Does the idea of raising money feel like an impossible hurdle? Do you find yourself wondering why some churches seem to do it so easily?
The answer isn’t because of a single sermon, a well-timed offering moment, or even a successful capital campaign.
Generosity is not an event. It’s a culture.
Generosity is not about money. It’s about the heart.
As Jesus teaches us, where your treasure is, your heart follows. Generous churches help people see giving as an act of worship, trust, and obedience, not just another obligation.
COMMUNICATION IS KEY
Many churches desire to grow in generosity but often make things more complicated than they need to be. Here at CGS, we believe in keeping it simple.
When people understand how their giving is making an impact, they’re more likely to continue to give.
So, here are four ways to communicate with your congregation:
1. Say Thank You
If it has been more than two months since you thanked your congregation for their financial generosity, you’re overdue. Whether you are over budget or under budget, it doesn’t matter. Whoever decided that we only thank God’s people when we are “meeting budget“? You can thank your people into faithfulness. Do so now!
2. Share Ministry Impact
Did you recently launch a new ministry that is experiencing early success? What about those unsung heroes serving in a long-standing ministry that just keep grinding out spiritual impact year after year? Tell one of those stories. But, when you do, be sure to connect the dots by saying something like this: “This ministry was able to be launched (or exist) because of your generosity”.
3. Celebrate A Changed Life
Let’s face it — the primary purpose of the church is to see spiritual life change (not fund buildings or budgets). Your ministry is changing lives, so celebrate that! Whether it is a testimony of personal faith in Christ, a marriage restored, or a homeless person given shelter, tell the story. Watch your people’s eyes light up as they lean in just a bit closer. Changed lives represent a believer’s spiritual “return on investment“. Show them the huge ministry dividends that are being paid.
4. Communicate The Word!
All of the above happens because of the power of God’s word. As you communicate, always draw in relevant scripture. Look no further than the apostle Paul for your inspiration. He was constantly thanking his churches (Philippians 4:14-19), sharing ministry impact (I Thessalonians 1:2-10), and celebrating changed lives (I Timothy 1:12-17). Paul had a simple first-century plan to encourage generosity — it still works today!
TAKE THE NEXT STEP
While these ideas seem simple, you’ll be blown away by the impact they have on generosity at your church. But if you are looking to take things a step further, we’ve got you covered.
Our online course, Grow Generosity Academy, walks you through 6 lessons for developing a culture of generosity in your church. It’s self-paced and includes access to materials and templates as well as 1-on-1 coaching with our team of experts. That means you can take what you’ve learned and apply it straight away.
Ready to get started? Register for Grow Generosity Academy today.