunding” featuring Adam Copeland

How can crowdfunding be used for funding ministry? Lewis Center Associate Director Ann Michel speaks with Adam Copeland of the Center for Stewardship Leaders at Luther Seminary about trends in congregational stewardship and crowdfunding.

Related Resources

Beyond the Offering Plate: A Holistic Approach to Stewardship by Adam Copeland, available at Cokesbury and Amazon.
Lead, Learn, Launch: Getting Started with Digital Giving by Alex Benson
Embracing Electronic Giving by Adam Copeland

Leading Ideas

Graphic of a smiling financial statement

March 14, 2018 0

7 Ways Your Quarterly Giving Statements Can Make the Right Statement

Stewardship expert Ken Sloane outlines ideas for making sure that your church’s quarterly giving statements express gratitude and let people know the difference their giving…

Leading Ideas

Hand holding a $50 bill folded into a heart over an offering plate

February 14, 2018 0

9 Ways Leaders Can Promote Faithful Stewardship

Leadership is a critical factor in nurturing a culture of generous giving, says Ann Michel of the Lewis Center staff. She names the nine key…

Uncategorized

January 10, 2018 0

“Protect, Sustain, Grow: Best Practices for Handling Your Church’s Money” Conference and Livestream

Saturday, March 10 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Eastern (9 a.m.-12 p.m. Central) Wesley Theological Seminary, Washington, DC Managing church finances requires skill, dedication, and know-how, but…

Leading Ideas

Photo of a calendar on a computer monitor. (Source: Pixabay)

January 3, 2018 0

Toward a Year-Round Stewardship Ministry

Ann Michel of the Lewis Center staff says that forming people for faithful stewardship and extravagant generosity requires more than a single annual sermon. She…

Leading Ideas

Photo of a calculator, pen, and spiral notebook

October 18, 2017 0

What are the True Costs of Church Programs?

Are key leaders in your church covering project costs out of their own pockets? Lewis Center Director Doug Powe says owning up to the true…

Leading Ideas

Photo of a person with a microphone giving testimony in front of the church

October 4, 2017 0

A Better Way to Do Stewardship Testimonies

Nate Berneking says testimonies about giving and money are powerful when done well, but disastrous when done poorly. He outlines how an interview approach to…

Leading Ideas

September 13, 2017 0

6 Tips for Effective Preaching on Stewardship

Preaching is a critical component within a broader strategy for stewardship ministry, says church consultant Margaret Marcuson. She provides six tips for more effective preaching…

Leading Ideas

Photo of a person holding an open Bible with a seedling sprouting from the pages

July 26, 2017 0

Leadership for Giving

Lovett H. Weems, Jr., explains how the four cornerstones of effective church leadership — vision, team, culture, and integrity — are all essential when leading…

Leading Ideas

July 26, 2017 0

5 Reasons Not to Fear a Major Gift Campaign

Ann Michel of the Lewis Center staff says a capital campaign or major gift drive can be a positive experience that energizes a church and…

Leading Ideas

May 17, 2017 0

Using Your Building Assets

Rosario Picardo says unused building space can be a goldmine of opportunity if a church has eyes to see how their space could be used…

Leading Ideas

Photo of outstretched hands giving money

May 3, 2017 0

7 Key Questions for Fundraising with Spiritual Integrity

How can we raise money with spiritual integrity? Anyone who wants their work in cultivating generosity to reflect the gospel needs to wrestle with seven…

Leading Ideas

March 29, 2017 0

10 Ways to Master the Art of Asking

Learning how to be effective in asking others to support your ministry is a key to fruitful leadership, says Ann Michel of the Lewis Center…

Leading Ideas

A tree with bags of money growing on it. Grants

March 29, 2017 0

What Church Leaders Need to Know About Grants and Crowdfunding

Many churches need to think more creatively about funding their ministries in today’s environment. Church planter and consultant Rosario Picardo provides tips and resources for…

Leading Ideas

March 22, 2017 0

Doing Mission Fundraising Well

Do you wish your church could do more to support mission? Pastor Lisa Kipp gives tips for how special fundraising for mission can be done…

Leading Ideas

Note book on a table with New Year's Resolutions written on the top of it

January 4, 2017 0

Stewardship Resolutions for the New Year

Stewardship consultant Cesie Delve Scheuermann suggests planning your calendar of stewardship activities for the year. But before you do any asking, she stresses that you…

Leading Ideas

November 9, 2016 0

5 Ideas to Increase Year-End Giving

Lovett H. Weems, Jr., says that giving at year-end represents an increasing portion of total giving in many churches. Recognizing the many different circumstances that…

Leading Ideas

November 2, 2016 0

Some Old Handbells Became Our Fish and Loaves

Pastor Rosario Picardo tells how selling two old sets of silver handbells that hadn’t been used for 20 years provided a surprisingly large infusion of cash…

Leading Ideas

October 26, 2016 0

People Want to Attend a Generous Church

Tom Berlin, pastor of Floris UMC in Herndon, Virginia, says that for Christians to become generous, they need the help of a church that itself…

Leading Ideas

A fifty-dollar bill folded into an arrow

August 17, 2016 0

Reimaging Stewardship Season

Pastor Laura Heikes shares strategies for making stewardship season something people don’t dread, but to which they look forward. “It’s not impossible,” she writes. “Dream…

Leading Ideas

Give thanks to the Lord typed on old typewriter

August 17, 2016 0

Five Questions for Discerning Your Annual Giving Theme

John Zehring and Kate Jagger describe five questions that can help you define a theme that can serve as an effective framework for your annual…

Leading Ideas

July 6, 2016 0

A Better Way to Report on Giving

Stewardship experts Kristine Miller and Scott McKenzie explain why publishing weekly and year-to-date giving amounts in the Sunday bulletin with a “woe is us” message…

Leading Ideas

June 8, 2016 0

Embracing Electronic Giving

Adam Copeland of Luther Seminary says electronic giving is the preferred method of giving for most churchgoers, including your most faithful givers. Reducing the barriers…

Leading Ideas

April 20, 2016 0

Christian Wallet Principles

Every Christian knows that we are called to love God with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength. But what about our wallet? We get…

50 Ways

Photo of a collection plate filled with tithe envelopes

March 18, 2016 0

50 Ways to Improve Your Annual Stewardship Campaign

Church members who make pledges give substantially more than those who do not, and congregations that seek annual financial commitments have significantly higher levels of…

Leading Ideas

Stock photo of a pile of $1 bills that are multi-colored

January 13, 2016 0

When Higher Giving May Not Be Good News

As a new year begins, there will and should be a careful review of the past year. Perhaps there will be reports made to the…

Leading Ideas

Clip art of a blackboard with words pertaining to "GOALS" written on it

January 6, 2016 0

Setting Stewardship Goals for the New Year

Setting annual goals for your stewardship and generosity ministry is very important to help create focus and energy. These goals can come out of brainstorming…

Leading Ideas

November 18, 2015 0

Living with Open Hands

My wife, Danelle, and I have always tried to live our lives with open hearts, open hands, and an open home. We have fed hundreds…

Leading Ideas

October 21, 2015 0

Ten Ways Congregations Can Promote the Financial Wellbeing of Clergy

Financial wellbeing is essential to the overall health and well being of those in pastoral ministry. Accordingly, the United Methodist Board of Pension and Health…

Leading Ideas

October 21, 2015 0

Why Clergy Personal Finances Matter

“For where your treasure is, there your heart shall be also.” (Matthew 6:21) Jesus talked a great deal about money. And in our monetized society,…

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